Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea or Red Bush as it is also known is not a true tea but an herb, which is indigenous to the Cederburg area of South Africa.

Because of widely publicized health benefits, the herb has grown into a billion dollar export industry since the mid twentieth century.

This herbal tea or infusion has no caffeine and only half the tannin of ordinary brew.

Apart from being refreshing to drink, in place of ordinary tea and coffee, Rooibos has the advantage of containing minerals and powerful antioxidants.

Health Benefits

Japanese scientists, who did studies in the 1960's, discovered Rooibos contains powerful antioxidants that are thought to retard aging and have potent anti-inflammatory properties.

In addition, the herb is also found to contain the flavanoid, aspalathin, which counteracts the atherosclerotic processes that result in heart disease.

Additional research by the French revealed that hair lotion containing Rooibos promoted faster hair growth with improvement in the hair condition -- and caused no allergic reactions.

South African researches found that the polyphenol content in Rooibos is similar to green tea. Polyphenols help protect the body from damage by free radicals.

Other studies link Rooibos tea to helping relieve digestive problems, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and constipation. In addition, drinking the brew can have a calming effect and has been shown to help with irritability, insomnia and depression.

Brewing and Serving

Preparation is the same as ordinary tea. First warm the tea pot with boiling water and then place one teaspoon of Rooibos tea or tea bag per cup required in the pot. Pour over boiling water and let infuse for a few minutes. The longer it is left before drinking the more antioxidants the brew will contain.

Rooibos tea has a distinctive red hue and a sweet and slightly nutty flavor. The herbal infusion can be served plain, with hot or cold milk or lemon. It can be lightly sweetened with honey or sugar or just left without any sweetening. Rooibos also makes a wonderful ice tea.

In South Africa, Rooibos tea is often used in daily cooking because of the important minerals and antioxidants it adds to the diet, as well as the way it enhances flavor in cooking. Just replace the water in a recipe with the tea.

This article was written by Nicky Pilkington. For more information on herbs and remedies, go to HealthandFinesse.com and read more from the author.

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