ROOIBOS TEA

The brick-red tea made from this plant has long been a refreshing beverage in South Africa, and rooibos, or ‘mountain’, tea is a household name in this country. Its popularity worldwide has increased recently, partly because of research into its ‘anti-ageing’ properties.

COMMON USES

• As an antispasmodic for infants prone to colic.
• Soothes skin irritations like nappy rash, eczema and acne.
• May improve constipation.
• May improve liver function.
• May play a role in improving blood sugar levels.
• May promote longevity.

FORMS

• Dried herb/Tea
• Cream

What it is?

The shrub Aspalathus linearis, which grows up to two metres high, is endemic to the slopes of the cedarberg mountain range in the Western Cape. Its Afrikaans name, rooibos (red bush), comes from the fine, needle-like leaves of the plant, which turn red when they are fermented.

For centuries the indigenous people of the Clanwilliam region made a tea from the rooibos by first cutting off the twigs and then bruising the leaves, fermenting them and then drying them in the sun. Today it is one of the few local wild resources that has made the transition to a commercially cultivated crop. The fermenting process is similar to that used for black or oolong tea.

This unique beverage with its characteristic sweet flavour is regarded as ‘healthy’ partly because of its lack of caffeine and its low tannin content. But rooibos tea is also rich in volatile compounds, minerals and other active ingredients which give it its favourable medicinal effects.

What it does?

Rooibos tea contains a wealth of flavonoids, which include aspalathin (found only in rooibos tea), nothofagin, vitexin, isovitex, orientin, isoori entin, luteolin and quercetin. Many of its health-promoting properties are linked to the antioxidant effect of these flavonoids. Recent studies have demonstrated that the antioxidant effect of rooibos tea is made possible by superoxide dismutase (SOD) mimetic substances. SOD is one of the best-known enzymes in the human body capable of neutralising free oxygen radicals as soon as they are formed. Free oxygen radicals cause damage to body proteins and fats, as well as to our DNA (or hereditary material). An imbalance in the body’s oxidant levels is believed to be a contributing factor in a broad spectrum of diseases, including atherosclerosis, inflammatory disease (for example, arthritis), heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cancer and AIDS.

The antioxidant effect of rooibos tea is thought to be similar to that of green tea, although current research has shown it to be less than that of green tea. However, the mechanisms by which rooibos produces its health-giving benefits are still unclear because of a lack of detailed human studies.

Fragrant rooibos tea contains high levels of antioxidants and minerals which are believed to promote general good health.

MAJOR BENEFITS: Rooibos tea is said to have had an effect on dermatological diseases such as Behcet’s disease, Sweet disease and photo sensitive dermatitis. It is also said to have antispasmodic effects and is therefore useful as a drink for infants suffering from colic.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS: Rooibos tea is rich in several minerals including iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and sodium, as well as the trace elements copper, manganese and fluoride. The mineral content of rooibos tea contributes to the maintenance of healthy skin, teeth, bones and metabolic processes.

POSSIBLE BENEFITS: The evidence currently available on the therapeutic value of drinking rooibos tea gives some credibility to the ‘anti-ageing’ claims. Until further research is made available, however, the expectations of a healthier life, rather than an increased lifespan, would seem more realistic.

How to take it?

DOSAGE:

• Internally:
  You can get the benefits of rooibos tea by drinking several cups of the brew each day.
   
• Topically:
  To soothe nappy rash, eczema and acne, apply a rooibos cream or the tea to the affected area as needed. Make your own rooibos cream by adding two tablespoons of strongly brewed rooibos tea to twice that amount of aqueous cream or emulsifying ointment.

GUIDELINES FOR USE: Rooibos tea can be enjoyed at any time, on its own or with meals. It can be drunk safely at night as it contains no stimulants. The tea should be freshly brewed. To prepare it, allow one teabag or heaped teaspoon of loose tea per cup. Pour boiling water onto the tea, and keep warm, Infuse for two to three minutes. Slow brewing on the stove gives good results, too.

Possible side effects
Rooibos tea is very safe, with no reported adverse effects. Since it contains no oxalic acid it can be drunk safely by people who suffer from kidney stones.

SHOPPING HINTS
The quality of rooibos tea is strictly controlled these days, and you can be assured of quality independent of the brand. The super grade is finer and more appropriate for inclusion in tea bags, whereas the choice grade is coarse and used as loose tea.

LATEST FINDINGS
Research currently being conducted in Japan suggests that rooibos tea may have a role to play in the prevention of cancer. However there are no conclusive results yet.

A Japanese researcher found that boiling rooibos tea for 10 minutes or longer resulted in a remarkably higher antioxidant effect than if it was boiled for less than five minutes. One cup (150 ml) of rooibos tea contains approximately 1,5 mg of flavonoids.

Return To The Following Index Pages:

1. Fruit
2. Vegetables
3. Herbs & Spices
4. Vitamins & Minerals