love Rooibos tea. My favorite right now is Pecan Rooibos. Delicious.
Rooibos tea is a tisane, or an herbal tea, made by infusing rooibos in water and it is naturally caffeine-free. South Africa is the only country that produces rooibos and have been for centuries. It is native to South Africa's mountainous region of Cederberg.
Rooibos means "red bush" in Afrikaans, a language of southern Africa.
There are two kinds-rooibos and green rooibos. They differ in how they are processed. The fully oxidized (exposed to air before drying) rooibos is red in color. The green is less oxidized.
The common pronunciation of rooibos is ROY-BUS. This brew protects cells from damage. Rooibos may be good for heart health and may reduce cholesterol levels, but more tests need to be done to fully understand how rooibos is beneficial.
The best tea is always loose leaf because the quality is usually better, but this usually for store bought teas.
Rooibos is not a true tea. True tea comes from the camellia sinensis plant. Teas from this plant are black, oolong, green, yellow, white and puerh. All these teas contain caffeine.
I like cold brew for Rooibos. This tea can be kept covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
To make cold brew put rooibos (1 1/2 teaspoons loose or 1 tea bag) into cool or room temperature water (8oz.) in glass container and cover. Place in refrigerator for at least 12 hours. Stir to make sure all leaves are dampened by the water and not sitting on top of the water surface. When ready, strain and drink.
I like rooibos with agave and rice milk. Sometimes a dash of cinnamon or vanilla.