What is Rooibos Tea?
Rooibos tea, also known as red bush tea and African red tea, is a herbal tea made using the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant. Rooibos means “red bush” in Afrikaans and references the rich, deep crimson of rooibos tea. Rooibos tea is made using the long needle leaves, which are green when still growing on the plant and turn red during the fermentation process.
Rooibos tea has excellent health benefits and a delicate flavour that is sweet and aromatic. Rooibos tea contains antioxidants, enzymes, and chemical compounds that help skin look youthful, reduce inflammation that causes pain, and prevent serious illness.
Rooibos tea is unique in that it is grown mainly on the African continent and contains polyphenols such as aspalathin that are not found in any other foods. However, it does not contain any leaves from the Camellia sinensis tea plant so it is not a true tea.
Rooibos has a light mouth feel that is subtle and not overpowering. It's often described as having a neutral, yet sweet flavour profile that can be enhanced with slices of lemon or a dash of honey. It brews into a reddish-brown tone that can be as visually stunning as it is tasty.
It is also caffeine-free, making it a good beverage at any time of the day. Thanks to its high concentration of vitamins and polyphenols, rooibos tea offers not only delicious taste, but also helps keeping your body healthy and ready to tackle the day.