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Rooibos

Rooibos, (Afrikaans for red bush; scientific name Aspalathus linearis) is a member of the legume family of plants and is used to make a tisane (herbal tea). Commonly called African red tea, the product has been popular in South Africa for generations and is now consumed in many countries.

Brewing Instructions:

Generally, about 1 teaspoon of Rooibos per cup should be used. Rooibos should be prepared with 212°F (100°C) water and steeped 5 minutes.

History:

Although rooibos was first reported in 1772 by botanist Carl Thunberg, the Khoisan people of the area had been using it for ages and were aware of its medicinal value. The Dutch settlers to the Cape adopted rooibos as an alternative to black tea, an expensive commodity for the settlers who relied on supply ships from Europe. Until the 19th century, however, Dutch usage of the tea was minimal.

In 1903, Benjamin Ginsberg (a Russian settler to the Cape and descendant of a famous tea family) realized the potential of rooibos and began trading with the local Khoisan people who were harvesting it. He sold his "Mountain Tea" to settlers in the Cape and shortly became the first exporter of rooibos using contacts from the family tea business.

In the 1930s, Ginsberg convinced a local doctor to experiment with the cultivation of the plant. The attempts were successful, which led Ginsberg to encourage local farmers to cultivate the plant in the hope that it would become a profitable venture. The first attempts at large volume cultivation were a disaster due to the small size of the seeds. They are no larger than a grain of sand and so were difficult to find and gather. This resulted in the seeds soaring to an astounding $156 a pound, which was far too expensive for local farmers.

Fortunately for Ginsberg, who employed collectors of the seeds, one woman had found a rather unusual source of supply. While other collectors only brought in matchbox-sized quantities of the seed, she continually delivered large bags and was eventually persuaded to share her secret. She chanced upon ants dragging seeds one day, while she was searching for the minute seeds, and followed their trail back to their nest. On breaking it open, found a granary.

During World War II, the British imported rooibos when teas from Asia could no longer be imported.

Since then, rooibos has grown in popularity in South Africa and since about 2002 or so, has gained considerable momentum in the worldwide market.

Health Benefits:

Rooibos is becoming more popular in Western countries particularly amongst health-conscious consumers, who appreciate it for its high level of antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), its lack of caffeine and its very low tannin levels (since tannins can affect the metabolism by decreasing absorption of certain nutrients like iron and protein) as opposed to black tea or green tea leaves. Like Tea leaves, Rooibos can be served oxidized (red) or unoxidized (green), with the unoxidized version theoretically having more antioxidants intact.

200 ml (about 7 ounces) of brewed Rooibos contains the following nutrients:

Nutrient Function in the Body per 200 ml
Iron (Fe) Essential for transport of oxygen in the blood 0.07 mg
Potassium (K) Assists certain metabolic functions 7.12 mg
Calcium (Ca) Necessary for strong teeth and bones 1.09 mg
Copper (Cu) Assists certain metabolic processes 0.07 mg
Zinc (Zn) Necessary for normal growth and development of healthy skin 0.04 mg
Magnesium (Mg) Assists a healthy nervous system and other metabolic processes 1.57 mg
Fluoride (F) Necessary for strong teeth and bones 0.22 mg
Manganese (Mn) Assists metabolic processes and bone growth and development 0.04 mg
Sodium (Na) Necessary for fluid and acid-base balance 6.16 mg

