Rooibos properties: what you need to know

For decades now, rooibos has been attracting a lot of interest and its consumption is growing in Western countries, especially among people who are looking for an alternative to coffee, or drinks containing caffeine (or theine, the name of the caffeine contained in tea).

For those who need to avoid caffeine or limit their consumption, a cup of rooibos is indeed an excellent choice: the leaves of this small tree originating in South Africa, South Africa, is an excellent option.

For those who must avoid caffeine or limit its consumption, a cup of rooibos is indeed an excellent choice: the leaves of this small tree native to South Africa that we are going to present to you do not contain any exciting substance.

But the benefits of rooibos go far beyond the absence of caffeine. The properties of rooibos make it an excellent ally for your health. 

With its richness in antioxidants, it helps reduce cellular aging, has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, is beneficial to the nervous and immune system ... and can even help you prevent anemia and improve your iron level in the blood. 

How is this possible? We explain you all about rooibos properties.

Rooibos properties: what is rooibos?

Although we sometimes refer to it as rooibos tea or rooibos tea, the term is incorrect. When we refer to rooibos, we should really be talking about a rooibos infusion, or rooibos infusion.

Rooibos tea.

Rooibos does not come from the tea plant, the Camellia Sinensis (from which we get black tea or green tea, for example), but from Aspalathus linearis, a small tree in South Africa. In the Afrikaans language, "rooibos" means "red bush", from the color its leaves take on once they are dried.

To make rooibos, the leaves are left to oxidize in the sun - just as tea is made - and it is this oxidative process that gives rooibos its flavor and characteristic red color.

In South Africa, rooibos leaves have been used for medicinal purposes since the 17th century, but it took a century for it to be studied and popularized by Europeans. 

This growing interest in the healing properties and benefits of rooibos developed its production and marketing, and its success was such that today we can find rooibos in 140 countries.

What is rooibos good for? What are the reasons for its success?

The properties of the well-known "rooibos tea", actually called rooibos, make it a wonderful drink to take care of your body, having a high content of minerals (iron, copper, sodium, potassium, zinc, magnesium, manganese, fluorine, calcium), vitamins A, C, E, and antioxidants (flavonoids). We reveal below the multitude of benefits of Camellia Sinensis

The rooibos is attributed with multiple properties

- Rooibos protects your cells. Thanks to its contribution in antioxidant nutrients (vitamin C, flavonoids, superoxide dismutase, and quercetin) rooibos fights free radicals responsible for cellular aging, metabolic stress and many cardiovascular diseases, degenerative diseases and brain aging.

- Protects your skin from free radicals that are responsible for cellular aging, metabolic stress and many cardiovascular diseases, degenerative diseases and brain aging.

- Protects your skin and skin diseases. The antioxidant effect of rooibos is especially beneficial in protecting the skin, moisturizing it and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

It is also used in the prevention and treatment of skin conditions due to its zinc and acid content.

- Take care of your digestive system. Rooibos is a natural antispasmodic that protects your stomach and intestines. In South Africa, it is a traditional remedy for colic, particularly for children. Difficult digestion, abdominal pain, excess gas, irritation of the intestinal walls, diarrhea or spasms are some of the ailments that rooibos fights thanks to the soothing effect of the flavonoids it contains.

- It is an isotonic drink, particularly interesting if you do sports. It helps you to recover after physical exercise and avoid cramps thanks to its mineral and vitamin content. Excellent for rehydrating after exercise and recovering electrolytes. Keeps you healthy after exercise.

- Maintains the health of your bones and teeth, thanks to its fluoride, calcium and manganese content. It protects your joints and can contribute to the prevention of arthritis, osteoporosis and other joint conditions. Rooibos also takes care of your mouth: it is a good ally in the prevention of caries and the protection of the gums.

- It helps you defend against allergies. It works as a natural antihistamine in cases of asthma, respiratory and skin allergies, thanks to quercetin that blocks excessive histamine production. Several studies have highlighted the importance of this substance to combat allergies to pollen, dust or hay fever.

- Take care of your nervous system and prevents anxiety thanks to the presence of magnesium. Magnesium is a natural tranquilizer that maintains energy balance in neurons and acts on nerve transmission, keeping the nervous system in perfect health so it is recommended for times of discouragement or stress. In addition, several studies have observed that flavonoids, such as quercetin contained in rooibos, can contribute to the relief of nervousness and anxiety, thus allowing to prevent insomnia as well.

- Take care of your vascular health. It has been observed that rooibos can help in lowering blood pressure thanks to its content of chrysoeriol, a flavonoid that improves blood circulation due to its blood vessel dilating effect. Rooibos is also linked to the reduction of bad cholesterol levels due to its quercetin content. There are also studies on the effects of rooibos on blood circulation.

