Improperly called tea, Rooibos or Redbush is not prepared from the leaves of Camellia Sinensis like other types of tea, but from the leaves of Aspalathus Linearis, a plant similar to broom belonging to the legume family that grows exclusively in the Cederberg region of South Africa. Its name comes from the color of the infusion, which tends to a reddish-brown. The beverage produced with rooibos has been used for centuries by the Khoisan people, who inhabit the area and have always known its properties. In South Africa, Khoisan mothers used rooibos infusion to relieve infant colic, sometimes even using it as a milk substitute in case of allergy.

After harvesting, the leaves are chopped, fermented, and left to dry in the sun. Like other well-known and widely used tea types, it is rich in antioxidants, flavonoids, and some unique active ingredients. Being completely free of theine and stimulating substances, it can also be used by more sensitive individuals. The beverage obtained from rooibos leaf infusion boasts antiviral (recently discovered), antiallergic, tonic, relaxing, and anticancer properties.

Rooibos tea also helps to purify the body, supports digestion and weight loss, and, thanks to the mineral salts and other substances it is rich in, reduces fat assimilation.

VITAMIN C, FLAVONOIDS AND MINERAL SALTS: ALL THE BENEFITS OF ROOIBOS

Given its low tannin concentration, it has a naturally sweet taste and, therefore, does not need to be sweetened. Rooibos also releases a greater quantity of antioxidants when infused for a long time, unlike black tea which acquires a bitter taste.

This infusion also contains vitamin C and two important flavonoids, quercetin and rutin, which act as powerful antioxidant agents and protect the cells of our body from the harmful action of free radicals. It also provides important mineral salts such as manganese, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium.

Thanks to its adaptogenic properties, it can be consumed throughout the day: if used in the morning for breakfast, it will help start the day with more vigor, while if consumed in the evening it will help relaxation before bedtime. At this time of year, it is the most suitable drink to combat viruses and bacterial infections, to counteract flu syndromes and especially virus replication. These properties also make rooibos effective for people who suffer from recurrent herpes.

Due to its mineral content, rooibos tea has a marked alkalizing action and helps to regulate the body's pH. The calcium, magnesium, and fluoride mineral salts, of which it is rich, act synergistically to strengthen teeth and bones and make it very suitable for pre-menopause and for growing individuals.

Taken after main meals, it aids digestion, relaxes muscles thanks to its antispasmodic and anti-colitis properties, and acts as an anti-nausea agent. These properties make it suitable for counteracting the effects of dietary excesses at this time of year, when large dinners or family lunches put our digestive system to the test. It also has a positive effect on the liver, both because it is a hepatoprotector and because it prevents fat accumulation in the liver, which is the first step towards weight gain. In particular, two polyphenols, luteolin and aspalathin (an active ingredient found exclusively in this type of tea and in no other food), affect the absorption and accumulation of fats, mobilizing them from liver cells and adipose tissue cells and finally making them available to be eliminated from the body.

In spring, with the arrival of pollen season, consuming red tea helps to control typical allergic syndromes, thanks to the action of quercetin and rutin (two powerful anti-inflammatory substances). To be truly effective, it is advisable to start consuming it in advance of the period when the allergy manifests.

 

ROOIBOS, AN EXCELLENT ANTI-NAUSEA AND RELAXING DRINK FOR EXPECTANT MOTHERS

The low tannin content does not interfere with iron absorption and does not deprive the expectant mother's body of this important mineral salt. Furthermore, the complete absence of theine makes rooibos tea infusion suitable for consumption even during pregnancy. The mineral salts it is rich in, particularly calcium and magnesium, have a positive effect on bone and dental tissue and help to support the activity of the nervous system. In particular, magnesium has a relaxing effect on the central nervous system and modulates possible mood swings induced by hormonal changes. It also seems that the presence of zinc is the basis of its anti-nausea action and helps to control typical pregnancy discomforts.

PREPARING ROOIBOS? HERE'S HOW TO MAINTAIN ITS PROPERTIES

To promote the release of the antioxidants it is rich in, it is best to infuse rooibos for a longer time than other types of tea, even 6-8 minutes. Neither sugar nor milk should be added, as they prevent proper absorption of the antioxidants present. To obtain all the benefits, 4-5 grams of product, equivalent to a heaped tablespoon, should be used for each cup. It should be used loose and, if possible, organic, because that in sachets sometimes contains less noble parts of the plant. To achieve maximum results, it is advisable to consume 2 or 3 cups a day: you can also prepare the infusion in the morning and take it with you to work in a thermos, or drink it throughout the day cold or at room temperature. It is important to avoid consuming it the day after preparation, because over time it loses its properties.