Sort 27 Items:
Thumbnail of Rooibos Hot Cinnamon Spice
This caffeine-free concoction delivers a rich, naturally sweet experience that'll have you questioning if there's sugar hiding inside. Fear not - it's sugar-free!
Thumbnail of Honeybush Banana Nut
Smooth honeyed notes sing with toasted nuts and sweet banana in this unforgettable dessert blend. If a slice of fresh banana bread makes you smile, this blend is a must try.
Thumbnail of Apple Spice Rooibos | Organic
The delight of an apple pie in a cup without all the calories! Just like mom used to make.
Thumbnail of Cactus Nectar
Green Rooibos, Orange Peel, Pineapple, Spearmint, Osmanthus Flowers, Flavors
Thumbnail of Chaco Rooibos
This tea has been blended specially for the new Hotel Chaco near Old Town Albuquerque, New Mexico. This is a unique blend of "New Mexico Warm Earth" combining the richness of chocolate with the mellow notes of sage and cedar. The perfect blend to help you unwind.
Thumbnail of Dutch Licorice Rooibos
Dutch Licorice Rooibos is as close as one can get to liquid licorice candy in a cup. Unlike Cascadia Rooibos, which has spicer licorice tones, Dutch Licorice is as sweet on the palate as it is on the nose.
Thumbnail of Root Beer Rooibos
The key ingredient to our unique in-house blend is the sarsparilla root, which gives this tea its distinct Old-West taste and the inspiration for our label.
Thumbnail of Chocolate Mint Rooibos
All the health benefits of Rooibos with the taste of dessert. Rooibos (African Red Bush) has no caffeine which makes it a perfect drink after dinner. This Rooibos also is relaxing, and promotes restful sleep.
Thumbnail of Lucky Summer
A blend that's near and dear to our hearts, this caffeine-free herbal tisane was created and blended by us right here in our store. It is made from a variety of fruity rooibos and herbal favorites, plus the special "secret" ingredients: peppermint and rose petals. Hints of peach, hibiscus, and citrus mingle with the mint to make it the perfect, refreshing iced summer brew.
$4.00 Lucky Summer
Thumbnail of Bourbon Street Vanilla
Rooibos is already sweet and smooth, but the addition of vanilla enhances both of those aspects of Rooibos.
Thumbnail of Hazelnut Honeybush
Honeybush Hazelnut combines the gentle roasted flavor of South African honeybush with sweet, creamy hazelnuts. Nutty and aromatic, with a round, sweet flavor and a lingering honey-roasted finish.
Thumbnail of Cascadia Licorice
The natural rich rooibos flavor is complimented with delicate notes of anise and peppermint. This makes a delicious and helpful after dinner-brew as a digestive stimulant.
Thumbnail of Rainbow Amaretto Rooibos
Add some milk and sugar to this rooibos and the amaretto comes alive. It's like drinking a cookie.
Thumbnail of Provence Rooibos | Organic
Flavor of a floral and fruity bouquet; perfume of lavender notes. Inspired by the 'joie de vivre' of France.
Thumbnail of Rooibos | Organic
Rooibos is a caffeine free herbal brew that has a smooth taste because it does not have tannin like tea made with the Camellia sinensis plant. Its great iced or hot and with or without milk.
Thumbnail of Caramel Darling
A rich thick brew of Rooibos and caramel. This tisane makes a good cup before bed, as Rooibos is relaxing, and promotes restful sleep. Also great with milk or as an iced tea.
Thumbnail of Blood Orange Rooibos | Organic
Blood Orange Rooibos is our most popular herbal blend. It has many levels of flavor ranging from the citrus orange with a light vanilla undertone, to the malty rich rooibos base.

This is the only rooibos blend that does NOT go well with cream.

Thumbnail of Thai Lemon Ginger
This Rooibos arrives just in time for the dog days of Summer! Flavored with Thai ginger, lemon, lime and pineapple, it makes a delightful refreshment for a heatwave. Since this tea is a Rooibos that means it contains no caffeine, which is perfect to keep the kids from bouncing off the walls.
Thumbnail of Godiva Rooibos
This blend begins with a peak quality Cederberg Rooibos known for its herbaceous character and long smooth finish. Added to this is chopped pieces of pure vanilla, decadent morsels of cacao bean and peel, natural flavoring oils and sunflower petals. The resulting blend is a true stunner. The cup opens with the approachable sweetness of vanilla bean offset by deep notes of chocolate and hints of chopped nuts, citrus and orchid.
Thumbnail of Maple Pecan Danish
Decadent maple syrup notes with sweet pecans and smooth barley round out this perfectly cozy herbal blend
Thumbnail of Green Rooibos | Organic
Green rooibos is to rooibos what green tea is to black tea.

Unlike standard Rooibos, the green variety is made by stopping the natural oxidization process of the plant just after it's cut. The oxidation is stopped by steaming the leaves and then rolling and drying them.

The resulting tea is more delicate, aromatic, and with a heartier herbal taste and lighter color.

Scientific and institutional findings suggest that green rooibos has a higher concentration of many of the nutrients found in regular rooibos, including flavonoids, anti-oxidants, and minerals.
Thumbnail of African Summer
Honeybush is a caffeine free plant from South Africa. It has a wonderfully sweet and slight astringent flavor with undertones of honey. The addition of citrus fruits makes this blend a great iced tea in the summer or hot soothing brew in the winter.
Thumbnail of Peach Rooibos | Organic
The natural sweetness of peaches makes it a perfect addition to our South African Rooibos, and why is that? Because the inherent slight sweetness of Rooibos is perfectly complimented by that of the peach and creates an herbal tea that is packed with subtle nuances and a complex flavor profile.
Thumbnail of Rooibos Earl Grey
Like all great Earl Grey teas, this tea is flavored with all natural Bergamot oil. Brew yourself a pot and note how well the citrus character engages with the mellow herbal character of the Rooibos. The taste is truly sublime. Long live the Viscount! I mean Earl. I mean 3rd Earl of Grey! One of the world's most interesting Earl Grey blends.
Thumbnail of Blueberry Bang
Wonderful hot or cold, this tea has the mellow qualities of rooibos with the character of a cupful of fresh wild blueberries.
Thumbnail of Rooibos Masala Chai | Organic
This hearty and uplifting blend is a caffeine-free version of a masala spiced chai. The classic spice combination of ginger, cinnamon, clove, cardamom and pepper harmonizes perfectly with the earthy sweetness of the rooibos plant. Lovely as-is or prepared with milk and sugar.
Thumbnail of Honeybush | Organic
Honeybush tea is caffeine free, high in antioxidants, and has a wonderfully sweet, very slightly astringent flavor with overtones of honey - the overall flavor is unique and has been compared to hot apricot jam or a dried fruit mix.