Rooibos tea comes from the Aspalathus linearis plant, which is native to South Africa. The plant produces needle-like leaves that growers must crush and ferment before the tea is ready to process and package. As a commercial crop, rooibos is a relative newcomer to the herbal tea scene, with growers starting to cultivate the plant in the 1930s. The tea has rumored health benefits, and brewing methods vary from one source to the next. Enjoy the tea in moderation, but consult your doctor before using rooibos to treat any medical condition.
Rooibos
Rooibos tea contains antioxidants in the form of flavonoids, according to the South African Rooibos Council. The brewed tea is reddish-brown and contains traces of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iron and manganese. Rooibos is low in tannins and is naturally caffeine-free.
Brewing Time
Typically, the longer a tea steeps, the higher the percentage of constituents the brewed tea will contain. However, this is only valid up to a certain length of time, depending on the specific tea. After that, most of the beneficial components will already have been released, and further brewing time will not alter that appreciably. Rooibos tea is brewed for its taste, and EnjoyingTea.com suggests an optimal brew time of between three and five minutes, when steeping 1 tsp. of rooibos in 1 cup of boiling water.
Brewing Methods
Unlike most herbal teas, rooibos is sometimes made using milk. Follow the instructions and times for the water version and add milk after straining the tea. Alternatively, you may substitute milk for water and brew rooibos directly in the milk. If you will add milk later, use additional rooibos leaves in the initial brew.
The Complementary Medicine department at the University of California San Diego suggests a stronger version of rooibos tea, which is made by steeping up to 4 tsp. of rooibos in 1 cup of boiling water for up to 10 minutes. Since clinical tests on the benefits of rooibos tea are lacking, there is no way to determine which of these methods yields a tea with the maximum health benefits. Try both methods and choose the one with the taste you like best.
Considerations
The UC SanDiego website reports that rooibos tea is considered safe for most people, but this may be due, in part, to a lack of research and information about the herb. General safety guidelines apply, so do not use rooibos if you're pregnant or breastfeeding, and do not give rooibos tea to a child unless directed to do so by a physician.
Member Comments