Rooibos tea, loose-leaf and in tea bags

Our rooibos range

The rooibos teas in this category fall into a few groups. Each product page lists what goes into that blend.

Pure rooibos

Just the red, fermented rooibos leaf and nothing else. It brews to a deep red cup that is smooth and slightly sweet, with a hint of honey and wood. Rooibos is low in tannin, so it hardly turns bitter if you leave it in the pot a bit too long, and it takes a splash of milk well.

Green rooibos

Green rooibos comes from the same plant but skips the fermentation. The leaves stay green, and the cup is paler, lighter and a little grassier: closer to a mild green tea than to red rooibos. Like red rooibos, it is caffeine-free.

Fruity and herbal blends

Rooibos makes a good base for other flavours. The blends in our range go from strawberry, mango and passion fruit to herbal mixes with rosemary or flowers. The fruity ones are also very good cold.

Organic rooibos

Some of our rooibos teas are organic. Where a tea is certified organic, the product page says so, so check there if that matters to you.

How to brew loose rooibos

• Use about one heaped teaspoon of leaves per mug.
• Pour on freshly boiled water, or water just off the boil.
• Steep for 5 to 7 minutes. Rooibos needs longer than black tea, and a longer steep gives a stronger cup rather than a bitter one.
• The leaves are fine and needle-like, so use a tea filter, a fine strainer or a teapot with an infuser. You'll find these under tea equipment.
• Drink it as it is, or add milk, honey or a slice of orange. A little vanilla or a few spices also work well.

Iced rooibos

For a cold glass, brew a stronger pot than usual, let it cool and pour it over ice. The blends with strawberry, mango or passion fruit suit this best. Keep what you don't drink straight away in a closed jug in the fridge.

Why loose rooibos?

Loose leaves have room to unfold in the pot, so you get more flavour out of them than out of a tightly packed tea bag. You also decide how much to use: a little less for a light cup in the evening, a little more if you take it with milk. Keep the tea in a closed tin or pouch, away from light, heat and strong smells, and it keeps its flavour well.

When to drink rooibos

Because it contains no caffeine, rooibos is a popular choice for the evening and for anyone cutting down on coffee or black tea. Pure rooibos with milk is the closest thing to an ordinary cup of tea; the fruity blends are more of a treat.

More caffeine-free tea

Rooibos isn't the only option without caffeine. Have a look at our herbal tea and fruit tea, or browse all our loose tea.