As the weather cools, my Rooibos drinking increases.  There are some days I can’t sit down to drink tea until later in the evening.  I’m fortunate to be nearly immune to caffeine, but with my tight schedule I don’t like to risk it.  Rooibos is a great tea alternative.  For those of you new to tea and Roobios, tea and rooibos are completely different.  Rooibos is a South African herb known as bush tea.  In fact, it continues to gain aliases – Red Tea, etc.  Just remember, it’s not tea.  Having said that, it still contains a high level of antioxidants.  With tea, you’ll often hear debates about the quality of loose leaf tea compared to the dust and fannings found in most store-bought bagged teas.  Rooibos, in my opinion, is better in a tea bag.  It’s finely chopped and far less of a mess when prepared with a tea bag.  Another major benefit of Rooibos is the fact that it is naturally decaffeinated.

I like to brew the Rooibos until it has produced a deep-dark color in my cup – typically 3-5 minutes.  The beverage is naturally sweet, and it has a unique herbal flavor that creates a pleasant drinking experience.  Rooibos has a very low tannin level; which is another great benefit for those that cannot drink beverages with higher tannin levels. The Rooibos I’m drinking tonight contains Sceletium.  African Red Tea describes the tea/sceletium as: “This red tea has Sceletium powder added to it. An all natural and very effective anti-depressant, Sceletium elevates mood, decreases anxiety and tension. Sceletium is also known to reduce addictive cravings particularly with regard to nicotine and lessens the withdrawal effects of alcohol. Consult with a doctor before taking. Do not take during pregnancy.”

A Rooibos that comes with a warning…  I’ve had several cups, and I feel fine. Anything that decreases anxiety and tension is worth a try for me (as long as it’s safe).  I don’t detect much of a flavor difference between the Rooibos with Sceletium compared to the original Roobios.  Please research Sceletium before trying this product.

Visit African Red Tea

marTEA

Visit African Red Tea®

marTEA

The ingredients (Made by hand, with all raw ingredients): Almonds, coconut, pumpkin seeds, figs, raw agave nectar, rooibos extract 18:1, sea salt, and vanilla extract (totals 130 calories per bar).

The African Red Tea® Bars had the same texture as a chewy granola bar.  There was a slight crispness to it, but for the most part it was chewy.  The coconut and almond flavors really stood out for me.  It had just the right amount of sweetness from the raw agave nectar.  After a few bites, I started to detect a hint of Rooibos flavoring.  This would make a great snack for someone that really enjoys Rooibos or tea related products.

Buy one or learn more about African Red Tea®

marTEA

Take a second to think about that…isn’t that everything you’ve been wanting from tea – well, almost? I’m sure scientists can debate the antioxidant levels between tea (camellia sinensis) and Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis). Since I don’t have a lab in my house, I’ll take their word for it – Rooibos has a high level of antioxidants.

Now, the Rooibos with Buchu…what is Buchu?: Buchu is an herb indigineous to South Africa only and has a mint like smell and taste. The Buchu leaf preparations have a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine as a urinary tract disinfectant and diuretic.

The first thing I noticed was the scent of the tea before it ever met the water. The Buchu has a very wild scent to it. I was reminded of a mix between mint, licorice and a freshly cut field full of wild shrubs. The scent didn’t floor me, but it was just so interesting that I couldn’t wait to drink the Rooibos. After I let the Rooibos soak in the boiling water, I was left with a dark infusion. There was a bitter and minty scent coming from the steam of the liquor. I loved this “tea” from the first sip. The Rooibos with Buchu just has a lot of character. From its “wild” scent to its very unique flavor. Just imagine a naturally sweet beverage mixed with a hint of bitter mint, and you have African Red Tea® with Buchu. This was a very enjoyable beverage. I enjoyed the fact that it was very much a native South African beverage. In addition, I liked that it was a totally different Rooibos experience for me. I could sip on this often. I found it to be very helpful clearing my sinuses. The beverage leaves a pleasant aftertaste as well. I highly recommend this Rooibos. It has more character than I expected – very good.

• Visit African Red Tea

marTEA