Facts

Rooibos is a pure and natural product as it contains no colourants, additives or preservatives. Rooibos has no kilojoules. Rooibos is available as plain or flavoured tea, as loose leaves or in tea bags. It is often blended with other herbal teas. Rooibos is graded according to colour, flavour, taste and aroma. Rooibos ages well and can be stored for long periods without any deterioration in quality, flavour and taste. In many countries Rooibos is enjoyed as a hot or cold beverage without milk, with or without sweeteners. Many South Africans enjoy Rooibos as a hot beverage with milk, sweetened with sugar or honey.

Rooibos is not a true tea, but a herb. The brew made from the dried Rooibos leaves is therefore a herbal infusion (known as a tisane) rather than a tea, but is widely known as Rooibos tea. Rooibos has a distinctive colour, flavour and aroma, which differentiates it from most other teas. The flavour can be described as slightly sweet and fruity. The vibrant amber colour of Rooibos comes from the natural colour that develops during the post-harvest "fermentation" (oxidation) process, brought about by natural enzymes in the plant. Rooibos is a pure and natural product as it contains no colourants, additives or preservatives.

Smell & Taste

The bundles are cut and bruised to enhance oxidation which brings out the red natural color and flavor. Since Rooibos is naturally caffeine free, there is no need for further processing to decaffeinate the tea. Rooibos has a bold taste being similar to black tea, making it a popular caffeine-free alternative to regular black tea.