Rooibos – everything you need to know about it

Rooibos full of benefits

When choosing from a variety of infusions, we often overlook the beneficial properties of rooibos. This is a big mistake, as this herb, somewhat underappreciated in our country, boasts a number of health and flavor benefits.

Rooibos or African red bush

African rooibos, commonly known as rooibos, is grown exclusively in South Africa and only arrived in Europe 100 years ago. Although it shares many characteristics with tea (e.g., preparation), it's worth remembering that it is in no way related to the tea plant.

Before rooibos reaches stores, its long, needle-like leaves must be dried, crushed, moistened, oxidized, and finally sun-dried again. The resulting leaves are referred to as red rooibos (an unoxidized version, green, is also available, but it isn't very popular, despite its equally interesting flavor).

Preparing a rooibos tea is incredibly simple: pour 200 ml of boiling water over 1-2 teaspoons of leaves and steep for about 5 minutes, covered. The resulting infusion has a distinctive honey flavor. Furthermore, it contains a low amount of tannins, making it very mild and devoid of bitterness. It is also caffeine-free, making it suitable for pregnant women and children at any time of day. However, the most important benefit of rooibos is its rich antioxidant content, which protects the immune system and lowers blood pressure. It also has a beneficial effect on respiratory ailments. Few people know that rooibos also boasts healing properties for wounds, demonstrating particularly effective properties when applied as a compress to damaged areas.

If you'd like to experience the benefits of rooibos for yourself, we invite you to visit our stores. You can find this extraordinary plant in both its classic version and with many interesting additions (e.g., almonds, lavender, lemongrass). With these options, everyone, regardless of their taste preferences, will easily find the perfect tea for themselves.