Rooibos Origins
The story of Rooibos started over 300 years ago when the indigenous bushmen of the area, the Khoisan people, harvested the leaves from the Aspalathus Linearis plant. They used the leaves to make herbal remedies for many ailments. And they loved the delicious, aromatic taste.
Then in 1772, European botanist Carl Thunberg observed the way the indigenous people climbed the mountains to find wild rooibos plants. His captivation with this practice revived a more widespread interest in the tea drink. Early Cape-Dutch settlers started drinking this tea as an alternative to expensive black tea from the East.
Fast forward 200 years to 1904 when Benjamin Ginsberg appeared on the scene. This young Russian immigrant, (considered the ''father'' of commercial Rooibos Tea), joined his tea-trading father on the farm Rondegat in the Clanwilliam district of the Cederberg. Ginsberg had a fascination with the plant. So he began marketing the drink as a ‘Mountain Tea’ , a herbal alternative to tea.
What is Rooibos?
Rooibos is unique to South Africa’s Western Cape region, grown from seed or seedlings, from one cultivar only, Aspalathus Linearis. Rooibos is a needle-like bush with a deep tap root system and a 5 year life cycle.
Rooibos is naturally caffeine free unlike Black or Green Tea. lt has a naturally sweet taste with a smooth texture.
The benefits of Rooibos
Rooibos has long been used as a natural remedy for many conditions. Now, researchers are studying potential medical uses.
The rooibos plant may have numerous medicinal uses. It's an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and may be beneficial in heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and myriad other conditions.
Some of those uses are starting to gain a level of scientific backing. Researchers have delved into an array of other possible uses.
Green Rooibos
Unfermented green rooibos has not undergone the fermentation process that gives rooibos it's distinct red colour. Green rooibos is therefore higher in antioxidants with increased health benefit. pH levels of unfermented rooibos is slightly higher than fermented rooibos.
Try our our green rooibos today.