Yearning for the Christmas Spirit? It doesn’t have to be December to enjoy our very own Rooibos Christmas Tea! Whether you are out enjoying the summer sun or nestled away on a cold winter’s night, Rooibos Christmas Tea is a delight to the palette throughout all four seasons! With ingredients such as Cinnamon, Blackberry Leaves, Orange Blossom, Safflower Petals, Clove Buds, Cardamom Seed and Ginger, this blend can offer a festive fusion whichever month you choose to try it!
Also known as ‘Red bush’, ‘bush tea’ and ‘red tea’, Rooibos actually originates from the Aspalathus Linearis plant, native to the mountainous Cederberg Region in South Africa. The Rooibos Plant is a member of the Broom Family. This essentially means that Rooibos ‘tea’, isn’t a tea at all! Despite this, Rooibos has been nurtured by the tea industry with its popularity steadily growing every year. It is also oxidized using the same processing method as black tea, giving it a beautiful, deep-coloured leaf and rich flavour. Further to this, Rooibos contains half the amount of tannins found in black tea and is caffeine free!
Rooibos’ story begins with the people of the Khoisans tribes found in the Cederberg Region. For centuries, these bushmen used Rooibos as an herbal remedy to cure a number of ailments. As time progressed, Rooibos was adopted as the tea of choice among the tribespeople and soon became embedded in their culture. Threatened by the European colonial intervention of the 18th Century, Rooibos began to fade from history. In fact, it would not be until 1772 that botanist Carl Humberg rediscovered the leaves and revived a more widespread interest in the tea-like drink.
As Rooibos tea began to slowly increase in recognition, a Russian immigrant by the name of Benjamin Ginsberg began marketing the blend as a herbal alternative to tea in 1904. As the 20th Century continued, so did Rooibos Tea consumption, and by the 1940’s, the western hemisphere looked towards South Africa as tea importing became increasingly difficult due to the Second World War. Now, Rooibos Tea has risen to fame across the world with demand increasing by more than fifty percent in the last decade alone!
Type of Tea: Loose Leaf Rooibos.
Origin: The Cederberg Region, South Africa.
Brewing Guide: Brew with freshly boiled water and infuse for 3 to 5 minutes.
How to Serve: Best served as it is, although lemon can be considered as an optional extra.
Tasting Notes: This blend is truly the taste of Christmas with notes of cranberries and an aroma of marzipan! A full-bodied and smooth flavour that can get any scrooge excited for the festivities!
Colour in Cup: Rich ruby colour, dark in tone.
Contains Allergen: Celery.
Health Benefits: Science has played a crucial part in the revival of Rooibos tea as studies continue to establish the outstanding health benefits of this wonder brew! These benefits include improved Cardiovascular, bone and skin health, lower risks of kidney stones and diabetes, and even anti-aging properties! Further to this, Rooibos Christmas Tea is rich in antioxidants and is also caffeine free. A cup of Rooibos just before bed can help you sleep better, and by removing caffeine from your diet, you can improve your stress levels and even your overall mood!