What is rooibos? This red drink from South Africa is gradually replacing teas. Often called red tea, this infusion is nevertheless very different. African nature offers the rooibos tree and its drink with a sweet, nutty flavor. It produces leaves that, when steeped in hot water, yield a gentle drink full of health benefits. A closer look at this drink of a thousand virtues, emblem of South Africa.
Where does rooibos come from?
Rooibos is a red infusion that comes from South Africa. It is a shrub, from the tea family, that grows in the mountains. However, this drink is very different from classic teas. Its composition, rich in antioxidants and low in theine and caffeine, makes it a drink full of health virtues.
In South Africa, rooibos infusion is a highly appreciated drink. This drink appears to have existed for several hundred years. The red infusion has been growing in popularity in the West since the 1930s. Yet, the unpredictable nature of the plant allows the rooibos tree to thrive only in the water-scarce mountains of South Africa.
What does this red African drink consist of?
Unlike teas and coffee, rooibos infusion contains neither caffeine nor theine. The red drink from the African plant is therefore suitable for children and pregnant women.
The red African drink contains rare antioxidants. Less rich than green tea, rooibos nonetheless contains no theine or caffeine. The red infusion from Cape Town has very few tannins.
There are two varieties of rooibos: red rooibos (red tea or red infusion) and green rooibos. The color of the drink is determined by fermentation. One should also not confuse rooibos with honeybush, another infusion plant from South Africa.
How is a red rooibos-based drink prepared?
The red African infusion is prepared with leaves. The branches of the rooibos tree are harvested with their leaves. The leaves pass through a machine to be crushed. Then, the rooibos leaves are fermented to produce the red African infusion.
Rooibos leaves ferment in the open air. The longer the fermentation, the redder the rooibos infusion.
The rooibos is steeped in hot water. Unlike "classic" teas, the red African drink infuses for longer. In Cape Town, rooibos steeps for up to 10 minutes in hot water. Even when left in the water for longer, the red African drink does not turn bitter.
The drink has a slightly sweet taste. Red rooibos can be enjoyed hot or cold.
In Africa, tradition dictates that the red rooibos infusion be accompanied by milk and sugar. In the West, the infusion is preferred plain or with spices.
To vary the pleasures, red rooibos infusion is sometimes accompanied by spices. The spices blended into the drink are mild spices such as cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, or vanilla. Some also appreciate the effect of strong spices in their rooibos infusion, such as chili, nutmeg, or red pepper.
For a more surprising effect, many recipes blend red infusion with chai spices. Numerous recipes allow for endless variation.
What are the traditional uses of red rooibos infusion?
In Africa, red rooibos infusion is used as a traditional remedy. Nature has endowed it with many benefits.
The main health virtues of the red infusion from Cape Town are:
- its healing virtues;
- its digestive virtues;
- its antioxidant virtues;
- its anti-allergic virtues;
- its detoxifying virtues.
And all this, with no theine or caffeine. A symphony of benefits for your health.
What does Western medicine say about the red infusion from Cape Town?
Western medicine is taking an interest in the supposed virtues of the red African drink. Rooibos teas, unlike "classic" teas, contain neither caffeine nor theine. This makes their health benefits even more interesting.
In southern Africa, nature seems to offer a perfect health drink for everyone. And with no side effects. The recipes are numerous, which makes research complicated. Indeed, depending on where they are grown, rooibos teas appear to have different properties.
The traditional consumption of rooibos tree teas — simply the plant and water — does not pose any particular problems. But, despite the many health virtues attributed to it, the benefits of the plant remain difficult to demonstrate.
In any case, since the infusion is rich in antioxidants and free of theine and caffeine, there is no reason to deprive yourself of it. Especially since its slightly sweet taste appeals to every palate. Moreover, the red African drink is paired with spices of proven virtues in dozens of recipes. A "wow" effect with every cup!