Rooitea also called “Rooibos”,“Rooibush”, “African Red Tea” or “Red Bush.” It grows on the Cedarburg Mountains in Cape Town in South Africa. Rooibos was originally consumed by local mountain people only, until 1904 when it was ‘discovered’ by Benjamin Ginsberg, an immigrant from Russia. Upon harvesting, the green leaves turn dark red while undergoing a fermentation process; this helps enhance the teas flavor. The final process involves spreading the leaves out in the sun to dry.

Rooitea can be served in many different ways. It can be drunk with nothing added, or with some milk, honey, lemon or sugar. It can also be served both hot and cold and mixed with fruit juice. Drinking Rooitea in the nighttime aides in relaxation and helps a person sleep.

Rooitea would definitely be one of the first choices of tea for health conscious people. Not only is it caffeine-free, but it also provides calcium, iron, zinc, potassium, magnesium, manganese and sodium. Since rooitea contains no oxalic acid, it can be drunk freely by those people who are suffering from kidney stones. It not only helps to relieve headache, insomnia, nervous tension, mild depression, hypertension, stomach cramps and colic but also helps to alleviate stomach and indigestive problems like nausea, vomiting, heartburn and stomach ulcers. Rooitea contains many health benefits.

Honeybush has similar appearance and flavor as Rooitea except that it tastes slightly sweeter and its flowers emit a ‘honey’ scent. Honeybush is harvested during the flowering season and can be served either hot or cold. It is also a caffeine-free drink and contains many vitamins and minerals making it a great choice for health conscience tea drinkers.