Red tea is an herbal tea often enjoyed as an alternative to the more common black tea. Other names for red tea include rooibos tea, bushman tea and red bush tea. Like many other teas, red tea contains high levels of flavonoid and polyphenol antioxidants, which have shown health benefits in laboratory studies. The health benefits, smooth flavor and unusual red color have increased the popularity of this tea. As of 2010, South Africa exports red tea to more than 30 different countries, according to the South African Rooibos Council.
Common Teas
The distinction between most tea varieties comes from differences in the processing methods. Black tea is the most common tea in North America. To produce black tea, the mature leaves and buds of the Camellia sinensis plant ferment before drying. Mature tea leaves are also used for oolong tea, but the leaves are only allowed to partially ferment. To produce green tea, mature leaves are immediately dried or steamed to prevent fermentation. Only young leaves and buds produce white tea; they are immediately steamed after drying to prevent fermentation.
Red Tea
Red tea does not come from the Camellia sinensis plant. Rather, it is a fermented tea made from the leaves of Aspalathus liniearis, a South African plant. The fermentation process is actually an oxidization of the leaves by enzymes released during processing. Red tea derives its color from a polyphenol called aspalathin, which turns red during the fermentation process. Red tea does not contain caffeine or theaflavin, the tannin pigment that gives many teas a bitter flavor. The flavor of red tea is fruity and sweet. Some describe the flavor as nutty.
Nutritional Information
You can take red tea with iron supplements, as it does not contain the tannins found in black tea that interfere with the absorption of iron. Red tea contains high levels of antioxidants that protect against damage by free oxygen radicals. Free radicals contribute to cell damage, immune system dysfunction and aging. Red tea is a good source of vitamin C. The tea also contains small amounts of the minerals calcium, manganese and fluoride, which are important for strong bones.
Health Benefits
Traditionally, use of red tea is to ease stomach ailments such as nausea and cramping. It is applied topically to treat eczema and skin allergies and consumed as a nighttime sleep aid. In laboratory studies, red tea has shown evidence that it might help prevent heart disease, prevent liver injury from toxins and reduce the risk of cancer, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center. However, more research is required to confirm these benefits in humans.
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