Ingredients
Tea
- 4 tsprooibos leaf, or 4 rooibos teabags
- 1 litrewater, freshly boiled
Optional
- milk
- honey or sugar
- a slice of lemon
- a stick of cinnamon
For an iced version
- ice
- lemon
- mint
To serve
- hot, in mugs
Directions
- Use water at a full rolling boil. Cooler water gives a weak, pale, thin infusion.
- Warm the pot with hot water first and pour it away.
- Use about a teaspoon of leaf per cup, and more if you like it strong.
- Pour the boiling water over and cover the pot. Now steep it for at least 5 minutes, and 10 is better.
- Strain it into cups and serve at once. A slice of lemon and a spoon of honey is the other common way, particularly when someone has a cold.
Technique
- Honeybush is the related Cape shrub and tastes sweeter and more floral.
- It is naturally sweet enough that many people take it without sugar.
- It keeps well in the pot and is often left standing all day.
Substitutions
- Green rooibos, which is lighter and grassier.
- Honeybush, which is a different plant and a similar drink.
Variations
- Rooibos espresso and cappuccino.
- Iced with lemon and mint.
- Brewed with cinnamon and cardamom as a spiced version.
History
Aspalathus linearis grows only in the Cederberg; Benjamin Ginsberg began marketing it around 1904, and the EU granted rooibos protected status in 2021.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rooibos tea?
Rooibos tea is a drink from South Africa: caffeine-free red-bush infusion from the Cederberg mountains. Aspalathus linearis grows only in the Cederberg; Benjamin Ginsberg began marketing it around 1904, and the EU granted rooibos protected status in 2021.
How long does Rooibos tea take to make?
Rooibos tea takes 2 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking. The recipe makes 4 cups. It is rated easy to make.
What can I substitute in Rooibos tea?
Yes, within limits. Green rooibos, which is lighter and grassier. Honeybush, which is a different plant and a similar drink.
