Rooibos tea is a red-colored, fruity-tasting beverage made from the leaves and twigs of the rooibos shrub. You'll find red and green varieties of rooibos tea, available as plain or flavored tea or in a mixture with regular tea and herbs. Rooibos tea is low in tannins, so it doesn't get bitter or astringent, even when steeped for a long time. The tea is naturally caffeine-free. Rooibos is high in antioxidant polyphenols, which means drinking the tea may help prevent cell damage and some diseases.
About Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea is made from Aspalathus linearis or rooibos bush and not from leaves of the Camellia sinensis or tea plant, so it is an herbal tea, unrelated to black or green tea. Rooibos is a flowering shrub native to South Africa. The needlelike green leaves and red twigs of the bush are harvested and either dried to make green rooibos tea or oxidized and sun-dried to make red rooibos tea. The hot or iced herbal tea is refreshing, plus it has uses in folk medicine. Rooibos is gaining popularity in the Western world for its taste and because preliminary research indicates drinking the tea may confer health benefits.
Nutritional Overview
Rooibos tea does not contain an appreciable amount of calories, fat, protein or carbohydrates. Although some sources claim rooibos tea is high in vitamin C, the American Botanical Council reports vitamin C is not found in this beverage. The tea does not contain significant amounts of any vitamins or most minerals, although a cup of rooibos tea offers 7.8 percent of the recommended daily value of copper and between 5.5 and 7.5 percent of the recommended daily value of fluoride.
Tannin and Caffeine
Regular tea contains caffeine and tannins. Rooibos tea is caffeine-free and low in tannins, so it is a good choice for persons wishing to limit caffeine intake or avoid the bitterness and side effects of tannins. According to the American Botanical Council, roobios contains only 4.4 percent tannins, which are associated with digestive problems and reduced iron absorption.
Potential Health Benefits
The American Botanical Council says it is safe to consume rooibos tea in large volumes without ill effects. According to the Vegetarian Nutrition website, South Africans use rooibos tea as a treatment for colic, upset stomach and intestinal cramps. It is also a remedy for respiratory disorders and allergies. However, little research exists substantiating its health benefits. Animal and in vitro studies indicate rooibos tea has antioxidant capabilities, according to the American Botanical Council. Based on the effect of polyphenolic antioxidants in black and green tea, the polyphenols in rooibos tea may help prevent diseases associated with free radical damage, such as cancer and heart disease.
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