Rooibos Tea: 7 Reasons to Start Drinking It
Rooibos tea, or red bush tea, is made from the Aspalathus linearis plant, which is grown only in South Africa. There are two types of rooibos: oxidized, which is red, and unoxidized, which is green.
Rooibos tea is gaining popularity year after year in Spain, and this is no surprise, as it has the potential to be one of the best infusions you can drink: it's caffeine-free, packed with antioxidants, can be prepared in a variety of ways, and it's also delicious. Read on for 7 reasons why you should start drinking rooibos tea.
Why drink rooibos tea?
- Rooibos tea is caffeine-free.
- Rooibos tea combines very well with other ingredients
- Rooibos tea has extraordinary health benefits
- Rooibos tea is very easy to prepare
- Rooibos tea helps you lose weight
- Rooibos tea is an elixir for the skin
- Rooibos tea has very few contraindications
1. Rooibos tea is caffeine-free
Although rooibos isn't a typical morning tea, it's indispensable in the late afternoon or evening. Unlike conventional teas, such as black or green tea, rooibos doesn't contain caffeine, making it a perfect afternoon or evening drink.
Recently published research has shown that rooibos can significantly reduce levels of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Proper stress management is important for a good night's sleep and overall health. The absence of caffeine and its stress-reducing properties make rooibos the best tea to drink before bed.
2. Rooibos tea combines very well with other ingredients
Rooibos is one of the best infusions to blend. It doesn't have the typical grassy or bitter taste that many other herbs have. Its flavor is sweet and earthy, ranging from very mild to intense, depending on the level of oxidation.
Although rooibos doesn't need any other ingredients to be tasty and refreshing, it's often used as a base for other blends, precisely because of its perfectly sweet and unobtrusive flavor. It pairs well with all kinds of spices, sweet ingredients like vanilla , honey, chocolate, and sweet citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and apricots. Rooibos not only provides a deliciously sweet herbal base, but also adds body and nutrients to the beverage.
3. Rooibos tea has extraordinary health benefits
Rooibos might be one of the healthiest herbal teas in the world. Although rooibos doesn't contain EGCG or L-theanine like green tea, it does contain other substances, such as aspalathin and nothofagin, that provide other important benefits.
Rooibos tea is often used as a soothing tea, to treat skin and aging problems, and as a powerful antioxidant. Antioxidants are able to prevent and repair damage caused by free radicals, restore balance to the body, and help prevent the onset of chronic diseases. Rooibos has become a very interesting ingredient for scientists due to its use in traditional African treatments for illnesses. Dozens of studies have confirmed its benefits, both in humans and animals.
Some of the benefits of rooibos tea are:
- Antioxidant power
- Decreased cortisol levels and reduced stress
- Relief from infant colic
- Reduction of bad cholesterol or LDL
- Antiviral properties
- Improved long-term memory
- Liver protection
- Reduction of blood pressure
- Bronchodilator activity
- Regulation of blood sugar levels
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4. Rooibos tea is very easy to prepare
Switching from using tea bags to drinking loose tea can seem complicated at first. It's important to know the right amount, temperature, and steeping time for each tea, which makes the world of loose tea a bit confusing for beginners.
Rooibos is different. It can be prepared with boiling water, and even if the recommended steeping time of 5 to 10 minutes is exceeded, it won't become bitter. Keep in mind that its small leaves can easily fall through a normal strainer, so we recommend using a very fine mesh strainer or a reusable cotton filter.
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5. Rooibos tea helps you lose weight
Rooibos tea is an excellent beverage for people on a diet or trying to lose weight. It's a way to enjoy a delicious beverage without worrying about its calories, as it's virtually calorie-free, so you can drink it anytime.
Plus, its sweet, full-bodied flavor is perfect for curbing appetite and preventing snacking between meals. Rooibos is also a great aid during exercise, as it contains the minerals and electrolytes needed to stay hydrated and recover after exertion.
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6. Rooibos tea is an elixir for the skin
It's no secret that beauty begins on the inside and that everything we eat and drink is reflected in the health and appearance of our skin. If you think about it, in many countries the national beverage is a tea or a natural infusion. This is the case in Japan with matcha tea, in China with green tea, and in South Africa with rooibos tea. It may be a coincidence, but it could also be due to the fact that different cultures have adopted the most beneficial beverages based on hundreds of years of experience.
Rooibos tea is considered in Africa to be a natural elixir for radiant skin. This tea's anti-aging properties lie in its ability to preserve the epidermis and prevent sagging and wrinkling.
Rooibos tea is often used as a topical remedy for various skin conditions, reducing irritation and soothing the skin. It has great potential for wound healing and can help prevent skin problems caused by solar radiation.
7. Rooibos tea has very few contraindications
Every infusion is different, and caution is always important when adding new herbs or teas to your diet. Some herbs have powerful effects on our bodies, and any remedy can be counterproductive if overused or poorly understood.
Rooibos tea, on the other hand, generally has no side effects and has an excellent track record of contraindications. To date, virtually no cases of problems induced by the consumption of rooibos have been reported. Therefore, it is one of the safest beverages for the whole family, including the elderly, children, and pregnant women.
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