Southern Gardener
Deeply Rooted
Has anyone tried it? I did tonight - vanilla flavored - and I'm sorry to say I didn't like it. from Wikipedia:
The generic name comes from the plant Calicotome villosa, aspalathos in Greek. This plant has very similar growth and flowers to the redbush. The specific name linearis comes from the plant's linear growing structure and needle-like leaves.
The plant is used to make an herbal tea called rooibos tea, bush tea (esp. Southern Africa), redbush tea (esp. UK), South African red tea, or red tea. The product has been popular in Southern Africa for generations and is now consumed in many countries. It is sometimes spelled rooibosch in accordance with the old Dutch etymology.
Rooibos is becoming more popular in Western countries, particularly among health-conscious consumers, due to its high level of antioxidants such as aspalathin[3] and nothofagin, its lack of caffeine, and its low tannin levels compared to fully oxidized black tea or unoxidized green tea leaves.[4] Rooibos also contains a number of phenolic compounds, including flavanols, flavones, flavanones, and dihydrochalcones.[5]
Rooibos is purported to assist with nervous tension, allergies and digestive problems.[6]
Two rooibos flavonoids, quercetin and luteolin have been known to have cancer fighting qualities [7]. Also, rooibos is one of only a handful of plants in the world to contain EGCG epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a potent antioxidant which can decrease heart disease risk [8].
Traditional medicinal uses of rooibos in South Africa include alleviating infantile colic, allergies, asthma and dermatological problems
I did perhaps make it too strong so I may try it again - for now I'll keep having my nightly cup of camomile and honey!
The generic name comes from the plant Calicotome villosa, aspalathos in Greek. This plant has very similar growth and flowers to the redbush. The specific name linearis comes from the plant's linear growing structure and needle-like leaves.
The plant is used to make an herbal tea called rooibos tea, bush tea (esp. Southern Africa), redbush tea (esp. UK), South African red tea, or red tea. The product has been popular in Southern Africa for generations and is now consumed in many countries. It is sometimes spelled rooibosch in accordance with the old Dutch etymology.
Rooibos is becoming more popular in Western countries, particularly among health-conscious consumers, due to its high level of antioxidants such as aspalathin[3] and nothofagin, its lack of caffeine, and its low tannin levels compared to fully oxidized black tea or unoxidized green tea leaves.[4] Rooibos also contains a number of phenolic compounds, including flavanols, flavones, flavanones, and dihydrochalcones.[5]
Rooibos is purported to assist with nervous tension, allergies and digestive problems.[6]
Two rooibos flavonoids, quercetin and luteolin have been known to have cancer fighting qualities [7]. Also, rooibos is one of only a handful of plants in the world to contain EGCG epigallocatechin-3-gallate, a potent antioxidant which can decrease heart disease risk [8].
Traditional medicinal uses of rooibos in South Africa include alleviating infantile colic, allergies, asthma and dermatological problems
I did perhaps make it too strong so I may try it again - for now I'll keep having my nightly cup of camomile and honey!