What is Rooibos?
Rooibos is produced from the leaf of Aspalathus linoaris, not Camellia sinensis. Grown only in South Africa, Rooibos means “red bush” in Afrikaans, due to the colour of its processed leaf. It is caffeine free, rich in vitamin C, mineral salts, proteins, and antioxidants.
Rooibos is harvested manually, and at this stage, is still green. It then undergoes a fermentation process in mounds and is then spread out to dry in the sunlight. Oxidation turns the tisane red, and as a final stage of production, the rooibos is sterilized by steam, dried in commercial dryers, sifted and packed.