South African Rooibos - Rooibos, made from the South African "red bush,  is a caffeine-free herbal beverage that is rapidly gaining popularity due to its pleasant, tea-like character, sweet-fruity flavor and its numerous health benefits. Rooibos is very low in tannins so it cannot turn bitter even after extended brewing times. It is delicious both hot and chilled.

The History of Rooibos - No one exactly knows how old the Rooibos plant is, or when the plant from the Cederberg Mountains in the Western Cape region of South Africa was first used to prepare a beverage. In 1904, the Russian immigrant Benjamin Ginsberg, witnessed the preparation of Rooibos. As son of a tea trader’s family,  he immediately realized the potential of the aromatic beverage and began to market it in South Africa and later overseas. Soon the rising demand could not be satisfied any longer by the few naturally growing red bushes. In 1930 the physician and botanist Dr. Peter la Fras Nortier, together with local farmers, developed methods of cultivation. The Rooibos awareness grew significantly in 1960 when Annique Theron discovered that adding Rooibos to her colicky child’s warmed milk had a soothing effect on the allergic baby.

This discovery led to numerous subsequent health studies about Rooibos. Besides being a delicious, self-standing beverage, Rooibos is used as a natural additive in baby foods and in cosmetics. Its beautiful, amber-red hues are used as food coloring and its smooth taste make it a popular agent for juices, soups and other food recipes.

Health Benefits of Rooibos - Rooibos has been known for centuries in South Africa for its unique medicinal properties - from soothing upset stomachs and aiding with digestion, calming nervous tension and lowering blood pressure, to providing relief from allergies such as eczema. The many health benefits of this unique beverage are just beginning to be validated and appreciated. An herbal infusion rather than an actual tea, rooibos has many of the benefits of Camellia Sinensis without the caffeine.

Like green and white tea, rooibos tea is an excellent source of antioxidants, which appear to reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases including cancer. It is also packed with health-boosting polyphenols and contains a unique antioxidant called aspalathin, which counteracts the atherosclerotic processes that result in heart disease. Rooibos is a rich source of flavonoids, which in addition to their antioxidant capabilities have antiviral and anti-tumor properties.

Furthermore, Rooibos is popular among athletes, as it is a rich source of depleted minerals after a workout. Three grams of Rooibos in 8-ounces of water contain: 1.09 mg of calcium, 0.22 mg of fluoride, 0.07 mg of iron, 1.67 mg of manganese, 7.12 mg of potassium, 6.16 mg of sodium and 0.04 mg of zinc. Rooibos is also very low in tannins, which are said to inhibit the absorption of protein and iron.

Besides having none of the negative effects of caffeine, rooibos is even thought to have a soothing effect on the nervous system. Some people report that drinking a cup prior to bedtime helps with insomnia. Rooibos tea is believed to have anti-aging properties and recent studies point to its potential in protecting against age related damage to the brain. An unpublished study by the Institute for Medical Science of Aging at the Aichi Medical University in Japan called Rooibos the "Anti-Aging Beverage" (see pg. 35, Tea Almanac 2001 Fresh Cup Magazine). The anti-aging properties are said to stem predominantly from Rooibos ability to remove free radicals.

Rooibos is completely safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as young children. Researchers know of no adverse side effects associated with the use of rooibos tea, so it can be drunk regularly and freely. You could say that this is one case where more is better!