In 1772, a botanist by the name of Carl Thunberg, was the first to report Rooibos Tea. However, for thousands of years before that, people of Khoisan were using the tea for its value medically. Later, because black tea was so expensive, many people turned to Rooibos Tea as an alternative. Depending on the process of the tea, it can be green or red. This directly depends on if fermentation or oxidation is used in the creation process.
Also known as Red Tea, Rooibos Tea, is a very popular drink among many nations and ethnics. For example, in most places, the tea is consumed without the addition of any milk or sugar, because most people define the tea as a sweet drink, with a slightly nutty taste. However, in the South African region, the people generally add some sugar and milk prior to drinking. Rooibos Tea is known as a very close relative of the black tea. The two processes and brewing preparations are extremely similar. The only real differences are the end color and the amount of brewing time needed.
You see, with black tea, you end up with a dark black color, hence the name. At the same time, steeping of black tea is short, oversteeping results in an extremely bitter taste. However, with Rooibos Tea, the longer you brew the tea, the more improvement the flavor shows.
Of course, besides the great tastes to be had with this type of tea, there are many medicinal properties as well. One very popular aspect of Rooibos Tea, particularly with the health conscious is that it is caffeine free. In fact, it has been compared with Chamomile Tea, with the only difference between the two being the fact that Rooibos Tea is free from caffeine and Chamomile is not.
If this is true, then Rooibos Tea is a great natural alternative to medication for many ailments such as, colic, allergens, depression, menstrual cramps, toothaches, and even insomnia. Of course, there are many other health benefits that the tea possesses, all of which has been based on extensive research and studies.
So, as you can see Rooibos tea has a long history and is not only tasty but it's good for you to! It's no wonder, that this is being touted as one of the new health drinks and is being sold in many health stores as well as local markets.
The tea has no caffeine and only half the tannin of ordinary tea. Apart from being refreshing to drink, in place of ordinary tea and coffee, it has the advantage of containing minerals and powerful antioxidants. Having no oxalic acid it also does not irritate the kidneys.
The Japanese scientists, who did studies in the 1960's, discovered Rooibos contains a powerful antioxidant similar to SOD which is thought to retard aging and quercetin which is believed to have potent anti-inflammatory properties. Besides that Rooibos is also found to contain aspalathin which counteracts the atherosclerotic processes that result in heart disease. Due to this the Japanese promote it as an Anti-Aging Tea and import large quantities of the tea.
Research was done elsewhere where the French found that hair lotion containing Rooibos promoted faster hair growth with improvement in the hair condition and caused no allergic reactions. In South Africa research found that the polyphenol content in Rooibos is similar to green tea. Polyphenols help protect the body from damage by free radicals.
Rooibos has been found to be helpful with general health problems. It relieves digestive problems, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and constipation. Having a calming effect it helps with irritability, insomnia and depression.
Both pre natal and breast feeding Mothers supplement their intake of manganese, calcium and fluoride drinking Rooibos and therefore promote strong teeth and healthy bones in their babies. Rooibos, when applied at every nappy change, relieves nappy rash and when drunk by the baby relieves colic.
Preparation of Rooibos is the same as ordinary tea. First warm the tea pot with boiling water and then place one teaspoon of tea or tea bag per cup required in the pot. Pour over boiling water and let infuse for a few minutes. The longer it is left before drinking the more antioxidants the tea will contain. Can be served plain, with hot or cold milk or lemon. It can be lightly sweetened with honey or sugar or just left without any sweetening. Rooibos also makes a wonderful ice tea.
In South Africa Rooibos Tea is often used in day to day cooking as not only does it add important minerals and antioxidants to the diet and help digestion, it also enhances the flavors of the cooking. Just replace the water in a recipe with the tea.
Next time you are in your health shop or in a department store stocking specialty teas, why not pick up a packet and try it out?
Both Lee Dobbins & Nicky Pilkington are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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