Rooibos is taking the world by storm!

Have you heard about the hottest new trend in tea?
Rooibos is taking the world by storm!

Rooibos… it sounds funny, doesn’t it? Pronounced “ROY-bus”, it is literally defined as “red bush” tea. It does not come from the Camellia Sinensis plant like black, green or white tea, but rather it comes from a plant that is native to South Africa. Although this excellent caffeine-free option for tea drinkers is still considered a tea, it is largely misunderstood, due perhaps to the fact that many people have not even heard of it! But rooibos tea holds a vast range of vitamins, minerals and other healthy components that will boost your health and make you feel great from the inside out.

Rooibos tea is typically grown in the Cederberg, a small mountainous area in the region of the Western Cape province of South Africa. Although a green, unoxidized version of rooibos tea is also available, typically the tea leaves are oxidized (or fermented) before consumption. This produces the trademark reddish-brown colour of the tea leaves and enhances the flavour. The tea is traditionally prepared in the same way as black tea, with milk and sugar added to taste. Other add-ins include a slice of lemon or a shot of honey to sweeten.

While rooibos tea does not contain caffeine and has a pretty low tannin level (compared to black or green tea), it does still contain polyphenols (compounds otherwise known as antioxidants that science has shown to be quite good for us as humans). These polyphenols have anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-mutagenic qualities. They are most often praised for their antioxidant properties, which act as scavengers of free radicals throughout the body

Rooibos tea carries health benefits ranging from its use as a cure for nagging headaches, insomnia, eczema, asthma, hypertension, bone weakness, allergies and even premature aging. There are no known side effects to drinking rooibos tea. It has even been shown to boost the immune system of the human body. In fact, its medicinal attributes have been confirmed by the US Department of Agriculture in Washington, DC, which affirmed that rooibos tea is capable of reducing cancer, heart disease, premature aging and other serious conditions! It also contains no oxalic acid, meaning that it can be consumed by people who have kidney stones. It is rich in many mineral contents such as iron, calcium, potassium, copper, fluoride, manganese, zinc, magnesium and alpha hydroxyl acid.

Rooibos tea can be especially useful in treating small children who suffer from colic or stomach pains. It has even been shown to help balance your blood sugar, improve insulin resistance, improve glucose absorption by your muscles and boost insulin secretion by the pancreas. This results in it being an excellent defensive shield against developing Type II Diabetes. One really neat trait that rooibos tea has is that it contains antioxidants that may even slow down the human aging process while boosting the strength of the immune system.

Above all of the other health benefits, rooibos tea makes an excellent beverage for any time of the day! It does wonders for professional athletes, hyperactive children and anyone who travels often.

Despite all of these health benefits of rooibos tea, there can be a downside for some people! Since rooibos tea is so powerful, it can interfere with treatments for various conditions, including chemotherapy for cancer patients. Also, rooibos has shown estrogenic activities in certain studies, so it might not be a good idea to use if you have a hormone-sensitive cancer like breast cancer. Finally, if you have existing kidney or liver conditions, rooibos might be more harmful than helpful. It should be used as a preventative measure for these conditions, not a cure. Make sure you speak to your doctor before adding any new dietary elements or beverages to your normal routine, particularly one as powerful as rooibos tea!

For best brewing:

It is preferable to brew rooibos tea in heartily boiling water. Try to keep the water at this temperature for the entire brewing process. Rooibos tea has a longer steeping time than most other teas, and so the shortest amount of time that it should be allowed to brew for is four to five minutes. Studies have shown that steeping rooibos tea for as much as five to ten minutes greatly increases the amount of antioxidants and nutrients in the finished cup.

Although this tea is (in my opinion) best served straight up with nothing added, many people enjoy it served with milk and sugar or honey for added sweetness. And did I mention that it is also great served iced?

So raise a mug! Cheers to your excellent health!

Cathy Skidmore began her tea journey with Steeped Tea after seeing the founders get a deal on Dragons Den in 2012. Proud to represent this Canadian company who sell quality loose leaf teas and fun and trendy accessories. With over 100 different teas, she as something for everyone. 

Cathy enjoys sharing her love of teas with everyone by offering free tea tasting in your home or hers, as well as an opportunity to have your own tea business.

She loves to help people create that perfect cup of tea.
www.mysteepedtea.com/cathyskidmore
@cathyskidmore1
https://www.facebook.com/CathySkidmoreSteepedTeaConsultant?fref=ts

Changing people’s lives one cup at a time.