9 Best Rooibos Teas Of 2024
Drinking herbal teas has proven to give its consumers many different types of health benefits. One of the best tasting and healthiest options on the market is rooibos tea.
Encompassing a distinct reddish-brown color and a fruity yet tart taste, rooibos tea has become a popular caffeine-free cup of tea that many people across the world enjoy.
So, what makes the best rooibos tea? The best rooibos tea will be non-GMO, organic and sustainably harvested to create a high-quality taste, and made to ensure the maximum amount of health benefits can be received once brewed.
We know picking a good quality rooibos tea can be overwhelming!
Keep reading to learn about what exactly rooibos tea is and where it comes from, the many health benefits, as well as recommendations for the best brands of rooibos tea.
What Is Rooibos Tea?
Rooibos tea (pronounced roy-boss) is an herbal tea that is also commonly referred to as “red bush” due to its signature red and brown coloring.
It hails from South Africa and is made from their native plant Aspalathus linearis.
It is free of caffeine and has been considered a great alternative to similar caffeine-inclusive teas like green or black.
Rooibos has a distinct bold, sweet, fruity flavor embodying notes of malt paired with a tart finish.
There are two versions of rooibos tea: red and green. The difference in these two varieties comes from the extracting and fermentation process of producing the tea leaves.
For the red rooibos, the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant are cut, fermented, then let out to dry in the sun. Red rooibos tea has a smoother taste than green rooibos tea due to the fermentation.
For the green rooibos, the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis are still cut, but they skip the fermentation process and get directly laid out to dry in the sun.
The lack of fermentation causes the green rooibos to taste more malty, earthy, and grassy than its red counterpart.
The lack of fermentation in the green not only slightly changes the taste, but it also keeps more antioxidants in its leaves making it slightly more nutritional than the red varietal.
Though these varieties differ slightly they both can be enjoyed by themselves or with the addition of milk and sugar, similarly to other teas like black or green.
The History Of Rooibos Tea
Rooibos tea was first discovered over 300 years ago in the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa.
It was recorded to be found in 1772 when local botanists were served a cup by the Khoi people—local villagers who inhabited the land.
Since then, rooibos tea’s popularity has continued to rise, and it is now a desired export around the world.
Currently, rooibos tea is exported to over 30 countries including The United States, Malaysia, China and Poland.
The Health Benefits Of Rooibos Tea
Like other herbal teas, rooibos tea is full of many different health benefits that make it a drink worth incorporating into your diet.
Does Not Contain Caffeine
Though caffeine in small doses is okay to consume, the lack of caffeine in rooibos tea is still a great benefit.
It results in rooibos being drinkable at all hours without the worry of how your sleep will be affected (no caffeine jitters with this cup!)
It is also a good alternative to green and black tea and the switch to rooibos may help those trying to cut caffeine out of their diet.
Rich In Antioxidants
The greatest benefit you will receive from drinking rooibos tea is the level of antioxidants it contains.
The antioxidants in rooibos tea are referred to as polyphenols, which simply means micro-nutrients.
The antioxidants produced by rooibos tea are specifically known to help with inflammation, brain and heart health, and digestion and weight loss.
Anti-Inflammatory
The specific antioxidants in rooibos tea, polyphenols, are widely known to potentially decrease inflammation in the body.
Because rooibos tea is full of them, it may help with inflammation.
Heart Health
Specific antioxidants in rooibos tea have been considered to help with heart health.
Rooibos tea contains flavanol, which is known as an anti-inflammatory, and has a positive effect on cholesterol and blood fats.
It also contains an enzyme, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE,) which promotes healthy blood pressure.
With the inclusion of both flavanol and ACE, rooibos tea may positively affect your heart health.
May Benefit People With Diabetes
Studies have shown that rooibos tea may also help people struggling with diabetes.
Rooibos tea contains an antioxidant named aspalathin that has qualities that are considered anti-diabetic.
Aspalathin is known to help prevent atherosclerosis and the inflammation of blood vessels.
