Rooibos (Red Tea)
Aspalathus linearis

South Africa's most popular hot beverage is "Red Bush Tea," made from twigs and leaves of the rooibos shrub that grows in the mountains there. The rooibos shrub grows six feet tall and has long, needle-like leaves that turn red when bruised. South African growers harvest rooibos in late summer or early fall. The leaves are moistened, bruised, left to ferment, dried in the sun, then brewed up into a cup of red bush tea. The local people learned long ago to brew the leaves of this special bush, drinking the red tea for health and pleasure. Rooibos tea is a rich source of antioxidants. It's delicious hot or iced, sweetened or plain, and it's natually caffeine free.

Commonly called: rooibos