Red Tea | Rooibos Tea

Red tea, also known as rooibos tea, or red bush tea, is a South African herbal tea made from the leaves of the red bush plant, Aspalathus linearis. Red tea is rich in antioxidants and has been traditionally used for centuries to promote good health. Today, red tea is enjoyed by people all over the world for its unique flavor and health benefits.

What is Red Tea?

Red tea, Red bush tea, or, maybe more commonly known as rooibos (Roy-Bos) tea, is a type of herbal tea that originates from South Africa and comes from the Aspalathus linearis plant. This plant grows in the Western Cape region of South Africa, and the leaves are used to make this unique type of tea. It has a distinctive reddish color and a slightly sweet and nutty flavor. It has similarities to black tea and is sometimes used as a caffeine-free replacement for black tea. Red tea is enjoyable on its own and can be had with milk and sugar. It also makes delicious iced tea! Try it year-round, hot or cold.

Chinese red tea is also called black tea and could also be identified by the term red tea. However, for the purposes of this post, we will focus on the herbal red, rooibos “red bush” tea.

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What does Red Tea Taste Like?

Red tea is said to have a sweet, mild, and nutty flavor. It is a very smooth tea with no bitter aftertaste. This might be because it contains only a very low amount of tannins. Tannins are a natural compound found in true teas such as black and green tea. This compound can result in bitter tea if over-steeped or prepared with too hot water. Fortunately, this is not a concern with red tea.

Is Red Tea the same as Rooibos Tea?

Red tea, Red Bush tea, and Rooibos tea are actually the same thing – they are both made from the Aspalathus linearis plant, and have the same distinctive warm reddish color and slightly sweet flavor profile.

What are the Health Benefits and Risks?

Red tea is generally safe for most people to drink, but it’s important to be aware of the potential risks before consuming it. Read here for more details on benefits and risks.

Benefits

For most, red tea is a healthy beverage. It is naturally caffeine free and richly packed with antioxidants. This profile provides numerous health benefits, such as improved heart and cardiovascular health, reduced bad cholesterol, lower inflammation, cancer-fighting properties, and better blood sugar control.

Caffeine Content

Red tea is caffeine-free and has a number of health benefits, including being rich in antioxidants. However, if you want caffeine, try brewing with black tea which does contain caffeine.

Red tea vs. Black and Green Tea

Red tea contains no oxalic acid, which is different from both black tea and green tea, it also contains far fewer tannins. It is also not a true tea but is considered a tisane or herbal tea. For those reasons alone, Red tea is a great alternative tea to try. Like both green tea and black tea, red tea tastes wonderful on its own or with milk and sweetener.

Risks

For generally healthy people, negative effects from drinking red tea appear to be rare and highly unlikely. However, like with any changes to health routines, make sure to consult with your doctor or health care provider to discuss the impact this tea will have on you! Better to be safe!

How to Store Red Tea

When brewed correctly, this tea produces a cup that is rich in flavor. Proper care and storage will keep your next cup just as delicious as the first!

Taking care when storing your tea will help to keep it fresh and prevent it from losing its flavor. In general, this tea can be stored for up to six months without losing any of its quality.

However, when it comes to storage, it should be kept dry, in an airtight container, and placed in a cool, dry place.

If you live in a humid climate or are looking to store it for a long time, try storing rooibos in the fridge, or freezer for even longer storage periods!

Does Red tea go bad?

If maintained properly, herbal tea never truly “goes bad” but may lose flavor quality over time, and exposure to poor conditions will accelerate this process.

Brewing Red tea, Rooibos, or Red Bush tea

Brewing the perfect cup of red bush tea is easy, and there are a few simple tips to follow to ensure that your tea turns out perfectly every time. Here’s what you need to know:

• Red bush tea should be brewed with water that is just at boiling, approximately 212° F.
• Steep tea for about 3 – 5 minutes, enough time for it to fully infuse and reach the full potential of the flavor profile.

How to Brew your own cup!

Brewing the perfect cup of red tea is easy! Try these steps to make your own.

1. Prepare your pure filtered or spring water, and use a clean kettle,
2. Brew tea with water that is at boiling, approximately 212° F,
3. Add 1-2 teaspoons of red tea leaves to 8 ounces of water and steep for 3-5 minutes, depending on desired strength and taste,
4. Be sure to strain the tea before enjoying it.
5. Add and stir-in milk or sweetener (or alternatives) as desired.
6. Slow down, take a deep breath, and enjoy!

Note, for iced red tea, brew as directed, allow to cool, then pour over ice.

Infusions

Try adding these other ingredients for additional flavor to your herbal tea!

• Lemon
• Vanilla
• Cinnamon
• Ginger

Time for a soul-warming cup of Red Tea!

No matter the name, Red tea, Rooibos tea, or Red Bush tea, is a great choice for a delicious and healthy cup of tea. Red tea is caffeine-free and rich in antioxidants, is full of flavor, and is easy to brew. No matter how you choose to enjoy it, Red Tea is a delicious and healthy way to relax and unwind! So go ahead and brew yourself a cup today.

MORE HERBAL TEA RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE!

• Pine Needle Tea
• Rooibos Tea
• Lavender Tea
• Violet Tea
• Bay Leaf Tea
• Rosehip Tea
• Chamomile Tea
• Lilac Tea

What is your favorite feature of this warming tea? Let me know in the comments below!

If you try this recipe, please come back and leave a review!