What is rooibos tea and how is rooibos tea good for you?

South Africa is home to a unique type of tea you may not have heard of before.  This tea is known by the locals as Rooibos (pronounced Roy – bos).

The name originates from the dutch words rooi (red) and bosch (bush).

Another name for Rooibos tea is red tea which can be seen in its unique and distinct red color.

 

Does Rooibos tea contain caffeine?

No, rooibos tea does not contain caffeine.  For this reason, some peopled drink this instead of black or green tea which have caffeine.

 

Is rooibos the same as green or black tea?

No. Both black and green tea are made from the same plant known as Camellia sinensis.  Rooibos is made from the plant Aspalathus linearis.

You can read more about research with green or black tea here.

 

Are there antioxidants in rooibos tea (red tea)?

Yes, the most commonly cited and identified polyphenol is aspalathin.  Another antioxidant is quercetin.

 

What are some of the health benefits of red tea?

The research is still ongoing, however, several have been suggested.

Conditions of the heart

Hardening of the arteries

High cholesterol

Circulation problems

Diabetes

Cataracts

Hay fever

Inflammation

Asthma

Jeremy Johnson, PharmD, PhD


Categories: Antioxidant, Ask the Pharmacist, Inflammation, Plant Medicine