7 Health Benefits of Rooibos Tea (aka Red Bush)
It’s funny how tea is a popular beverage the world over yet we all drink it in very different ways. In the UK people drink black tea with milk and sugar whilst in America and Japan it would seem green tea on its own is the tea of choice. The South Africans, however, have a taste for Rooibos (aka Red Bush) with milk and sugar.
I started drinking Red Bush a couple of months ago as there’s so many different types of tea to buy I wanted to be a little more adventurous. When I saw it in the supermarket I thought I’d give it a try.
What is Red Bush?
First of all, white/green/oolong/black tea is all made from the leaves from the camellia sinensis plant. The end product simply depends on how long the leaves have been fermented.
Red Bush (pronounced roy-boss) on the other hand is a completely different plant grown in the Western Cape Province. The leaves are actually green but turn red when oxidized.
What Does it Taste Like?
When I first opened the box I was hit by its distinctive smell. I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not, it just smelt… different. Once I tasted it I liked it instantly but it did take several cups for me to get used to the smell. You can also buy Red Bush with added caramel, I can understand why as it does naturally have a subtle caramel taste.
Although the Africans drink it with milk and sugar most other people drink it with just water.
Now I have to admit I actually prefer it to green tea, it’s a lot more flavoursome.
Health Benefits of Rooibos
The health benefits of Red Bush are very similar to tea made from camellia sinensis leaves.
- Contains similar amounts of polyphenols and has been shown to be anti-carcinogenic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity.
- Naturally caffeine-free so is ideal for people who want to cut back on caffeine or want to drink it before going to bed. Actually it’s recommended you drink it before going to bed as it can help with insomnia. It’s also very low in tannins.
- Contains calcium, manganese and fluoride to help build strong teeth and bones.
- Can be given to infants suffering from colic, sleeping problems or stomach cramps. Simply add some milk to the tea.
- Contains alpha hydroxy acid and zinc which is great for the skin. You can even apply it directly to the skin to help with acne, eczema and sunburn etc.
- People with kidney stones can drink it because there’s no oxalic acid.
- Full of vitamins and minerals such as zinc, copper, calcium, manganese, magnesium, potassium.
I live in the UK so I simply buy whatever Red Bush happens to be in the supermarket, however according to one of my readers, Micah, Davidson’s Organic Rooibos Tea on Amazon.com tastes great!
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I have enjoyed rooibos for years and my favorite is Bourbon Street Vanilla Rooibos from http://www.tealaden.com I buy from them because I can’t find any rooibos in the stores around here.
Thanks for stopping by Mindey.
Oh, great, it contains calcium. I am always looking for this kind of tea.
I really love tea a lot and have been trying out all sort of different varieties. Rooibos is quickly becoming one of my favourites
I really enjoy the taste of rooibos, and I just cannot do without it. I have noticed that my teeth are alot stronger and do not bleed so much when I am brushing them….could this be the rooibos?
I have enjoyed rooibos for several years and have heard that it has health benefits, but had never looked into what those might be, as I just like it. I recently found green rooibos, in addition to the regular rooibos, and just did a search to see what I could find. I buy it from Numi teas, which carries a wide variety of teas I like, including Lapsang Souchon, which is next to impossible to find in stores. I also like their “Bushmen’s Brew” honeybush tea. I don’t know if there are any health benefits there, but it is another nice herbal tea I rally enjoy.
my favorites in rooibos are chai and organic green. i order by online at http://www.specialteas.com
they have a huge selection of brewing teas..fresh/aromatic and you can buy 1 ounce samples or 1/4 lb, 1/lb, 1 pound resealable pouches. reasonable prices and shipping.
I buy the Good Earth brand from Walmart here in Richmond, VA. It tastes sweet with plain water, no sugar added. My co-workers always compliment the wonderful spicy smell. I prefer this tea over green tea.
The minute I started drinking Rooibos, I was hooked. The taste is very smooth and comforting. It was only after I started drinking it regularly that I researched the health benefits that it confirmed my suspicions that this tisane was doing wonders for me. The health benefits are endless. But the best part, is that you actually do experience the benefits first hand. Without a doubt, I feel very calm and relaxed after having drunk a fresh cup of Rooiboss with a splash of milk. The best kind of Rooiboss, is the loose leaf kind. It is amazing that our planet grows some incredible bushes and plants that can be harnessed to make delightful and healthy teas. Thank you South Africa
i started drinking rooibos several wks ago and i’m hooked, love the stuff.feel great!
ok what else can i say im sleeping better than ever before, 8 hrs. thats unheard off for me.
dude, africa is not a country why do americans always make that mistake? Anyway i just wanted to share a delicious idea on rooibos. Have it with some lemon juice, 1tsp honey and some fresh ginger for taste. And like rb itself this tastes great cold as well.
Have fun, from Cape Town South Africa
Zahir
dude, who ever said Africa was a country? And why do people always assume its an American making a stupid comment. Theres idiots in every nook and cranny of the world….nothing is worse than a stuck up foreigner
I am on a strict non dairy diet which was agony as I have always drunk tea by the gallon. But I tried Red Bush with rice milk – and wow! I will never go back to regular tea. I like the taste SO much better, and knowing that it’s doing all these good things to keep cancer at bay (I had breast cancer) – need I say more! anyway, just to let tea addicts know that Red Bush with regular milk is so/so but with rice milk it’s addictive.
I love rooibos tea. It has helped my IBS symptoms diminish greatly and it has amazing calming properties. Check out the Davidsons Organic Rooibos Tea on Amazon.com it’s the best I’ve tasted.
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