When I was at the World Tea Expo a few months ago, I stopped by the booth of Rooibos Limited. I wanted to learn more about Rooibos – The Red Tea. I needed to see what all the hype was about. Rooibos Ltd. is actually from the Cederberg region of the Western Cape in South Africa. So, they know Rooibos on a first-name basis. For those of you that are new to Rooibos, it is not tea. It doesn’t look like tea. It doesn’t smell like tea. It doesn’t taste like tea. Rooibos is a species of plant called Aspalathus linearis. Tea is produced from a species of plant called Camellia sinensis. However, you can purchase Rooibos almost anywhere tea is sold. Thanks to the marketing efforts of companies such as Rooibos Ltd., Rooibos has become a regular in the tea scene.

I point out in a lot of my blogs that I am a fan of caffeine. I’m aware that many of you are looking for decaffeinated alternatives to caffeinated beverages. Although it doesn’t taste like tea, it does have a naturally pleasing flavor. In addition, Rooibos is packed with antioxidants to help battle everything from aging to improving your cardiovascular health. Rooibos is naturally decaffeinated. I haven’t tried many decaffeinated teas, but I do like Rooibos better than many of the decaffeinated teas I have tried. It has a naturally sweet flavor to it with a silky-smooth texture. The color of its liquor is vibrant and red. So, the tisane has a lot going for it. I’m now completely sold on Rooibos in a “tea” bag. Unlike many teas, I don’t taste a difference between bagged and loose leaf varieties of Rooibos. So, I’m a fan of bagged Rooibos. I have tried Rooibos iced, and it is a great alternative to iced tea. My recommendation is for you to try Rooibos to help you form your own opinion. You will most likely not be disappointed.

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