Rooibos (Red Bush) Herbal Tea

[Texas Star]

Rooibos - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Read this article on Wiki for details.

I use it in the Twining's brand, my favorite for "normal "tea, too. But Lipton and others offer it.

This stuff is loaded with antioxidants that fight cancer, asthma, and allergies. From what I can tell, it does have some effect on asthma and nasal allergy. It also seems to aid digestion.

I was about to take some antiacid tablets last night and tried a cup of rooibos. It did the trick.

It tastes good, too. I add sugar or honey. No caffeine, so it won't keep you awake.

In South Africa, it's grown in the Western Cape province. The early Dutch settlers sometimes used it because real tea had to come in by sailing ship and was expensive. (Cape Town was settled in 1652.)

If you've looked for a pleasant alternative to caffeine- containing hot beverages to drink late at night, or just want the health benefits, look into this.

Let me know what you think of it, and if it helps your allergies.

 

[timn8er]

I'm going to try that for sure.

 

[labworm]

Lipton Tea, is the only one for me, been drinking it for 50+ years.

I've been boycotting English Tea since December 16, 1773

Celestial Sleepytime for those who want to take a nap.

Lot's of new stuff on the market to try.

 

[Alnamvet68]

I've tried that redbush when I was in the UK.

 

[USAF385]

Did someone say tea?! Well, technically rooibos isn't tea, but it's sure good!

Mmmmmm


Just make sure you know at what temperature and how long to steep.




(Sent via phone so please forgive any typing errors)

 

[Frank237]

Drank it in RSA and brought some home with me. Few years back found that Starbucks generally had Rooibos.

 

[Texas Star]

Drank it in RSA and brought some home with me. Few years back found that Starbucks generally had Rooibos.

Starbuck's usually has nothing that I want and their coffee is the worst I've had. I'll see if they have rooibos, and who blends it.

 

[1911Girl]

I have it too, though full leaves. Love the taste. Really good for you

Love my teas!

 

[Texas Star]

Did someone say tea?! Well, technically rooibos isn't tea, but it's sure good!

Mmmmmm
View attachment 103415

Just make sure you know at what temperature and how long to steep.
View attachment 103416



(Sent via phone so please forgive any typing errors)

Twining's says to let steep for 2-5 minutes, depending on desired strength, about like "normal" tea. I leave the bag in the cup for maybe four minutes. You'll soon see which you prefer.

Alas, they have just 20 bags per carton now, instead of the old 25. That happened several years ago. But the prices didn't jump. Sometimes, I find their teas on sale, but they're usually about $2.50-$2.75, anyway. Cannisters of loose tea are roughly similar. I see the rooibos only in bags.

 

[USAF385]

My wife is in charge of buying the tea. Our current rooibos is vanilla almond.. Pretty good for a change.. mixes things up a bit. I'm a fan of the gunpowder green in the above picture, it has a very smoky taste. No sugar or anything needed. I've gotten used to drinking mine without sugar. I wanted to try it authentic Chinese / Japanese style and got hooked. You can really appreciate the tea that way.

I haven't tried rooibos with sugar or honey yet, but I was reading that milk and honey are good in it.. Maybe I'll give it a try tonight. Hopefully my wife won't see me do it!

 

[shouldazagged]

On the other hand, if you like a robust, gutsy black tea, try Twinings or Bigelow Irish Breakfast blend. Lovely stuff.

 

[USAF385]

I stopped by "Wegmans" on my way home and snapped a shot of their loose leaf collection. The prices range from $9 to $80 per pound. Their bagged tea is on the right. It's a pretty decent selection for a place that's not a specialty tea store.



(Sent via phone so please forgive any typing errors)

 

[Maddog 521]

They sell it at Whole Foods Central Market and It's pretty good.

 

[Texas Star]

On the other hand, if you like a robust, gutsy black tea, try Twinings or Bigelow Irish Breakfast blend. Lovely stuff.

Of course, you are now referring to "real" tea, Camellia sinensis.

Twining's Irish Breakfast is a blend of fine Assam teas, from NE India. I also like Taylor's of Harrogate's Assam tea, but think Twining's has an edge for delicacy and flavor.

My other favorite real tea from Twining's is their Ceylon Orange Pekoe. Orange pekoe is a CUT of tea, not a type.

I published an article on coffee in a major newspaper some years ago and was recently planning a similar one on tea. But after operating all the 'buttons" on Twining's site, found little to say that their site doesn't. Hit that site and read it thoroughly. You'll learn a lot about tea. The history alone is quite interesting . Just getting tea plants out of China so that it could be grown elsewhere was a major industrial espionage undertaking and smuggling operation. www.twinings.com

I think USAF 385 is confused about rooibos. ?? Not all herbal teas are rooibos, quite far from that! Rooibos is only from one plant, grown in South Africa, in the Western Cape. It will be labled as such.

