Rooibos Tea
Having grown up in South Africa, I was fortunate to have been exposed to Rooibos (Red Bush) tea from an early age. Drinking hot, cold, with milk or without has always been part of my lifestyle. And I was delighted to find it easily available here in the UK, both in shops and online.
Rooibos is grown in the Western Cape area of South Africa, in a small coastal region. It is part of a general family of plants in the region known as fynbos. People have tried to grow Rooibos elsewhere in the world, but none have been particularly successful. The unique weather conditions and soil types make reproducing the real thing in other places very difficult indeed.
It can be served in a variety of ways. Many will drink it in exactly the same way as they drink other teas – with or without milk and sugar is a personal taste. One of the most common ways to drink Rooibos is to brew it hot and strong, and then simply drop a slice of lemon into your cup. In the summer, some of us like to brew it up, let it cool and then keep a big jug of it in the fridge. Makes a very refreshing cold drink – and it’s good for you!
There are numerous benefits of Rooibos (I’ll stick to the Afrikaans name, if you don’t mind!). Obviously, for those of us who have the taste, we simply enjoy it! It’s part of our culture!
Rooibos can be enjoyed in any weather, and is delightfully refreshing. But there are also numerous, genuine benefits, some of which I will attempt to describe…
Caffeine free: for those who don’t do caffeine, this is an excellent option. As there is no caffeine in the tea in the first place, it does not have to be adapted in any way to remove caffeine, keeping it natural. Of course this makes it drinkable by those who can’t have caffeine, such as pregnant women. It is also perfectly safe for young children – many parents do not like their little ones having caffeine if at all possible. Some parents even put mild Rooibos into the baby’s bottle to help colic, as Rooibos has been proven to be good for various stomach ailments.
Helps you sleep: the lack of caffeine in Rooibos leads to the next benefit. Many people, myself included, will often have a cup of Rooibos before we go to bed. As it has no caffeine, it is a more sensible option than coffee – caffeine has been proven to keep us awake. Additionally, Rooibos has a soothing effect, helping us relax and improving the chances of a nice, restful sleep.
Antioxidants: one of the best known benefits of Rooibos is that it contains antioxidants. These are particularly good at fighting free radicals, which are cells that damage healthy cells. The high level of antioxidants in Rooibos can help keep away various illnesses, not least of which is heart disease. Some studies have shown that the chances of contracting certain cancers are reduced by drinking Rooibos regularly.
Circulation: evidence suggests that Rooibos can have a positive effect in fighting heart disease. It can help reduce high blood pressure, and has even been shown to help with diabetes. The same can be said for liver disease – Rooibos can be recommended for both prevention and as part of the therapy. Studies have even shown that Rooibos can be good at helping prevent respiratory problems, and in the treating of these.
High mineral content: Rooibos contains high levels of certain minerals that are important for our bodies. These include magnesium, calcium, manganese, iron and zinc.
Good for your skin: recent studies have shown that a recently brewed Rooibos teabag, when applied to the area, can reduce inflammation and help cut down on the effects of acne. Make sure you let the teabag cool first, though, before you put it on your face!
All in all, Rooibos is good for, and is enjoyable to drink. Of course, it is not a magic cure all – like most herbal teas, Rooibos is recommended for prevention, rather than cure. Watch what you eat, and do enough suitable exercise. But I can certainly recommend Rooibos as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Alice in Wonderland – and tea!
“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. “I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.” “You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.” “Nobody asked your opinion,” said Alice.”
― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
Coffee Bombs!
Did you know that during World War Two there was a major shrotage of coffee in Germany? The Allies took advantage of this by dropping bags of coffee, or “coffee bombs”, to turn the people against their leaders.
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Be grateful…
I wake up some mornings and sit and have my coffee and look out at my beautiful garden, and I go, ‘Remember how good this is. Because you can lose it.’
– Jim Carrey
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Teapot
The very sight of a teapot puts a smile on the face of most people. One cannot help but think of more serene and genteel times. From a whimsical child’s teapot to an elegant English Teapot, to collectible teapots that adorn some homes,
they are a subtle reminder of all that is good in this world.
– Barbara Roberts
Chinese Tea Legend
One of the many legends surrounding the founding of tea as a favoured refreshment tells us that tea was discovered about 5,000 years ago by Chinese Emperor Shen Nung.
One lone leaf of tea is said to have blown into the emperor’s pot of boiling water. He found that the leaf improved the taste of the water, but he was delighted to find out that it also seemed to have a stimulative effect.
And the rest is history…
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There’s more than one kind!?
“What kind of tea do you want?”
“There´s more than one kind of tea?…What do you have?”
“Let´s see… Blueberry, Raspberry, Ginseng, Sleepytime, Green Tea, Green Tea with Lemon, Green Tea with Lemon and Honey, Liver Disaster, Ginger with Honey, Ginger Without Honey, Vanilla Almond, White Truffle Coconut, Chamomile, Blueberry Chamomile, Decaf Vanilla Walnut, Constant Comment and Earl Grey.”
-“I.. Uh…What are you having?… Did you make some of those up?”
― Bryan Lee O’Malley, Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life
Did you know…
Did you know that…
Approximately 500 billions cups of of coffee have been enjoyed worldwide. This makes it the most consumed drink on the planet!
If Teacups Could Talk
“The very act of preparing and serving tea encourages conversation. The little spaces in time created by teatime rituals call out to be filled with conversation. Even the tea itself–warm and comforting-inspires a feeling of relaxation and trust that fosters shared confidences.”
– 
Emilie Barnes, If Teacups Could Talk
Afternoon Tea
Afternoon Tea
My copper kettle
whistles merrily
and signals that
it is time for tea.
The fine china cups
are filled with the brew.
There’s lemon and sugar
and sweet cream, too.
But, best of all
there’s friendship, between you and me.
As we lovingly share
our afternoon tea.
– Marianna Arolin
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