Other studies have also linked aspalathin to the ability to balance a person’s blood sugar.
Thus, the benefits of aspalathin may make rooibos tea beneficial to people diagnosed with diabetes.
Weight Loss
Rooibos tea has been said to lower cortisol, a hormone related to stress, while also increasing leptin, a hormone that helps your body know when you are full.
Having lower cortisol helps people avoid stress, in turn decreasing their chances of engaging in negative behaviors that stress may cause, like stress eating.
Additionally, rooibos tea’s ability to increase leptin may help someone with weight loss as it signals to your brain that you have had enough to eat.
The 9 Best Rooibos Tea Of 2021
There are many different brands, flavors and varieties of rooibos tea and it can be overwhelming to figure out where to start. Here are our top 9 picks for you!
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Cederberg Tea Company Red Rooibos | Award-winning rooibos tea |
| 2. | Rooibos Rocks-Natural Rooibos | Non-GMO |
| 3. | Kiss Me Organic Rooibos Tea | Sustainably harvested |
| 4. | My Red Tea-Organic Rooibos | No artificial coloring |
| 5. | Rooibos Rocks-Green Rooibos | Green rooibos tea |
| 6. | Tick Tock Organic Green Rooibos Tea | Higher antioxidants than red variety |
| 7. | FGO Organic Rooibos Loose Leaf Tea | No artificial flavorings |
| 8. | U.S Wellness Naturals Rooibos | Package made with oxygen-diffusion barrier |
| 9. | Organic Positively Tea Company Blood Orange Vanilla Rooibos Tea | Notes of orange, hibiscus, and apple |
1. Cederberg Tea Company Red Rooibos
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Cederberg Tea Company’s Red Rooibos tea is of the red varietal.
This means it will have a dark reddish brown tint and a smooth, fruity, and sweet taste.
This red rooibos tea is award winning! It received 2nd place in the rooibos tea category at the Global Tea Championship in 2019.
This red rooibos tea is not only GMO free, organic and sustainably harvested, it is also certified Kosher and its teabags are naturally whitened with oxygen. This makes the tea bags completely recyclable.
Cederberg Tea Company produces their tea on a small boutique sized farm in South Africa ensuring the quality of the tea is high.
Because it is carefully and specifically batched, this tea comes only in a 100w size pack, but at a great price point.
These tea bags are also wrapped within the box to preserve taste and freshness.
Due to its prestige, quality and price point, Cederberg’s Red Rooibos tea is one of the best brands on the market.
2. Rooibos Rocks-Natural Rooibos
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This rooibos tea comes in two sizes: 100 pack or 200 pack making it easy to buy in bulk.
Rooibos Rocks Natural Rooibos checks off all the important boxes: it is organic, sustainably harvested and non-GMO.
It does not contain any artificial coloring or flavoring and its only ingredient is the tea itself!
Rooibos Rocks comes in tag less teabags making it safer to ingest than tea with a string and tag. Being tag less also helps ensure the fruity sweet flavor does not get interrupted.
These tea bags are also wrapped within the box to preserve taste and freshness.
Rooibos Rocks Natural Rooibos’s flavor is strong enough that one tea bag will suffice per cup.
The quality of Rooibos Rocks Natural Rooibos paired with its accessible price point makes it a brand worthwhile for those interested in the red varietal of the tea.
3. Kiss Me Organic Rooibos Tea
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Kiss Me Organic Rooibos Tea is of the red variety giving it a sweet and fruity taste and red and brown coloring.
This red rooibos tea comes in a pack of 80 teabags.
Kiss Me Organic Rooibos is sustainably harvested, organic and non-GMO.
It does not contain any artificial coloring or flavoring and its only ingredient is the tea itself!
This tea comes in tag less teabags making it safer to ingest than tea with a string and tag and ensures the fruity sweet flavor does not get interrupted.
These tea bags are wrapped within the box to preserve taste and freshness. They are also recyclable.
Kiss Me Organic Rooibos Tea tastes great by itself or with honey, milk and/or sugar.
