Native to South Africa, this tea is actually naturally sweet! Tisane which is the antioxidant found in rooibos tea is what gives it its distinctive earthy flavor and reddish-brown hue.
In this blog we are going to go over all of the health benefits of rooibos tea and why you should be adding this bush tea to your diet!
Did you know this tea is caffeine free? Perfect for those trying to avoid it and or are caffeine intolerant. Also, it has the ability to boost your heart health! Here are all of the facts and benefits that rooibos tea has.
Rooibos tea is harvested near the Cederberg Mountains which is north of Cape Town in South Africa. It is surrounded by sandstone and ancient rock art formations. This is where this bush tea is harvested, and it is surrounded by so much rich history.
Rooibos is considered young compared to the finding of Camellia Sinensis that has been cultivated for thousands of years. That being said, rooibos has gained quite a bit of popularity in a much shorter amount of time.
This tea is only found in South Africa and seven thousand tons of its leaves are exported a year, with shipments ranging from countries such as Japan, Germany, America, Australia, the UK, etc.
Similar to black tea, rooibos is harvested in a similar way. When it is time to harvest, the leaves and stem are cut, bound together, and then tied to be oxidized. It’s the oxidation process that gives this tea such a rich red coloring, the redder the tea the sweeter the flavor.
If you didn’t know there is also green rooibos tea, which has a similar process to that of green tea. Their oxidation process is much different.
This tea is loved for its sweet flavor, and it has a wide variety of health benefits. This tea is slightly sweet, and some people say it has nutty notes, slightly caramel, and a slight fragrance of vanilla.
Now let’s move on to Rooibos teas health benefits.
This tea is low in tannins (it is a polyphenol and works by preserving cellular tissue ageing and it’s the bitter taste you get in certain beverages) as opposed to coffee and wine.
This tea has a high dose of vitamins and minerals that work together to not only make this a delicious beverage, but keep your body happy and healthy.
Lots of teas are chockful of antioxidants and rooibos tea is one of them! This tea contains three of the most powerful antioxidants you can come across.
- Polyphenols: fight free radicals, boost the immune system, and have the ability to reduce infection
- Aspalathin: balances your glucose levels and often times can help those who are diabetic or have sweet cravings
- Quercetin: keeps your heart healthy and has the ability to lower blood pressure
You could say they’re the holy trinity of antioxidants! Who would have ever thought that this little cup of tea could be so packed full of health benefits?
As I mentioned aspalathin, this tea has the ability to lower blood sugar and balance out your body’s glucose levels. This is ideal for those with type 2 diabetes and or are looking to curb sugar cravings.
There have been scientific studies done on animals showing that the link to lowering blood sugar levels is indeed aspalathin found in rooibos tea. This antioxidant has the ability to keep vascular inflammation down which contributes to high blood sugar levels. More human studies have to be conducted, but so far the research is pretty positive for rooibos tea.
Rooibos tea similar to green tea has the ability to aid in weight loss. This tea is extremely low in calories, naturally sweet to curb cravings, and its abilities to reduce stress producing hormones which encourage eating and the storage of fat. Drinking this tea is great for balancing the mind and your body!
This tea is also high in vitamins such as vitamin C, zinc, copper, calcium, manganese, potassium, fluoride, and magnesium. It is acceptable to use around flu season or times of feeling under the weather. This tea will boost your immune system and your overall health!
It is naturally anti-inflammatory, and this means it can treat a wide range of common skin issues and hair conditions. If you’re looking for glossy hair, clearer skin, and reducing the risk of catching a disease this tea is for you.
This is because of its high antioxidant levels, polyphenols, vitamins, and bioactive flavonoid known to help relieve those suffering from hay fever, seasonal allergies, coughs, & seasonal asthma.
If you think those benefits are appealing, how about the fact that this tea is caffeine-free! Yes, this means those who are caffeine sensitive can enjoy this wonderful and not have to worry about the aftereffects of indulging in its richly red deliciousness. If you’re looking for getting a goodnights sleep, you can most definitely sip this tea in the evening without worrying about being kept up at night.
Did you know rooibos tea is great for digestion? That means you can kiss tummy cramps and indigestion goodbye! This tea is great at helping aid your body’s digestive system and is ideal for those with frequent upset or bloat.
Lastly my favorite fact, this tea is anti-aging! This is because it contains AHA (alpha-hydroxy acid) which has been showed to help with fine lines and wrinkles. There was a study done involving rooibos tea and dermatologists and the results were positive! They in fact came back positive that rooibos tea has great skin health benefits and has the ability to help with eczema, skin tone, texture, and reduce the signs of ageing.
Are you convinced yet on getting your hands on this wonderful tea? Don’t put it off, pour yourself a cup and see the benefits for yourself!