Which South African herbal infusion is often called red bush tea? The answer is rooibos.
Rooibos is an herbal infusion made from Aspalathus linearis, a broom-like legume native to South Africa’s Fynbos biome. The Afrikaans name means “red bush,” and English speakers also use “redbush tea,” “red tea,” or “bush tea.” Unlike black, green, or white tea, rooibos is not made from Camellia sinensis.
Traditional red rooibos is produced by bruising and oxidizing the plant’s needle-like leaves and stems, creating its characteristic reddish-brown color and mellow, earthy flavor. Green rooibos is processed without the same oxidation and generally tastes more grassy; it is also more expensive to produce.
Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free and relatively low in tannins, so it is often served plain or with milk, lemon, sugar, or honey. Its main growing region is the Cederberg area of South Africa’s Western Cape. Honeybush is another South African herbal infusion, but it comes from Cyclopia species and is not the same plant.