Rooibos Oriental Night Tea

Rooibos Oriental Night is another fine example of a Scented Redbush Tea, with its name not only reflecting its mesmerising appearance, but also its incredible taste!

This Rooibos is a flavoured blended with exotic spices and blossoms, this unique Rooibos Tea will take you on an enchanting journey with its sensual and magical aromas and tastes guiding you through the Orient.  

Where is Rooibos Tea From

Rooibos is unique to the Cederberg Region of South Africa, where it has grown in abundance for thousands of years. Thriving in some of the world’s harshest conditions, the Rooibos shrub can be subjected to temperatures below zero during the winter, and above 40C in the summer!

Despite being nurtured by the tea industry for centuries, Rooibos is technically not a ‘tea’ at all! In fact, its produce comes from the Aspalathus Linearis plant, rather than the Camellia Sinensis plant, making this distinctive blend a tisane by nature. Its name derives from the Afrikaans language, with the translation meaning ‘Red Bush’, although it is also known as ‘Bush Tea’ or ‘Red Tea’. 

This traditionally South African beverage shares a relatively young history with the tea industry compared to the likes of Green tea and Black tea. In fact, it was not until the 18th Century that a more widespread interest in the beverage was firmly established. Before then, however, Rooibos Tea was consumed by the Khoisans who are the native tribespeople of the region.

It had originally been used for herbal remedies within their communities, and later developed into a generally popular drink. Despite this, the cultural tradition of its consumption came under threat in the 18th Century, when European settlers encroached on the territories of the tribespeople, resulting in their dwindling population.

In fact, Rooibos Tea was almost lost to the ages, if it had not been for a Swedish Botanist by the name of Carl Thunberg, who rediscovered the leaves in 1772 and revived a more widespread interest in the tea-like drink.

As Rooibos steadily increased in popularity over the course of the next 150 years, a Russian immigrant with ties to tea manufacturing, Benjamin Ginsberg, began marketing the beverage as an Herbal Tea alternative to normal tea, rebranding it as “Mountain Tea” in 1904.

Soon, Rooibos was being exported to the farthest reaches of the globe, and by the Second World War, sales reached record levels as many Western Nations turned to South Africa for their tea-needs. This was largely due to the Imperialist Japanese Forces occupying many tea-growing regions in Asia, resulting in limited exports from the Far-East.

Today, Rooibos or Redbush is considered one of the most up-and-coming beverages available on the market. In fact, demand for Rooibos Tea has increased by more than fifty percent in recent years alone, largely due to Scientific Studies uncovering the outstanding health benefits of drinking Rooibos! To find out more information on how Rooibos can help you in your day-to-day life, please see our Health Benefits section below!

Type of Tea: Loose Leaf Rooibos.

Origin: The Cederberg Region, South Africa. 

Ingredients: Rooibos Tea, Cinnamon pieces, Star Anise, Natural Flavouring and Chinese Jasmine Blossoms.

Brewing Instructions: Brew using freshly boiled water and leave to infuse for 8 to 10 minutes. 

How to Serve: Consider adding Honey or Lemon as optional extras. Alternatively, this blend can be simply enjoyed as it is or chilled in the hot season.

Tasting Notes: Experience an exotic infusion as you savour the rich aromas of spices wafting from your cup. Take your first sip and enjoy the lovely smooth taste of star anise and cinnamon melting on your tongue with slight floral notes seeping through underneath.

Colour in Cup: Ruby coloured liquor, dark in tone.

Rooibos Health Benefits 

With our Rooibos Oriental Night tea, you can expect benefits such as improved bone and cardiovascular health, reduced risks of diabetes and incredible antispasmodic properties.

Further to this, Rooibos tea is rich in antioxidants, as well as containing mineral contents such as Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Copper, Manganese, Zinc, Magnesium, and Alpha Hydroxy Acid. If that wasn’t enough – Rooibos tea is caffeine-free!