Rooibos Info

Rooibos ( "roy" + "boss" )

The Rooibos plant or Aspalathus Linearis is indigenous to the Cedarberg Mountains, which are 200 km north of Cape Town, South Africa. This aromatic shrub, which is often called "red bush" is a member of the lequme family. Many consume Rooibos for it's refreshing taste and health benefits. It is a caffeine-free herbal beverage, rich in antioxidants and essential minerals. Rooibos has a mild flavor and a soft, slightly citric sweetness. It is very low in tannins so it cannot turn bitter. A wonderful beverage to be enjoyed throughout the day, both hot or cold.

Rooibos is a popular drink in South Africa and is attracting an incredible number of consumers in Canada due to its refreshing taste and health benefits. Rooibos is caffeine free, rich in antioxidants and essential minerals and is low in tannins so it cannot turn bitter. It’s a wonderful beverage that can be enjoyed by all – children, elderly – both day and into the evening, since it contains no caffeine which can keep you tossing and turning all night.

Listed below are all the marvelous benefits found in Rooibos:

helps delay the aging process! The aging of our bodies is caused by toxic compounds called fee radicals which are produced as a by-product of normal cell function. These free radicals attack our healthy cells. Rooibos contains the enzyme Super Oxide Dismutase, an antioxidant which scavenges on free radicals, limiting their damaging effect

helps relieve stomach ulcers, nausea, constipation, and heartburn

helps with insomnia, disturbed sleeping patterns and headaches. Rooibos contains no caffeine and has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system. A cup of Rooibos before bed helps to ensure a good night’s sleep!

helps pacify infants with colic, stomach cramps. It is 100% natural with no colorants or preservatives. It’s a mother’s miracle!

helps to give you strong bones and teeth because of its calcium, manganese and fluoride content

helps increase iron absorption in the body because it contains iron

helps to control appetite which is beneficial for weight lose

helps to keep skin healthy and smooth and improve skin problems because it contains alpha hydroxyl acid. Rooibos is especially useful when applied to skin irritations like eczema, sunburns, diaper rash and acne. It’s also a great eye wash.

contains magnesium which is necessary for a healthy nervous system

contains potassium and copper which are necessary for metabolic functions

does not contain oxalic acid and therefore can be enjoyed by people suffering from kidney stones

makes a great thirst-quencher and sport drink. Because of its mineral content of iron, potassium, zinc, manganese and sodium, it restores the body’s equilibrium after strenuous excerise.

Rooibos also helps you to recuperate from a hangover

NUTRIENTS	PER 200 ML.
Iron (Fe)	0.07 mg
Potassium (K)	7.12 mg
Calcium (Ca)	1.09 mg
Copper (Cu)	0.07 mg
Zinc (Zn)	0.04 mg
Magnesium	1.57 mg
Fluoride (F)	0.22 mg
Manganese (Mn)	0.04 mg
Sodium (Na)	6.16 mg

PROCESSING OF ROOIBOS

Rooibos is planted in July and August and is then harvested from December until May the following year. Harvesting is a very labor intensive process since about 95% of all the crops are still cut using a hand sickle. The coarse structure of the rooibos plant poses certain restrictions on full mechanization of the harvesting process. The top half of the plant only is cut, leaving it standing about 45 cm.

Tractors then transfer the cuttings from the field to the barn where the leaves and stems are further cut using either roller cutters or traditional tobacco cutting machines. The leaves are then spread out on a tea court to about 30cm thick and covered with sheets to allow for the oxidation process to occur. In a few hours the leaves turn from the green shrub it was in the field to a deep dark red colour The leaves are then thinly spread on cement courts to allow for solar drying. This usually is no longer than 3 days. This oxidation process is very critical and has to be carefully monitored, for it has a tremendous influence on the end quality of the rooibos.

Once the solar drying process is complete the tea is screened to remove most of the stems and debris. Various screen sizes are used to sort and grade the tea, depending on the use and client specifications. Before any packing or shipping can be done the rooibos is laboratory tested by the South African Agricultural Board to determine if it is hygienically suitable for human use.

ROOIBOS MAKES A GREAT BEVERAGE HOT OR COLD

FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY!