Rooibos Tea
My favorite tea also happens to be South African
I’m still on a South African high okay?! I’ve had a cup of rooibos daily for the past 8 years so when I was in South Africa and the tea was widely available everywhere I went, my intake increased to an amount I did not know was possible. Now that I’m back in London, I really wanted to learn more about it and test out some recipes using the tea.
I unfortunately did not have the time to go to any Rooibos farm when staying in Cape Town so instead, I watched hours of badly edited Youtube videos and tested out different brands and formulations of the tea to educate myself a bit more about my own preferences. When I asked what your favorite rooibos brand was over IG, the overwhelming favorites were Freshpak (a household staple) and Five Roses.
You may be asking yourself, what IS Rooibos? So let’s get into it.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos, also known as Red Tea or Red Bush Tea is native to the mountains of the Western Cape. This region, also known as the Cederberg region, is the only place in the world that these needle-like leaves can be harvested to be made into rooibos. Similarly to Champagne, Dijon Mustard, and Balsamic Vinegar, the name Rooibos is protected under the law. Only true Rooibos made in the Cederberg region can be called Rooibos which is why it may be tricky to find some in your local market depending on where you live!
It was first harvested by the Khoisan people of that region. In 1772, Carl Thunberg a European botanist became fascinated by the Khoisan and how they transformed everyday wild plants into herbal remedies. He began drinking rooibos, evidently got hooked, and began spreading the word to other settlers.
It wasn’t until 1930 that Dr Pieter LeFras Nortier discovered a way to farm rooibos and not rely on nature’s natural supply of the low bush. If each seed was ground and then planted in a sandy soil, the rooibos plant would grow from seed. From that point on, the Cederberg region was home to rooibos farms and the rest of the world was able to enjoy the tea.
To make rooibos tea, the leaves are harvested and then fermented. During this process, they undergo oxidation which is what gives off that warmish red color in every cup. The tea’s red color can be used as a dye for anything from hair dye to yarn.
If we’re getting into the nitty gritty, tea is a beverage produced by steeping in freshly boiled water the young leaves and leaf buds of the tea plant, the Camellia sinensis. Rooibos, however, is made from a shrub called the Aspalathus linearis, so it isn’t even technically a true tea.
The word “rooibos” literally means red bush in Afrikaans - considering it comes from a low bush plant and gives off a beautiful red hue I would say this makes a lot of sense.
What Does It Taste Like?
Rooibos tea tastes sweet - think vanilla, toasted almonds, honey… It’s not subtle, it has a strong earthy (yet warm not fresh) flavor that coats your entire mouth with every sip. The smell is just as sweet so drinking it is a full body experience. Some people describe it as caramely but I’d have to slightly disagree there as I find it more milky, malty than caramel, molassesy.
You can also find green rooibos which gives off a more subtle, fresher flavor. I’ve had green rooibos and lemongrass tea before which was actually quite nice. The reason it’s green is that it does not become oxidized like the red below.
How to Drink It?
It really depends on your mood! Personally, I love it hot with a splash of milk. It gives off English Breakfast milky tea without any caffeine. In South Africa, you’ll even be able to find red cappuccinos on some menus. The added froth is divine, especially when topped with some cinnamon vanilla salt… :)
There is even a brand called Red Espresso that sells capsules, instant, ground and more. check out their how-to on their website if you’d like to learn more.
Otherwise, it’s also great hot straight with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of honey.
If you prefer cold beverages, have no fear I have a simple and delicious “recipe” for you. Brew some rooibos and add it to a large jug. In there, add in some lemon juice and honey and place in the fridge. Once cooled, toss in some ice, sliced citrus and a handful of mint and you’re good to go. There is no real need to add any honey, I prefer it unsweetened but I know many may find it a bit too bitter without a bit of sweetener!
I also some in a ginger shot (or three) every morning at my breakfast buffet.
Benefits
As you know, I am not a doctor; however, I will say that Rooibos has personally helped my stomach settle for the past decade. Its caffeine free, calming and I’ve always responded well to it. I used to start my morning by plopping a date at the bottom of a mug and adding my hot cinnamon rooibos tea on top to it to plump it up. Tea with a snack.
It’s great hot, cold, milky, and citrusy. It’s rich in different minerals and antioxidants, known to be anti-aging and also great for brain health. I just love that it’s versatile and can be drunk at any time of day without making me sleepy or overly caffeinated.
Other supposed benefits are that the tea is anti-inflammatory, lowers cholesterol, balances blood sugar, strengthens bones etc etc etc the list goes ON. As always, I’d just say drink if it you like it, don’t force yourself to drink it if you don’t.
Alrighty, that’s the lesson of the day, off to test out a rooibos lemon marmalade recipe!
