Part of the enjoyment of traveling is trying new things, including food and beverages. In South Africa the teas are one of the featured beverages with Rooibos, Honeybush and Lemon Grass teas being some of the most popular. Both the Rooibos and Honeybush teas are caffeine free and are said to contain healing properties. So not only do they taste great, but they are good for you as well.
The red Rooibos tea is probably the best known of the South African teas. It is also the most popular. It is considered a natural beverage because it contains no caffeine, colors, additives or preservatives and is low in tannin.
Rooibos has been used as a herbal remedy for centuries by the Khosins, an indigenous tribe of South Africa. The tea comes from the Rooibos plant which only grows in the Cedarberg mountains of South Africa. The tea is harvested in the summer months, then fermented and dried to produce the red tea.
Rooibos’s healing properties are well known. It is used to treat skin irritations, such as eczema. The tea is brewed and then placed on the infected areas. Because it contains anti-oxidants it is believed that drinking Rooibos can slow the aging process and boost the immune system.
It is also used to treat allergies, relieve stomach cramping and colic in infants. Rooibos is used to help with problems such as headaches, nervous tension, hypertension, insomnia and irritability. It is also good for people with kidney stones as it does not contain any oxalic acid.
Rooibos’s caffeine free status makes it a great tea for pregnant and nursing women. It is full of minerals like copper, iron, potassium, calcium, fluoride, zinc, manganese, alpha-hydroxy and magnesium. It is believed that Rooibos tea is as good or even better for you than green tea. It has a naturally sweet taste that is not too overpowering and can be drunk without the addition of milk or sugar.
The honeybush (Intermedia Cyclopia) grows on the mountain slopes of the southeastern cape. The yellow flowers that cover the shrub have a honey scent. Honeybush tea is said to have healing properties as well. Studies show it may aid diabetics by helping to stabilize their blood sugar. It is often combined with Rooibos to produce a tasty, healthy tea that can be drunk cold or hot.
Lemon grass grows on the side of the mountains of Swaziland. It has a limited production as the lemon grass is slowly vanishing from the mountains. The lemon grass is covered in boiling water and then squeezed to release the flavor. It is best served with eucalyptus honey. The combined flavors of lemon and honey make a pleasant, easy to drink tea.
Both Rooibos and Honeybush teas are available worldwide. Lemon grass tea is only found in Swaziland in limited amounts. The recent world wide popularity of both Honeybush and Rooibos teas mean that now everyone can enjoy the great taste and health benefits of these South African teas without having to visit South Africa.
Rooibos tea:
http://www.africantea.com/About_Rooibos_Tea/about_rooibos_tea.HTML
http://www.teamuse.com/article_040501.HTML
http://www.southafrica-travel.net/westcape/cawe_03.htm
http://www.rooibos.com/
http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ExecMacro/numitea/aboutteasan.d2w/report
Honeybush tea:
http://www.itmonline.org/arts/honeybush.htm
http://honeybush.net/
http://www.montegotea.com/honeybush.htm
Lemon Grass tea:
http://www.ageless.co.za/lemon_grass.htm
http://www.herbalhut.com/lemongrass.htm
