Why You Should Reward Yourself With Rooibos Tea…
Red bush tea — also known as redbush tea or rooibos — is one of the most distinctive teas in any well-stocked herbal cupboard. Deep mahogany red in colour, naturally sweet in flavour and completely caffeine-free, it has been drunk for centuries in the Cederberg mountains of South Africa and has found a firm following in British kitchens over the past few decades.
This post covers what redbush tea actually is, where it comes from, what it tastes like, how to brew it well, and how to choose between bags and loose leaf.
What is redbush tea?
Red bush tea is made from the needle-like leaves of Aspalathus linearis, a shrubby plant that grows almost exclusively in the Cederberg mountain region of the Western Cape in South Africa, around 200km north of Cape Town. The green leaves are harvested, bruised and left to ferment in the sun, during which process they turn the characteristic dark red-brown colour that gives the tea its name. The result is an infusion with a warm, earthy sweetness and none of the astringency you get from black tea.
In South Africa it is called rooibos — the Afrikaans word for red bush. In the UK market it is most often sold as redbush or red bush tea, and both names refer to the same plant and the same ingredient. There is also a green rooibos, which skips the fermentation stage — paler in colour and slightly more grassy in character — but the red fermented version is by far the most widely available and most familiar.
Does redbush tea have caffeine?
No — redbush tea is naturally caffeine-free. This is not the result of a decaffeination process; the Aspalathus linearis plant simply contains no caffeine. That makes redbush tea genuinely suitable at any time of day without any need to moderate when you drink it, including in the evening or overnight hours when you might otherwise avoid tea or coffee.
It also contains very low levels of tannins compared to black tea, which means it does not have the slight bitterness that can come with a strongly brewed breakfast tea, and it brews without going bitter if you leave it to steep longer than you intended.
What does red bush tea taste like?
The flavour is warm, naturally sweet and gently earthy — with a depth that makes it feel more substantial than many herbal infusions. It has a softness to it that makes it very approachable, and because it brews without bitterness, it works equally well with or without milk. Many people who drink it regularly use it as a direct everyday substitute for black tea, particularly if they are cutting back on caffeine.
Cold-brewed or iced redbush is also worth trying. Brew it slightly stronger than usual, allow it to cool, and pour over ice. The sweetness comes through clearly and it makes a naturally pleasant cold drink without any added sweetener — though a small amount of honey or coconut sugar works well if you prefer something a little more rounded.
Red bush tea bags or loose leaf?
Both are good options and the choice is largely practical. Redbush tea bags are convenient for everyday use — simple to brew, easy to take to work, and consistent from cup to cup. Our tea bags use biodegradable filter mesh and come in plastic-free outer packaging.
Red bush loose leaf tea gives you more control — you can vary the amount to suit your preferred strength, and the cut herbs are visible and recognisable. Loose leaf often has a slightly more open, aromatic quality when brewed in a teapot or with a good infuser, because the leaf has more room to move in the water.
For a practical starting point: if you drink redbush tea daily and want a consistent, fuss-free experience, tea bags are perfectly suitable. If you enjoy the process of brewing and want more flexibility over strength and volume, loose leaf is worth trying. Many regular drinkers keep both.
How to brew redbush tea
Redbush tea is straightforward to brew and forgiving — unlike some green teas, it does not need precise water temperatures or strict timing to taste good.
For a hot cup: Pour freshly boiled water over a tea bag or a heaped teaspoon of loose leaf in an infuser. Steep for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how strong you like it. Redbush can be left longer without turning bitter. Drink as it is, or add a small splash of milk and a little sweetener if you prefer.
For iced tea: Brew two tablespoons of loose leaf or two tea bags in a cup of freshly boiled water. Steep for 8 to 10 minutes — slightly longer than usual to allow for dilution over ice. Leave to cool for 10 minutes, then pour over ice and serve straight away.
Where our Rooibos tea comes from
Our organic redbush tea is sourced from the Cederberg region of South Africa, where the plant grows naturally and where rooibos cultivation has a long and well-established history. Both our tea bags and loose leaf tea are Soil Association certified organic. The bags use biodegradable mesh and come in plastic-free packaging.
For more on how redbush fits alongside other caffeine-free herbal teas, our guide to the best organic herbal teas UK drinkers come back to covers it alongside peppermint, chamomile, ginger and more.
