Remarkable Rooibos Tea
The Red Tea from South Africa

By Arnold Bredenkamp

Rooibos tea is to South Africa what maple syrup is to Canada: a unique and feel-good tradition. It is absolutely unique to South Africa and is grown in its natural state NOWHERE else in the world - only on the very southern tip of Africa! Incidentally, "Rooibos" is pronounced "roy-boss" and means "Red Bush" in the Afrikaans language.

My first memories of Rooibos tea dates back to my toddler days when coffee, regular black tea and all other carbonated beverages were STRICTLY off limits. If you considered yourself too sophisticated to drink tap water, your alternatives were milk, fruit juice (on high days and holidays) or Rooibos tea - with NO exceptions. We understood that coffee and regular black tea (or "English tea" as it is called in South Africa) were EXPENSIVE, because it was imported from far away countries. Only BIG people were entitled to this pleasure. Secondly, these beverages were BAD for children, because it had a negative effect on your sleeping pattern. And, while passionately looking forward to the day when I would be BIG enough to join the ranks of my dad and older brother for a cup of coffee or a REAL glass of wine, I was not altogether devastated: Ruby red colored Rooibos served on ice in a high stemmed glass looked beautiful - in my imagination at that stage, an EXCELLENT substitute for the finest estate wine! To this day, I firmly believe that iced Rooibos tea flavored with orange juice, tastes far better than many of the cold drinks that are commercially available - and FAR better than some red wines that I have encountered too!

In South Africa Rooibos tea is fondly known as "The Miracle Brew" due to the amazingly soothing effect it has on allergic babies. This phenomenon was discovered accidentally (and this is a TRUE story!) when one day a frantic mother with a screaming baby in her arms , searched for a quick way to warm her baby's bottle (this was before the microwave era). She added some warm rooibos tea to it and fed it to her baby. To her profound surprise the baby stopped screaming and actually went to sleep peacefully and happy. To make a long story short, this mother went on to help literally HUNDREDS of colicky babies using rooibos tea as a supplement to both breast and formula milk. She recounted her experiences in a book called, "Allergies: an amazing discovery" and became famous instantly. As did Rooibos tea! Those who were not already serving Rooibos tea for it's affordability and wonderful taste, were now rushing out to get to the ULTIMATE SOLUTION for colic and allergies!

As I was an allergic newborn baby myself, my own mother (much in awe of the frantic-turned-famous mother) started giving me Rooibos tea as a supplement to milk when I was only a few weeks old. Rooibos alleviated my food allergies and soothed the spasms that were caused by the colic cramps - exactly as it has done for many, many babies before me. When I became a toddler and a teenager, Rooibos tea was still THE drink to serve, because it was available and affordable - and delicious, hot or iced! By the time I entered adulthood, I was hooked - Rooibos was as much part of my life as supporting the national rugby team! As the same story holds true form many South Africans, it is no wonder that Rooibos tea claims 40% of the hot beverage market in South Africa.

When we moved to Canada a year ago, we of course had to change a few habits. Rooibos was one of the things that we had to do without. Not only did I dearly miss the pick-me-up feeling that I always got from my morning cup, but soon I started experiencing allergic reactions against pollen and dust. I was told that these allergic reactions could be due to increased stress levels caused by the move, as well as exposure to new and different vegetation. Medication on a semi-permanent basis was suggested. I accepted the explanation and tried to go through my daily routine although the medication made me feel drowsy and without energy. When it came to decision-time regarding our occupation in the Okanagan, the importing of Rooibos tea from South Africa was the first idea that came to mind. BUT, it was only after we got our first batch of Rooibos tea, that I realized how important Rooibos in my diet has become. I did not immediately stop taking the medicine but I certainly started drinking lots of Rooibos as usual! Only after several weeks of neglecting to renew my subscription, did I realize that AGAIN Rooibos was stepping in to take up the fight against the allergies that I have not quite outgrown! Slowly, but surely, the symptoms disappeared and - thanks to my Rooibos (so I fervently believe!) - has not returned!

Rooibos has a very interesting history: The healing properties of Rooibos was discovered by the Bushmen who inhabited the region before the white and black men came to Southern Africa. They were excellent hunters and very knowledgeable about the uses of different plants and found that the fine, needle-like leaves of the "Aspalathus Linearis" herb made a tasty, aromatic tea. It was they who first harvested the wild-growing plants, chopped them with axes and then bruised them with hammers, leaving them to ferment in heaps, before drying them in the sun. Today Rooibos is still processed in much the same way, but of course the methods are certainly more mechanized and refined!

Initially Rooibos tea was used by the settlers as a cheap substitute for black tea, especially since black tea was very expensive in those days and Rooibos tasted much the same. In 1904, Benjamin Ginsberg, a Russian immigrant and trader, became interested in Rooibos and realized its potential. He started trading with the mountain people and selling it to Europeans. Ginsberg who was descended from a family who had been in the tea industry in Europe for centuries had good contacts and became the first exporter of Rooibos.

Since that time, the industry has made steady progress, refining its production methods and increasing distribution so that the unique goodness of Rooibos tea may today be enjoyed by people the world over.  The tea is very well know in Germany and western Europe but is also becoming very popular in Japan and Malaysia where the healing properties of this tea are currently being researched. Studies have shown the tea has anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activity. In fact, it has 50 times the antioxidant power of green tea. Rooibos is totally pure and natural. It contains no colorants or preservatives.

Rooibos dissolves and prevents cholesterol buildup and prevents heart diseases. It also dissolves blood clots and will improve blood circulation as it contains a compound called Rutin that helps with the regulation of blood pressure

Rooibos also helps delay the aging process! The aging of our bodies is caused by toxic compounds called free radicals which are produced as a by-product of normal cell function. These free radicals attack our healthy cells. Over our lifetime this damage contributes to aging and our immune system weakens. Recently, Japanese scientists have found that Rooibos tea contains a mimic of the enzyme Super Oxide Dismutase (S.O.D.), an antioxidant which attacks the free radicals and limits their damaging effects.

Rooibos has been found to help with insomnia, disturbed sleeping patterns and headaches. It contains no caffeine and has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system. Have a cup of Rooibos before you get ready for bed to ensure a good night's sleep! BUT - don't get too enthusiastic:  If your body is not used to this anti-oxidant rich tea, the initial diuretic effect caused by the detoxification of your body, might lead to a few trips to the washroom which is not exactly what you need to fight insomnia, eh?