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Rooibos

Drinks & liquids · Teas & infusions

Rooibos

Naturally caffeine-free South African red bush infusion with a sweet, woody taste, drunk hot, iced or with milk.

Also called: rooibos tea, red bush tea, redbush tea, bush tea, red tea (rooibos)

Around the world: rooibos, rooibostee (af)

1 recipe with it

Photo: soultea.de /André Helbig, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

What it is

Rooibos is the dried, fermented (oxidised) leaves and stems of a South African shrub, cut into fine red-brown needles. It is not true tea (Camellia sinensis), so it contains no caffeine. It brews to a reddish-amber liquid; unoxidised 'green rooibos' is paler and grassier.

Aspalathus linearis

How it’s used

  • Brewed hot with honey, lemon or milk
  • Iced rooibos and cold brews
  • Rooibos lattes and chai-style blends
  • Steeping liquid for soaking dried fruit or in baking

Characteristics

Taste
Naturally sweet, mild and woody, with notes of honey and vanilla.
Aroma
Sweet, earthy and slightly smoky.
Appearance
Fine red-brown needles; brews deep red-orange.
When cooked
Doesn't turn bitter with long steeping, so it can be brewed strong.
Sold as
dried
Cooking uses
Suitable for boiling

Storage

Cool, dry and dark. Keep in an airtight container away from moisture and strong smells.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Caffeine-free.

Related ingredients

Recipes with rooibos

  • Rooibos tea

    South African · 9 min · 0 kcal · Vegetarian

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