- There are also promising studies on the therapeutic potential of antioxidants in the treatment of diabetes and cancer. Hopefully in the future these substances can bring even more benefits to our health!

Foods rich in iron: rooibos tea to prevent anemia

Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells, responsible for carrying oxygen to the body's tissues. Iron is an important part of them: without iron, the blood cannot carry oxygen effectively.

Iron deficiency anemia, or iron deficiency anemia, is the most common form of anemia.

Various factors can reduce our iron reserves: an unbalanced diet, with insufficient consumption of iron-rich foods, poor iron absorption, bleeding (heavy menstrual periods, stomach or intestinal ulcers ...) The doctor will always help us to determine exactly the causes of anemia through a blood test.

To increase our iron reserves, it is very important to follow a varied diet and include in it foods rich in iron, of animal and vegetable origin. Here also enter the infusions of iron-rich plants such as rooibos, thanks to its high content of iron and vitamin C which facilitates its absorption. It is perhaps one of the properties of rooibos less known but worth noting: a cup of rooibos infusion (3 grams) contains 0.07 mg of iron, so 3 cups are equivalent to one third of the iron that our body needs. A not inconsiderable fact!

But rooibos provides even more. Remember we said that rooibos, sometimes called rooibos tea, is not a tea? Not being tea, rooibos does not have tea. You're going to think, rightly, that's a given! It is, but it's a point we want to make, because for those people who suffer from anemia, it's a very important piece of information.

Why is it so relevant? Because several scientific studies have directly linked caffeine with lower iron absorption, a fact that is not very widespread but that people with iron deficiency should be aware of.

After extensive research, it has been observed that drinking a cup of coffee with a hamburger reduced iron absorption by about 30%. It was also found that drinking instant coffee with bread reduced iron absorption by 60-90%. It has also been observed that the stronger the coffee, the lower the iron absorption.

Good. But you might think: if I'm anemic and feeling tired, a coffee or tea will do me a lot of good to give me this little boost and keep me going with energy. How do we solve this equation?

Now comes the good news: it has been proven that the effect of caffeine on iron absorption depends on when the caffeine is ingested. If the intake is far from mealtime, for example, a couple of hours before or after eating, it will not impair iron uptake.

You can for example accompany your breakfast with a rooibos and, if you usually finish a meal with a coffee, replace it with rooibos. Take your tea or coffee between breakfast and lunch, or between lunch and dinner, ie away from a meal that carries iron-rich foods, so as not to interfere with its absorption. This is the trick!

Discover here our rooibos to complete your iron intake.

Rooibos: alone or accompanied, always delicious

Rooibos is very versatile and can be consumed in many ways without getting bored!

Rooibos can be consumed alone or with others, always delicious.

It can be consumed cold, hot, with or without milk. 

You can sweeten rooibos, but try it only first, because it has a naturally sweet and fruity flavor that does not require the addition of honey, sugar or sweetener. Important! sweet taste does not mean hidden calories: the calorie content of rooibos is practically zero, so, if you are following a slimming diet, rooibos is your friend!

If you love tea, but want to vary the pleasures and discover new flavors, or if you can't drink tea, but love fruity or spicy blends, dare to try rooibos: it will offer you a multitude of possibilities to provide you with sweet and tasty moments.

Discover it !

Find your favorite Rooibos

In Tea Shop you can find original rooibos, in its pure version, or in blends that include vanilla, cinnamon, orange, apple, almond, ... even bits of coconut, raspberry or chocolate, everything is allowed!  We have spectacular Rooibos blends that will leave no one indifferent with their flavors and aromas:

One of the favorites of our Tea Lovers: Rooibos Portuguese Delights, a sweet and creamy infusion of irresistible charm to enjoy at breakfast, snacks and as a dessert that recalls the ingredients of the famous puff pastry tartlet with cream. 

What do you think of the glazed chestnut flavor? Find it in our Rooibos Marron Glacé! with the woody lapacho and the full-bodied cocoa shell, it becomes an irresistible delicacy, reminiscent of the flavor of the sweet French specialty of glazed chestnut: Marron Glacé. 

For the true sweet tooth, Rooibos Safari: coconut and chocolate, a daily treat, exclusive to the South African area of Cederberg, with limited production.

The spectacular Rooibos Vanilla could not be missing, with vanilla chips, delicious!

Don't miss the best selection of Rooibos and take advantage of all the properties of rooibos while enjoying a cup full of flavor and aroma. Welcome to the world of Rooibos!

How to prepare Rooibos?

Infuse 2g (1 measure) per 200ml at 95 ºC for 5-10 min. It's that easy!

Recipes with Rooibos