Rooibos
Rooibos is a caffeine-free tisane made from the needle-like leaves of Aspalathus linearis, a shrub grown only in the Cederberg region of South Africa's Western Cape.
Definition
Rooibos (Afrikaans for "red bush") is made from Aspalathus linearis, a legume shrub with needle-like leaves. Commercial production is concentrated in and around the Cederberg mountains north of Cape Town, where the plant grows wild and in cultivation. Khoi and San communities used it long before European settlers, and it became a commercial crop in the twentieth century. In 2021 the European Union registered rooibos as a protected designation of origin. The common red form is oxidized. Harvested stems and leaves are cut, bruised, moistened and left in heaps to oxidize for roughly 12 to 24 hours, which turns the leaf from green to red-brown and develops a sweet, honey and dried-fruit flavor. The leaf is then spread to dry in the sun and sieved into grades. Green rooibos skips the oxidation step and tastes grassier and more herbal. Rooibos contains no caffeine and is low in tannins compared with black tea, so it does not turn sharply astringent with long steeping. Its main characteristic polyphenol is aspalathin, a compound found in very few other plants.
In Depth
Brewing: 2-3 g per 250 ml at a full boil, 100°C (212°F), for 5-7 minutes. Ten minutes or more is fine; the cup gets stronger and deeper red rather than harsh. It takes milk and sugar well and is the base of the South African red cappuccino, made with concentrated rooibos and steamed milk. It also cold brews well: 6-8 g per liter, 8-12 hours in the fridge.
Grades: higher grades have more leaf and fewer stems and sticks, a deeper red color and a sweeter cup. Superior or long-cut grades are typically sold loose; fine-cut grades go into tea bags.
Buying: plain rooibos should smell of honey, wood and dried fruit. Flavored versions add vanilla, citrus or spice. Fine particles pass through coarse infusers, so use a fine mesh or paper filter.
See Also
- South African Rooibos
- Caffeine-Free Drinks