What is rooibos tea?

All rooibos tea come from the same source: the Camilla Sinensis tea bush. But, how do those tea leaves from the Camilla Sinensis end up as different kinds of teas depends on what happens to the leaves after they have been picked off the tea bush.

Rooibos means "Red Bush". This tea comes from South Africa. It is only grown in small areas in the Cederberg Mountains, near Cape Town, South Africa. The tea leaves are fermented in order to obtain the tea's reddish/brown color. This results in the reddish/brown color, hence the reason why it is sometimes referred to as "red tea". However, when unfermented, it is referred to as "green" rooibos.

This tea has been popular in South Africa for many generations and is now consumed in many countries. This tea is also know as red tea in African.

In South Africa, it is usual to drink rooibos tea with milk and sugar. But, in other countries, it is usually served without. This tea is sweet, and slightly nutty. It is brewed much like black tea, but the flavor is improved by letting the tea brew longer.

Just like most teas, there are quite a few variations of this tea. It is mainly known for it's caffeine free properties and because it comes from Africa. How about trying a rooibos tea with a flavored twist?

And if you dare... try these unique flavors. My favorites are Chocolate Dream rooibos and Bourbon Street Vanilla rooibos.

Health benefits:

May improves digestion.
Good for the skin and allergies.
High in vitamins and minerals.
Contains more antioxidants than green tea.
Aids in the relief of colic.
Can enhance milk production in lactating mothers.
Contains no caffeine (rooibos tea is naturally caffeine-free), therefore, it is acceptable for pregnant women and nursing mothers to drink this tea.
May enhance immune system function.
Has been shown to aid insomnia, irritability, headaches, nervous tension, and hypertension.
In South Africa, rooibos tea has been used to treat hay fever, asthma, and eczema very effectively.
Let's not forget that rooibos tea is a great thirst quencher and is an excellent beverage for active people, including children. This tea can be drunk hot or cold.

How to brew rooibos tea:

For best results, this tea should be steeped for 10 minutes as research has shown that it takes 10 minutes for the antioxidants in the tea leaves to fully dissolve in the water. Shorter steeping time will not affect the flavor of this tea.

In South Africa, this tea is left in the pot for 30 minutes and then served hot or with ice.

To make concentrated Rooibos, one table spoon of Rooibos for every 6 oz. (or 180 ml) of water is needed. It can then be stored up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

To make iced tea from concentrated rooibos, just add water and ice based on your preferences. Sugar, milk, or honey can be added to enhance the flavor of this tea.

Enjoy!

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