Rooibos Tea: The Cup that Cheers

Rooibos Tea

Tea, both traditional and herbal, has been a staple beverage for thousands of years, and our love affair with infusions of dried leaves continues undiminished. Every so often a new variety arrives on the scene and creates a buzz with claims of health-enhancing properties.

The latest contestant is the South African export: rooibos. pronounced Roy-bos the word is actually Dutch Afrikaans for 'red bush' and it can be marketed under both names. It's one of those products that lives up to its title, as when dried, the lush greenness of the leaves turns to a deep reddish- mahogany, which in turn produces the ruby coloured beverage synonymous with bush tea.

Anyone who has read any of Alexander Macall Smith's topic the No 1 Ladior Dotortivo Adoncy which day in the dangerous world of the private detective. Rooibos tea has long been a favourite beverage in South Africa and her neighbouring countries. The rooibos shrub, grows almost exclusively in the Cedarburg Mountains, about 200 kms. north of Capetown, the provincial capital of the Western Cape.

The tea can be produced as the familiar red, or green, depending on how the leaves are treated during the drying process. The red tea has a fruitier, sweeter flavour but the properties of both varieties are roughly the same, although the green variety is said to possess a higher level of antioxidants.

Fluoride and copper exist in significant amounts in both types of tea, as well as potassium, calcium, and alpha-hydroxy, which has been used since the days of Cleopatra as a vital ingredient in the production of anti-ageing skincare. The health attractions of rooibos tea, besides its mineral content, are the total absence of caffeine, and the fact that it is low in tannin, a natural chemical found in tea and red wine, which can prevent the body's absorption of vital minerals such as iron and zinc, which are essential in our diet.

There is no oxalic acid in rooibos tea either, so it's especially good for those who are prone to kidney stones. Rooibos tea is highly praised as a worthy beverage for the relief of a variety of everyday ailments. It's particularly recommended for soothing stomach cramps in children, and it can also be used externally for nappy rash and cradle cap. Because of the presence of the acid alpha-hydroxy, a similar solution can be applied to the more mature skin as a refreshing anti-ageing tonic.

A soothing cup of tea, taken without milk or sugar, can ease a tense headache, help with insomnia, and relieve the symptoms of hay fever. Its high potassium content is painful attacks of night cramps. Both types of rooibos tea can be bought from the healthy food stores in Dubai in flavoured varieties; from the popular citrus flavours,