Rooibos tea

What is Rooibos tea?

• The mountain bush rooibos is endemic to South Africa and is used to prepare a deep red brew with a deliciously unique flavour.
• The San and Khoi communities were the first to learn the health benefits of rooibos’ needle-like leaves that grew widely on their land. 
• But they have remained marginalised in its trade that began in early 20th century during the colonial regime. 
• Today, rooibos is a widely traded and exported commodity, sold to over 30 countries, with the United States and Europe being the biggest importers.  
• Rooibos, devoid of caffeine and low in tannins, is a healthy alternative to coffee or tea, studies showed.
• It also comes loaded with antioxidants that can boost immunity, reduce risks of heart diseases, protect from viral infection and has anti-ageing properties.
• Rooibos is a broom-like member of the plant family Fabaceae that grows in South Africa’s fynbos biome.
• The leaves are used to make a herbal tea that is called rooibos (especially in Southern Africa), bush tea, red tea, or redbush tea (predominantly in Great Britain).