Rooibos tea benefits

Rooibos tea is actually herbal tea, made from a bushy plant that grows in Africa. This delicious tea, which is one of the staple drinks in Africa, has numerous health benefits and today it is widely available outside of Africa too.

About rooibos tea

Unlike black, green or white tea, rooibos does not come from the tea plant. It is in fact made of leaves of red bush called rooibos, and the tea is also called red tea, bush tea, South African red tea or redbush tea.

The process for making rooibos tea out of leaves starts with oxidation, much like other teas. Green rooibos tea is another variety of this tea, and it is made without oxidation process. However, green rooibos tea is more expensive than regular rooibos.

Rooibos tea is very popular especially because of its distinct brownish-red color and because of the amazing, naturally sweet taste.

Health benefits of rooibos tea

Like green and black tea, rooibos tea contains high levels of antioxidants, like aspalathin and nothofagin. Antioxidants are very important for good health because they counteract the free radicals and reduce the damage they cause. This is important as it can prevent several serious diseases, like Alzheimer’s, heart disease and cancer.

Rooibos does not contain caffeine and it is therefore suitable even for those who should not consume caffeinated beverages, like pregnant women and children. It is also low in tannins, meaning it does not affect the absorption of iron and other important nutrients.

It is a naturally sweet tea that does not require additional sweeteners like sugar and honey. This is why many dieters prefer it to other beverages.

Rooibos tea helps with nervous tension, allergies, headaches, digestive problems, insomnia, depression and irritability.

This tea is naturally rich in several important minerals, especially magnesium. It has antispasmodic properties and it is recommended in treatment of menstrual cramps, indigestion, heartburn, ulcers, constipation, nausea, vomiting and many more.

Rooibos tea is suitable for children and it can even be given to infants. Some mothers use it to treat colic in their babies, as well as asthma, allergies and skin issues.

Considering all these amazing properties of rooibos, it is perfectly clear why this delicious tea has become so popular all over the world. It can be purchased as tea bags in grocery stores and supermarkets, and specialized tea shops also offer the loose leaf variety of both regular and green rooibos tea.

There are no strict guidelines about consumption of rooibos tea, but it is recommended to drink at least a cup or two per day in order to reap all of its benefits.