Rooibos Tea Selection

Can’t decide which Rooibos Tea to have? Choose from 5 mouthwatering brews with our Rooibos Tea Selection, which includes Rooibos Tea, Rooibos Earl Grey and Lemon, Rooibos Caramel, Rooibos Oriental Night, and Rooibos Mango and Bamboo. Each selection is 50g and offers something different from the last. Be adventurous today while also reaping the benefits of frequent Rooibos Tea consumption.

Rooibos is one of the healthiest herbal teas around, best known for being caffeine free and low in tannins. When consumed as part of a healthy and active lifestyle, it can likewise lesson symptoms of allergies and provide weight loss properties. Evoke the spirit of South African tea with a twist! Buy our Rooibos Tea Selection and find your new favourite beverage!

Rooibos Tea is growing in popularity with each passing year. In 1998, 1,230 tons of Rooibos was produced for the market. In 2007, however, exports had risen to 14,000 tons. That’s quite a leap! But it hasn’t always been this way. In fact, around 200 years ago, it looked as if Rooibos might have been forgotten all together (thankfully, it wasn’t).

The Rooibos herb grows only in the Cederberg region of South Africa, a mountain range and nature reserve located approximately 180 miles (300 kilometres) from Cape Town. It comes from the perennial Aspalathus linearis plant, a member of the Legume (sometimes called the Fabaceae) family. Rooibos is subjected to some of the harshest conditions of the African continent. Wintertime temperatures in the Cederberg region can dip well below zero while in the summer, it is not uncommon to have temperatures above 40°C.

The plant was first consumed by the Khoisan people, the region’s indigenous population, who enjoyed it for its taste and health benefits, similar to today. It became a staple of their societies and was highly revered for many centuries; that is until 1660, when the first European pioneers arrived. For the next 100 years and beyond, Dutch and British colonists began to encroach on Khoisan land. As colonisation spread, the Khoisan tribes depleted in numbers, their way of life nearly eradicated and with it Rooibos consumption all but disappeared.

Then, in 1772, a Swedish botanist named Carl Thunberg (1743-1828) rediscovered the leaves high in the mountains; a brew once adored was revived and given a new lease of life. Its popularity spread gradually throughout the country but, for the most, Rooibos Tea was of little interest to anyone outside of the African continent.

But change was on the wind in 1904 when Benjamin Ginsberg, a Russian immigrant and pioneer with ties to the Tea Industry, began marketing Rooibos as a “Mountain Tea”. He started trading with local farmers and eventually explored the prospect of exportation. Ginsberg’s rebranding kickstarted a new widespread interest in the drink. Rooibos was here to stay.

Without the work of Carl Thunberg and Benjamin Ginsberg, as well as Dr Annique Theron who wrote the first book on the health benefits of Rooibos Tea – we might not have the beverage we know and love today. Can you imagine a world without Rooibos Tea? We certainly can’t!

Type of Tea: Herbal Tea.

Origin: The Cederberg Region, South Africa.

Brewing Instructions: Brew using freshly boiled water and infuse for 5 to 10 minutes (applies to all).

How to Serve: Every one of our selections is best served without any accompaniments although honey or lemon may also be considered as optional extras.

Tasting Notes in Order of Above Listing:

Rooibos Tea: Red Bush tea is widely recognised for its rich earthy flavours with slight woody and nutty undertones.

Rooibos Earl Grey and Lemon: While flavours of Bergamot oil are slightly subtler than in traditional Earl Grey Blends, the taste is still recognisable with its delightfully smooth texture and unmistakable aroma.

Rooibos Caramel: Rooibos Caramel Tea has indulgently sweet notes of Almond and Caramel with subtle woody and nutty undertones.

Rooibos Oriental Night: Experience an exotic infusion as you savour the rich aromas of spices wafting from your cup. Take your first sip and enjoy the lovely smooth taste of star anise and cinnamon melting on your tongue with slight floral notes seeping through underneath.

Rooibos Mango and Bamboo: The irresistible aroma of mango wafts from your cup long before you take your first sip. As you taste this sweet nectar, savour the wonderful bursts of fruitiness, complimented by the subtle addition of bamboo leaves. This beautiful infusion will only add to the overall flavour with grassy and nutty undertones. Rooibos Mango and Bamboo’s tropical combination is also guaranteed to leave a luscious and delectable fruity aftertaste.

Health Benefits: According to some experts, about 20-25% of all babies meet the definition of “colic”, a condition often used to describe any infant that cries for an extended period of time, suffers from restlessness and sleeplessness and, in some cases, has gastrointestinal issues (more a side effect than the condition itself). A colicky baby is not an unhealthy baby but nevertheless, can be a very distressing experience for both parent and child. Consider giving your baby Rooibos Tea, either as a warm brew or iced tea, or even an iced lolly, to lessen the symptoms of infantile colic.