Rooibos Tea, the detective's choice

What is Rooibos tea?

If you haven't tried Rooibos tea, or Redbush tea as it's also known, then you're in for a treat. Rooibos tea is grown in the beautiful region of the Cederberg Mountains, South Africa

Rooibos is not a true 'tea' as such as it is not from the Camellia Sinenis plant but is classed more as a herbal tea or tisane. Made from the leaves of the Aspalathus Linearis plant (or red bush) the name is slightly misleading as the bush and leaves are actually green, that is until the leaves are picked and left to oxidise, when they turn the characteristic rich red colour.

How do you drink Rooibos?

Many people drink Rooibos as they would black tea, sometimes adding a dash of milk, honey, sugar or lemon. However it is much sweeter than black tea, and does not go bitter so it's a wonderful tea to experiment with. Good quality flavoured Rooibos teas containing natural flavours are delicious and we would suggest you try them first without adding anything - except the hot water of course!

Why is Rooibos so popular?

Apart from being given a real boost by appearing regularly in the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith, Rooibos tea is absolutely packed with goodness. Totally caffeine free, it contains high levels of antioxidants similar to green tea and is very low in tanins and of course, it tastes great! More and more research is being carried out on the health benefits Rooibos tea offers, which it has to be said, has been known about for hundreds of years by the very first Rooibos drinkers, the Khoisans, indigenous Bushmen of the Cederberg Mountains.