4. My Red Tea-Organic Rooibos
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This red rooibos tea comes in a pack of 80 teabags.
My Red Tea is GMO-free, organic and sustainably harvested.
The tea bags are also unbleached making them safer for consumption.
It does not contain any artificial coloring or flavoring and its only ingredient is the tea itself!
My Red Tea is a charitable company giving ten percent of its profits back into the farming communities in South Africa.
5. Rooibos Rocks-Green Rooibos
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Rooibos Rocks Green Rooibos is of the green variety meaning it will not have the red tint, but instead a green and brown earthy color.
This tea has a more earthy taste and tart finish than its red counterpart due to the lack of fermentation.
It comes in only one size box of 40 teabags.
Rooibos Rocks Green Rooibos checks off all the important boxes: it is organic, sustainably harvested and non-GMO.
It does not contain any artificial coloring or flavoring and its only ingredient is the tea itself.
Because it is green rooibos, it has a higher content of antioxidants than a cup of red rooibos.
6. Tick Tock Organic Green Rooibos Tea
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Tick Tock Organic Green Rooibos is of the green variety so it will have a brown and green color. It has a smooth yet earthy taste.
It comes in one size box of 40 teabags. You also can buy in bulk, buying 4 boxes of 40 teabags.
Because it is green rooibos, it has a higher content of antioxidants than a cup of red rooibos.
Tick Tock Organics teas are organic, non-GMO and sustainably harvested.
The tea bags are tag less, plant-based and biodegradable, helping the flavor to stay intact.
Because it is a green tea, it should be enjoyed by itself or with honey, but not with milk like the red can.
7. FGO Organic Rooibos Loose Leaf Tea
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FGO Organic Rooibos Loose Tea is of the red variety giving it a sweet and fruity taste and red and brown coloring.
This tea comes loose leaf, meaning not in a tea bag, and it comes in a 1 pound bag.
FGO is organic, non-GMO, and sustainably harvested raw from South Africa.
It does not contain any artificial coloring or flavoring and its only ingredient is the tea itself.
Because there are no teabags, the strength of flavor in your tea can be manipulated to your liking.
FGO Organic Rooibos Loose Tea tastes great by itself or with honey, milk and/or sugar.
8. U.S Wellness Naturals Rooibos
U.S Wellness Naturals is of the red variety. This means it will have a dark reddish brown tint and a smooth, fruity, and sweet taste.
It is a loose leaf tea and is sold by the pound.
The package is made with an oxygen diffusion barrier to keep your tea fresher for longer (it can last years on the shelf!)
U.S Wellness Naturals is organic, non-GMO and sustainably harvested.
This tea can be enjoyed with milk, sugar, and or honey. It also is enjoyable by itself.
9. Organic Positively Tea Company Blood Orange Vanilla Rooibos Tea
Organic Positively Tea Company’s tea is made with rooibos, but also other natural ingredients to get a unique cup of tea.
This tea has notes of orange, hibiscus, and apple and has a sweet floral, citrus and vanilla flavor to it.
This is not your traditional cup of rooibos tea, instead, it is a blend of flavors that may be more appealing to you.
You can enjoy the other flavors and still reap the benefits of rooibos tea as it is still the main ingredient.
Organic Positively Tea Company is a loose leaf tea and is sold by the pound.
This is a great option for those who want to gain the benefits that rooibos tea has to offer but with a more comfortable and familiar taste.
This tea can be enjoyed by itself or with honey, milk, and/or sugar.
Related Questions
Now that we’ve gone over some of our favorite rooibos teas, let’s take a look at a few more questions you might’ve had on the topic!
What temperature should rooibos tea be brewed at?
Similar to black or green tea, rooibos tea should be brewed between 200-212°F.
How many tea bags should I use for a traditional 8 oz cup?
This is determined by how strong you like your tea. For a milder taste, use 1 tea bag and let it steep for 5 minutes. For a stronger taste, use 2 teabags and steep for 5 minutes.
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