The poster who said that rooibos is available in Texas in Whole Foods and Central Market stores didn't make it clear that these are separate grocery chains. Central Market is the upscale version of the parent HEB stores chain. Both firms have locations in the Dallas-Ft.Worth area. I have not shopped at Whole Foods in several years, and am glad that they also have rooibos tea. I get mine at a Tom Thumb store (Safeway owns it, but they're nicer stores) , but am going to ask my local Central Mkt. to stock it. They do have Taylor's teas and most of the Twining's line. They also have some lesser brands that I've found just acceptable, if that. (I would gladly pay the slight difference to get Bigelow's English Breakfast tea over HEB's own brand.)

It may be useful to mention that when we speak of real tea (not herbal infusions/teas) they are all the same plant that I mentioned above, originally from China, although now grown widely in India, Ceylon, a few parts of Africa, etc. The tea trade still calls Ceylon by that name, although politically, that island is now Sri Lanka. It is a very large island off the southern coast of India. Tea from these regions differs in flavor a little due to soils and climates, as with the Cabernet sauvignon wine grape. The differences are readily perceived by tea enthusiasts. Tea from around Darjeeling is much lighter and more delicately aroma-ed than tea from Assam, although both regions are in NE India. Altitudes, soils, and climates account for the difference. But it is all TEA, not herbal teas.

Rooibos, chamomile (sp?) , etc. are HERBAL teas or infusions, and shouldn't be confused with "normal" "tea" tea. Those have specific medical uses or are used to induce relaxation or drowiness, or to aid digestion, etc,.. and should be regarded as having medical uses. They 're basically a form of folk medicine, some being very primitive in human usage. I don't know a lot abut them, except for rooibos. Your health food stores may have literature, or you can research specific ones on the Web. Consult your doctor before using them, in case they may conflict with any medication you may be taking.

 

[BeSmiley]

I like Celestial Seasonings Madagascar Vanilla Rooibos. Quite often I just drop a bag into my water bottle for a bit of flavor. It can stay in there all day, never turns bitter.

Used to drink coffee all day but started having stomach problems, so turned to tea. Have to have my English (or Irish) Breakfast with honey and half-n-half, can't give up that cream! Drinking honeyed tea everyday for 4+ years has helped with my allergies, fewer symptoms means less time on allergy drugs.

 

[Maddog 521]

Texas Star I buy that Rooibos at Central Market which is off Hulen in Fort Worth. I believe it is $3.89 for 25. Like I said, I really like it.

 

[Maddog 521]

Texas Star are you familiar with the tea plantation in South Carolina? I think it is the only place where tea is grown in the US.

 

[Texas Star]

Texas Star are you familiar with the tea plantation in South Carolina? I think it is the only place where tea is grown in the US.

I've heard of it, but don't know any details. Tea is very labor intensive and that costs money. Foreign agricultural workers cost less than those in the USA. And climates and soils here are probably not ideal for growing tea.

For the record, if we're taliking real tea (not herbal teas), my favoite is Ceylon Dimbula from the better growing regions and best shippers. Twining's is the best that I've found. Taylor's also has some garden-specific teas, but they aren't available here right now. (Where I live.)

Other than Ceylon, my favorite is probably the more refined Assam tea, like Twining's Irish Breakfast blend.

Of the English Breakfast blends, I like Taylor's, which seems to have more Ceylon tea than some.

If anyone knows about that tea plantation in South Carolina, I'd be curious.

 

[reddogge]

I used to be a fan of Twining's Lapsong Souchong tea. A strong tea made from toasted tea leaves giving a smokey flavor (my wife hates the smell). Great on a camping trip. I can't find it anymore anywhere.

 

[USAF385]

I think USAF 385 is confused about rooibos. ?? Not all herbal teas are rooibos, quite far from that! Rooibos is only from one plant, grown in South Africa, in the Western Cape. It will be labled as such.

I don't think I said all herbal tea was rooibos. Unless you're referring to the vanilla almond rooibos I have in my post? Another rooibos we get is a "blood orange rooibos tisane". (Tisane is herbal tea) It's made of orange peel, apples, rose hips, hibiscus, cranberry along with rooibos. It's very good.

I've never gotten into "English" teas. I don't have a taste for them. I dont often drink black teas. I'm much more interested in green and white. Baihao Yinzhen is my favorite white, which is a little cliché, but it really is something else if brewed properly. If you ever try it, make sure you get first flush, which is around April. Good tea providers will have this information for you.

I have found most people who have had negative experiences with greens and whites haven't had them brewed properly. Don't use boiling water. Not all whites should be brewed the same way, same with greens or oolongs. Even though two teas might be whites, they can have different times and temperatures.

I think a big problem is people who are accustomed to tea bags and simply use boiling water. I blame the popularity of black tea, which is often put in boiling water even though most should be brewed just under boiling. Brewing green or white tea in boiling water results in bitter tea, and that's why sugar started being used.