The Healing Powers of Rooibos Tea

Rooibos teas is a tea that grows exclusively in south Africa in the western cape province. It is not only tasty but contains a myriad f healing properties. It is loaded with antioxidants and is caffeine free. It is a delicious thirst quencher and is really good mixed with fruit juices on a hot day for a fruit rooibos cooler.

It has been proven by those who drink it to help relieve anxiety, treat asthma, hay fever, stomach cramping, soothe irritable bowel syndrome, boost the immune system, cure insomnia and help colicky infants.

Rooibos tea was first discovered by Russian immigrant Benjamin Ginsberg. He was the first to market rooibos tea in 1904.

Traditionally it is brewed to a deep dark red color. But you can also get green rooibos. The leaves of this shrubby plant are green until processing and then they turn red. Contrary to popular belief rooibos is not fermented but the processing is often referred to as fermentation.

Rooibos is also known as red tea, honey bush tea or sweet tea. Rooibos is a sweet tea with a nutty undertone. It often needs little or know sugar added. It is traditionally drunk with milk added. Of course western culture has caught on to rooibos and you can often find this tea as a base for red cappuccinos and lattes in many coffee houses.

The process of oxidizing this tea is unique as it can be oxidized (red tea) or unoxidized (green tea). Both are beneficial l to you health and are tasty either way. I love green rooibos iced and red hot. But it really is a matter of preference.

This tea is recommended for nursing and pregnant moms and those that avoid caffeine. It also contains no oxalic acid which is what many with kidney stones and disorders want to avoid.

It's healing properties are many. Rooibos is also loaded with antioxidants which help ward off free radicals in the body. These free radicals can be introduced through pollution, pesticides, chemicals and mold. Antioxidants basically kill free radicals. The tea also contains isoflavones and flavones which protect the body from many things such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms.

Rooibos not only has disease fighting properties but it is also loaded with many vitamins and minerals that are essential to human health. These include; copper, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc and fluoride.

You will want to buy your tea from a reputable retailer and get it as fresh as possible. Rooibos can be found in health food stores and specialty tea stores. I like to order mine off the internet because it's easiest where I live and it's not readily available in my area. There are many blends of rooibos on the market today with added ingredients for flavor. Those are tasty too and you will still reap all the benefits of the traditional variety.

Rooibos is so popular it is also showing up in many skin care products as well! It is very effective topically as well as ingested! It's anti aging properties makes it a popular choice in health and beauty products and treatments. It can also be used to speed wound healing as a poultice.

Here is a recipe for the fruit cooler I mentioned in the beginning of the article.

Rooibos Fruit Cooler

4 c. rooibos tea brewed (red or green)
1 c. fruit juice, lemon aide (use your favorite)
ice
lemon,lime or orange wedges

Combine tea and juice and pour over ice. garnish with the citrus wedges.