Herb
Rooibos
A naturally caffeine-free red tea from South Africa, rich in antioxidants and gentle enough to enjoy any time of day.
⤢📊 How it ranks (our editor score) — 89/100Tap to see the breakdown
🌱 What it is
Rooibos, or 'red bush,' is a shrub native to South Africa whose needle-like leaves are dried and fermented into a reddish, slightly sweet tea.
📜 Where it comes from
Rooibos comes from the mountains near Cape Town, South Africa, where indigenous Khoisan peoples first harvested the wild shrub and brewed its leaves into tea. Dutch settlers adopted the practice in the 1700s, and rooibos became a beloved local drink long before international export began in the 20th century. It is now enjoyed worldwide as a caffeine-free alternative to black tea.
✨ Why it's good for you
- May help support relaxation without caffeine
- May help supply antioxidants that support overall wellness
- May help support gentle, everyday hydration
- May help support a calm evening routine
🥗 Nutrition
Per 1 cup brewed tea (240ml) · about 2 calories
- Aspalathin (antioxidant)
- Naturally caffeine-free
- Trace minerals
Source: Nutrition estimate (per typical serving)
🥄 How to use it
Steep 1 teaspoon of rooibos in hot water for 5–7 minutes for a smooth, slightly sweet, caffeine-free teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea →; enjoy it plain, with a splash of milk, or iced.
How much: As teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea →, 1 teaspoon (or one bag) per cup, freely through the day.
Why it works: Herbalists attribute rooibos's calming, gentle character to its lack of caffeine and its content of polyphenol antioxidants, which nutrition science associates with cell-protecting effects.
Show full details & how to prepare it
Rooibos is a reddish 'bush teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea →' from South Africa that's naturally free of caffeine, which makes it a wonderful any-time drink — including the evening, when caffeinated teas would keep you up. It's smooth and naturally a little sweet, and rich in antioxidants.
Because it has no caffeine and is so gentle, it fits beautifully into a temperate, calm lifestyle as a comforting replacement for coffee or black teaA warm drink made by steeping herbs in hot water. How to make a tea →. Steep it like any tea and enjoy it hot, iced, or with a splash of plant milk.
Ways to prepare it
⚠️ Cautions
- Very gentle and well tolerated, with no caffeine.
- Extremely high intake has rarely been linked to liver effects — ordinary tea amounts are fine.
- As with any herb there's a small chance of interaction, but it's among the gentlest teas, well tolerated even alongside medication.
📚 Learn more
🌿 Deeper natural detail
🩺 The conventional view
💬 Ask Remy about Rooibos
📚 Resource confidence
Based on mentions in health references
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