Rooibos is an Africaans name for a bushy legume that grows in South Africa. Its leaves and twigs are harvested, oxidized and sun-dried in a process that yields red-orange leaves that are used to make a mild-tasting herbal tea. Rooibos, or red tea, is not a significant dietary source of calories, fat, carbohydrates, protein or vitamins, but it contains copper, fluoride and several healthful antioxidants.
About Rooibos or Red Tea
Rooibos tea is made by infusing leaves and twigs of the rooibos plant, Aspalathus linearis. Rooibos tea is often called red tea. The liquid has a red color, but since the beverage is not derived from leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, technically it is not a tea. Rooibos tea typically contains no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.
Nutritional Information
A cup of rooibos tea contains 0 calories. It has no fat, carbohydrates or protein. Rooibos tea does not contain appreciable amounts of any vitamins. If you add milk or a sweetener to rooibos tea, you'll gain calories, carbohydrates, protein and fat, depending on the type of milk you use. For instance, a cup of 1 percent milk has 100 calories, 2.5 g fat, 13 g carbohydrates and 8 g protein. Adding 1 tbsp. of sugar contributes 35 calories and 1 g of carbohydrates.
Other Compounds
Rooibos tea is naturally caffeine-free. It is low in tannins, which can reduce the absorption of dietary iron and cause digestive complaints in some persons. Rooibos tea is sodium-free. A 200-ml cup of rooibos tea contains 0.07 mg of copper, which is 7.8 percent of the recommended daily value for this mineral. It contains 0.22 mg of fluoride or 5.5 percent of the daily value for adult men and 7.3 percent of the daily value for adult women. Rooibos tea contains trace amounts of several other minerals, including iron, manganese, magnesium and zinc.
Benefits
Rooibos tea contains antioxidant polyphenols, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, quercetin and luteolin. These antioxidants bind free radicals, helping to prevent cellular damage and disease. According to the American Botanical Council, rooibos tea may enhance immune function and the antioxidant action may help protect against heart attack, stroke and cancer. Additional research is needed to verify claims of other health benefits. The American Botanical Council deems rooibos tea to be "safe and free of side effects."
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