Rooibos (pronounced ROY-bus or ROY-boss) tea has become one of my absolute favourite teas! It's similar in taste and appearance to tea but isn't tea! It is not made from the Camellia sinensis plant, but comes from the dried leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant. It is also known as redbush tea. It has some remarkable health benefits as well as being a yummy treat.
Rooibos is a great substitute for regular tea if you are seeking a flavourful caffeine free alternative. It has a sweet and nutty taste and takes flavours added to it quite easily. My favourite rooibos is by T by Daniel: Blue Berrymore. It has a delicious blueberry flavour without being overwhelmed by it. That's the delight of rooibos: it has its own flavour, like 'regular' tea, but can have flavours and scents added to it to make very lovely blends.
Rooibos is native to the mountains of Cederberg in South Africa where the air is crisp and clean. Unsuccessful attempts have been made to grow it elsewhere in the world! It seems it is only happy in its home and native land. It wasn't traded until 1904 but was a well kept secret until then.
The tea is made from the green leaves of the A. linearis plant. As they ferment in the sun they turn a beautiful, coppery red.
"The United States Department of Agriculture has confirmed many of the health benefits of drinking rooibos tea including its ability to reduce the risk of various types of cancer, heart disease and premature aging."
(www.vegkitchen.com)
Drinking rooibos provides many health benefits, including the following:
- fighting cancer, due to being high in antioxidants
- high in vitamin C
- eases digestive problems
- strengthens bones and teeth
- great for skin and hair
- soothes insomnia
- South African locals use it for colicky babies
- lowers hypertension
- anti-inflammatory due to the high levels of polyphenols aspalathin and nothofagin
- eases headaches
- eases nervous tension
- helps get rid of eczema since it contains phenylpyretic acid
- no caffeine
- contains many micronutrients, including: copper, iron, potassium, calcium, fluoride, zinc and Manganese.
- How do we steep this lovely tea??
DAVIDsTEA recommends steeping it at 96 degrees Celsius for 4-7 minutes.
T By Daniel recommends steeping it at 80 degrees Celsius for 3-5 minutes.
I personally recommend steeping it at about 90 degrees Celsius for 4-7 minutes. I have yet to oversteep it, likely due to the lack of tannins in it! It is just so darn yummy!
Locals take their rooibos either clear (the proper way of saying tea with nothing added to it) or with a bit of lemon or honey. The Tea Book: All Things Tea recommends taking it without milk, also with a bit of lemon or honey if desired. MILK IS NOT WELCOME IN THIS TEA.
If you've reached the end of this post you may be thinking, as I am, that it all sounds too good to be true. It will save your life and make you beautiful and you will live to be a thousand years old. Maybe not, but darnit, it is a great tea. It's worth trying, and it's worth buying a good quality rooibos to give it a fair shot.
Even if it only offers a tenth of the benefits, wow! Give it a try! I find the ritual of making tea and sipping my tea soothing in and of itself, which probably relieves hypertension and boosts immunity anyway!
Let me know what your favourite rooibos teas are.
Happy Steeping.
B
Sources:
The Little Black Book of Tea, Mike Heneberry
The Tea Book: All Things Tea, Cheadle and Kilby
www.vegkitchen.com, "9 Proven Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea"
Personal Experience
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