Rooibos tea can be enjoyed as an alternative to black tea and is one of the most popular loose leaf teas on the market.
Rooibos is the Afrikaans name for Aspalathus linearis, meaning ‘red bush,’ and is often known as red tea because of the rust colour that the leaves become after fermentation.
It’s made using the long needle leaves, which are green when still growing on the plant and turn red during the fermentation process.
With powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, drinking a cup of rooibos tea can help you stay healthy – it’s also caffeine free, meaning you can enjoy it any time of the day or night.
It’s a matter of taste
Because rooibos derives from a different plant from traditional green and black teas, it has lower levels of the tannins which can often give tea a slightly bitter taste.
This means it has a sweet, nutty flavour that is often compared to hibiscus tea and earthy tones that are similar to yerba mate varieties.
It is also described as having hints of caramel, vanilla and a smoky essence that is likened to tobacco.
When brewed for longer, rooibos is full-bodied and rich, allowing its warm and woody notes to emanate from your teapot as it brews.
With milk or as it comes
Many rooibos lovers prefer it as it comes, while others opt for a strong brew and a splash of milk, giving a great caffeine free alternative to a traditional black tea.
Rooibos can be consumed cold for a refreshing alternative during summer, or piping hot to warm you up on those cold winter days – it’s entirely up to you.
What’s more, since it doesn’t contain caffeine, you can drink rooibos tea before bed and don’t have to worry about it keeping you awake.
If you are brewing rooibos loose leaf tea, we suggest you aim for one heaped teaspoon of leaves for every 8 ounces of water.
We also recommend that it should be steeped for at least five minutes, although some brands recommend steeping up to 10 minutes for greater antioxidant development.
You can then enjoy your brew as it is or with a splash of milk, while you might want to add honey or sugar for a sweeter flavour.
It’s healthy you know?
Rooibos leaves have a high concentration of vitamin C, are naturally high in antioxidants and contain vital minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and alpha hydroxyl acid.
They also contain polyphenols that help to fight free radicals, while its powerful anti-inflammatory properties mean that drinking a cup of rooibos can help you stay healthy and ready to tackle your day.
Rooibos tea can boost the immune system too, due to the fact that it is full of vitamins and minerals that help fend off invading pathogens and has been credited with boosting heart health and may even prevent cancer among other benefits.
Flavoured Rooibos teas
While both regular and green rooibos teas are by far our most popular, there are a number of exciting alternatives for you to try at your leisure.
Why not try our Vanilla, African Mint, Berry or Blood Orange? Or perhaps even the Chilli and Ginger, Lemongrass and Ginger, or our award winning Mango My Days?
All of which offer a variety of fascinating fragrances that combine to complement rooibos tea’s core flavour.
Try our range of rooibos teas
If you’re keen to discover the benefits of rooibos tea, we have a fantastic range for you to discover.
Whether it’s our traditional or green variety, or perhaps one of the many flavoured options available, we believe that you’ll see why this is one of our most popular products.
You can find out more about our range of loose leaf tea here products here https://leafteashop.co.uk/. or read our answers to some of the most common rooibos questions on the internet.
