Rooibos Tea: The South African Tea With Many Benefits
Rooibos tea is a mildly sweet herbaceous South African red tea with pleasant natural grass, apple, and hay notes. It's also known as bush tea or red bush because of its Rooibos ("red bush") plant leaves. Rooibos has a long history in South Africa.
The indigenous people there have been drinking it for centuries as a stomach tonic and natural remedy for various ailments. It's also their most famous export besides diamonds and rugby players! ;)
In this blog post, you'll learn about rooibos tea benefits, where to buy rooibos tea, how to make rooibos tea at home, the best rooibos tea brands, and more.
What is Rooibos Tea?
Rooibos tea also called bush tea, or red bush tea, is an herbal beverage made from the leaves of the Rooibos plant. The plant is a South African relative of the naturally caffeine-free hibiscus.
Rooibos is rich in antioxidants and has about half the caffeine as green tea. Rooibos is a popular health drink in Asia, Europe, and South America as an alternative to black tea and other beverages.
The Rooibos plant is native to Southern Africa and has been used as a herbal remedy for centuries. The Rooibos plant is related to the Hibiscus plant family and is naturally caffeine-free.
Today, Rooibos is used to make more than just tea. You can find it in bars of soap, creams, loofah sponges, and other bath and beauty products. The Rooibos tea can be drunk hot or iced. Brewed Rooibos is a light red color. Also, its taste is slightly sweet and earthy.
Rooibos Tea Benefits
There are a lot of rooibos tea benefits, many of which come from its high dietary fiber content; 25% of your daily fiber in a single cup! Rooibos is also a good source of minerals like iron, calcium, and magnesium.
Rooibos tea is a potent source of antioxidants due to its high polyphenol content, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Rooibos tea has the most antioxidants out of 14 other teas, including green and black tea. Rooibos tea is anti-microbial, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial. Rooibos tea has been shown to improve blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity.
It's also been shown to lower cholesterol and improve heart health. Rooibos tea is rich in minerals, including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, and zinc.
Where to Buy Rooibos Tea
There are plenty of options to buy rooibos tea online, but if you want rooibos tea from the shop down the street, that's an option too! Rooibos tea bags are available at supermarkets, health food shops, and online.
Rooibos tea bags are sometimes referred to as red bush, bush tea, or rooibos tea. Rooibos tea can be served hot or iced. Enjoy it as a late-afternoon drink or bedtime beverage to help you sleep. If you're looking for caffeine-free tea, Rooibos is a great option.
How to Make Rooibos Tea
The preparation of rooibos tea is straightforward. Traditionally, rooibos tea is made with loose leaves in a teapot. However, this can also be made with a tea bag. Bring water to a boil and let it cool for 1-2 minutes to reach the desired temperature.
Rooibos tea is made with water slightly below boiling (80°C), as boiling water will destroy some healthy antioxidants. Place one heaping teaspoon of loose leaves in a cup. Pour the desired amount of water over the leaves for 2-3 minutes. Alternatively, you can use a tea bag, but don't overstep the tea.
The Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea is rich in antioxidants making it an excellent beverage for boosting health. It has been shown to have many positive health benefits, including aiding in weight loss, improving blood sugar levels, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, preventing heart disease, and more.
Summing up
Rooibos tea is a potent source of antioxidants due to its high polyphenol content, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. Rooibos tea has the most antioxidants out of 14 other teas, including green and black tea.
Rooibos tea is rich in minerals, including calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium, selenium, and zinc. Rooibos tea can be enjoyed, hot or iced, at any time. Also, rooibos tea is an excellent option if you want caffeine-free tea with plenty of antioxidants. Try it iced in the summer or hot in the winter!