Common Use: This enchanting tea with a flavor some describe as fruity, sweet, rounded, mild and smooth with a refreshingly herbal texture.
Botanical Name: Aspalathus linearis
Certified Organic, Fairly traded Origin: South Africa
Production: Similar to the production of black or green teas, the green rooibos leaves are harvested, cut and bruised (often with mechanical rollers), and then exposed to heat for several days to allow oxidation (fermentation). However, unlike tea prepared from Camellia sinensis, Rooibos tea does not turn bitter with long-term simmering as it has less than half the amount of tannins and it contains no caffeine.
Qualities: Rooibos (pronounced roy-boss) or "red bush", grows exclusively in the Western Cape Province of South Africa. It is named after the distinctive reddish-brown color it takes on once the plant has been oxidized. Rooibos tea is believed to be high in anti-oxidants, contains nine trace minerals including iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, calcium and sodium, as well as many yet unknown micronutrients.
Storage: Store in a cool, dry, dark place in a sealed container.