Rooibos: A Caffeine-Free Drink

Rooibos / Red Bush / Bush Tea  Aspalathus linearis 

Rooibos (pronounced ROY-boss) is referred to as South African Red Tea, Red Bush, Bush Tea, Mountain Tea, and “Red Gold.” With a sweet, gentle, and smooth flavor; hints of vanilla make a lovely cup to enjoy with milk and honey on a chilly evening around the fire. Steep seven minutes minimum for optimal extraction of the phytonutrients and rich minerals in rooibos.

Medicinal Uses

Rooibos has long been used as both a refreshment drink and healthy tea beverage in Africa. Said to alleviate symptoms of seasonal allergies, eczema, and arthritis, and aides with anti-aging and weight loss. May provide relief for palliating stomach cramps and diarrhea, especially colic in babies. Recent scientific studies show that rooibos is helpful with diabetes, heart health, digestion, and bone health. Its medicinal actions include: anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, antispasmodic, bronchiodilator, lowers hypertension (blood pressure), antimutagenic, antidiabetic, and limits adrenal hormone production, such as cortisol. There are no known precautions with consuming this plant, which is caffeine-free, low in tannins, and high in antioxidants.

Historical View

The San tribe has a long ethnobotanical history of use of this plant, and the Khoi tribe to a lesser extent. Taken with honey and fresh goat milk, it helps people sleep deeply. Afrikaans people brew it until it is so thick, you can hardly see the bottom of the cup. In many farmhouses, a handful of leaves are left in a pot on the stove for the entire day, and more water is added as people consume it.

The Khoisan peoples shared their traditional knowledge with early Dutch colonizers, who renamed it “rooibos” or “red bush” and drank it in place of expensive black tea from England. Unfortunately, ethnobotanical records of rooibos do not exist more than 300 years ago, and no Khoi or San vernacular names have ever been recorded. All the common names of the Aspalanthus linearis to date are of Afrikaans, Dutch or English origin, including rooibos, naaltee, swarttee, koopmanstee, bossiestee and bush tea.

Harvesting

The plant is a shrub-legume in the Fabaceae family (Pea family). When the needle-like leaves and tiny yellow flowers are picked, bruised and oxidized, the leaves turn a reddish color, hence its name. Green rooibos tea is dried without oxidation.

The tea is harvested very similar to Camilla sinensis; the top 50cm of the plant is harvested annually during summer (December to February). Traditionally, pickers used sickles and bundled by hand, but mechanization now predominates. The needle-like leaves are bruised, oxidized, and left to dry in the harsh South African sun, where they turn a distinctive orange-red color. 10,500 tons of rooibos are harvested annually to serve the global market.

Exceedingly mineral-rich, rooibos was commercially cultivated since about 1994, and is one of the few wild species developed as a commercial crop. It takes 18 months for the plant to mature for harvest, and the crop is replaced every 5-7 years. There are concerns regarding rooibos farming in the face of climate change.

Ecological View

The rooibos plant is endemic to a region of the Western Cape province of South Africa, in a 20,000 square kilometer biodiversity hot spot called the Fynbos biome, or Suid Bokkeveld. The area, Cederberg/Clanwilliam, is situated 250 km north of Cape Town. It grows symbiotically with local microorganisms in a mountainous area with a unique temperature range, with a particular deep, well-drained acidic and coarse sandy soil. Bacteria create nodules on the roots, fixing the atmospheric nitrogen, which is conducive to neighboring plant growth.

Rooibos Teas

We have many caffeine-free teas that feature rooibos. Our Blood Orange Rooibos balances the vanilla notes of rooibos with juicy, mouthwatering citrus. Cape Town Grey is our caffeine-free take on a classic Earl Grey, with its bold, bergamot flavor. Gin & Cream Rooibos features notes of juniper, lavender, and vanilla, creating a unique taste with every sip. And our Rugger’s Rooibos is a straight Rooibos tea that showcases this African plant to its fullest.

Read new quarterly herbalism content by Greta de la Montagne on our blog page. 

Written by: Greta de la Montagne Edited by: Samantha Lepore & Heather Kreilick