What is rooibos?

Some call it “red tea” because of its magnificent color, yet tea it is not. What exactly is rooibos, then?

A South African wonder

The word“rooibos” in Afrikaans literally means“red bush,” but this shrub has nothing to do with Camellia Sinensis, the plant from which tea is made. Rooibos (Aspalathus Linearis) is in fact a South African shrub plant, belonging to the Fabaceae family and typical of the mountainous Cederberg region. Here rooibos is grown in high-altitude plantations and has been traditionally consumed for centuries, partly because of its medicinal qualities (more on this in a moment).

From its oxidized and dried leaves a ruby-colored beverage is obtained by infusion, which has a delicate fragrance and a sweet, vanilla taste. It is therefore an excellent drink for children as well, since being caffeine-free and already naturally sweet allows it to avoid the addition of sugar and be drunk purely by even the youngest children. In fact, the modest tannin content and the absence of caffeine give rooibos a lovable flavor free of bitterness. In real red tea (or black, for us Westerners), on the other hand, the amount of caffeine may be more or less important, reduced with some care during preparation (caffeine is extracted more with high temperatures and prolonged infusions) but still present.

How do you prepare rooibos?

Infusing rooibos is very simple: considering that, compared to tea, it has no bittering components, nothing will happen if you forget to steep it a few extra minutes, but properly balancing the amount of infusion in proportion to the water will allow you to savor its taste to the fullest. Here are the basic directions for making ahot infusion (doses for 1 250ml cup):

• Weigh 3 grams of rooibos (about 2 teaspoons)
• Heat the water to 95°C
• Let the rooibos steep for 4-5 minutes
• Filter and enjoy!

As with leaf tea, for rooibos and any other herbal tea or infusion it is always recommended not to use tap water but filtered water or bottled water, to avoid spoiling the taste, but also our health, with substances such as chlorine and heavy metals.

For acold infusion, great for the summer season, you can use the same doses (3 grams of rooibos per 250 ml of water) and let it steep in the refrigerator for about 5 hours. After this time has passed, simply strain it and wait for it to go from frozen back to cool (drinking drinks that are too cold is never good for our bodies!): et voila, summer rooibos is served. You can enrich it by steeping together with rooibos also some fresh red fruits such as strawberries and raspberries, which add a touch of pleasant acidity and go well with the vanilla taste of this drink. Definitely a healthy and thirst-quenching alternative to drinks that are sugary or full of dubious dyes.

Health benefits

The fantastic properties of rooibos tea, a true ally of our health, should certainly not be forgotten: it is an infusion of well-being, almost an elixir of youth. In fact, rooibos tea contains many polyphenols, which have the ability to counteract the onset of diabetes and reduce the risk of heart or circulatory diseases.

Also characteristic of rooibos is a substance called asphalatin, which has incredible antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Rooibos is also rich in vitamin C, which in the winter season proves to be a key weapon in fighting flu and colds.

Rooibos & fantasy!

Would you like to try rooibos in some super delicious variations?

In fact, rooibos lends itself to being mixed with other ingredients to make delicious blends, such as our Rooibos, orange and eucalyptus blend with a sweet, fresh and balsamic taste. You can also try it in a mildly spicy version, with the Blend of rooibos, ginger and lemon, with digestive and rejuvenating properties. Perfect at any time of the day!

For a Christmas version, you can experiment by combining rooibos with cinnamon and orange zest during the infusion: the cinnamon will give a pleasantly spicy tinge and the orange zest will enliven the taste, balancing the sweetness of the infusion with a hint of zest.

Have we intrigued you? You can find many other infusions and herbal teas in our online shop!