Conscious Choice: Worlds Collide Pleasantly

June 2001

Worlds Collide Pleasantly

Origins and Benefits of Rooibos Tea

by Betsy Noxon

Tea has a history that is rich in tradition, as evident in such countries as China, Japan, India, and England. Ever since its discovery hundreds of years ago in China, tea consumption has grown. Today, tea is one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world, second only to water. It is no wonder that new varieties prompt immediate interest and enthusiasm.

The Origin of Rooibos

Most recently, Rooibos (pronounced "roy-boss"), or "red bush" tea has found a place next to the boxes of black, green, oolong, and herbal teas on supermarket shelves. Formally known as Aspalathus linearis, Rooibos is grown only in the Cedarburg mountain area near Capetown in South Africa. It is harvested only every two years. Its needle-like leaves are well suited to its arid home. Rooibos producers and manufacturers state that the faintly sweet red tea is unique because it contains health benefits while being naturally caffeine free and low in tannin, thus allowing iron absorption.

Recent and ongoing research on black and green teas, which originate from the plant Camellia sinensis, show that they, unlike herbal teas, contain polyphenols, which act as anti-oxidants that fight against free radicals. Free radicals occur naturally in our bodies as cells break down and are believed to be linked to aging, cancer and heart disease. Rooibos tea, which undergoes a short fermentation process similar to that for green tea, is known to have these anti-oxidant properties, without the caffeine found in black and green teas. The International Food Information Council (IFIC) reports that an eight-ounce serving of brewed (black) tea has 40 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, while coffee has 85 mg and soft drinks 24 mg.

Though it seems like a new discovery, Rooibos tea has been waiting for the wider world ever since the early 1900s. By 1930, Dr. P. Le Fras Nortier recognized in the Rooibos a viable agricultural product. Economic instability after World War II caused the tea market to fall, however, and the tea was consigned to anonymity, despite the efforts of an organized board, The Rooibos Tea Control Board, formed in the 1950s. The tea’s healing properties were not known until 1968, when Annique Theron discovered the soothing effects of Rooibos tea on her colicky baby. Theron went on to study eighteen more babies with colic and food allergies and recorded the positive results of adding Rooibos tea to their milk. Theron then continued studying Rooibos’s anti-allergenic qualities in adults as well as children.

Unraveling the Rooibos Leaf

What is it in the needle-like leaf that makes Rooibos so rare yet healthful? According to recent research and chemical analysis of the Rooibos plant lead by Dr. Daneel Ferreira and others with the University of the Orange Free State in South Africa, the tea contains over forty polyphenol compounds and flavonoids that act as anti-oxidants and thus have the benefits of being anti-allergic, anti-mutagenic, anti-spasmodic, anti-bacterial, anti-aging, and anti-viral. The analysis also concludes Rooibos contains vital minerals that effect skin, teeth, bones, and metabolism. These minerals include iron, calcium, fluoride, potassium, magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, and sodium. Further scientific studies conducted in Japan by Matatoshi Nakano found greater anti-oxidant activity when the Rooibos tea is boiled more than ten minutes and less when boiled less than five minutes. The study also offers evidence that Rooibos relieves constipation, anxiety, and allergies.

Reaching Across Waters

Ten years ago, when Annique Theron traveled to the U.S. to teach and promote Rooibos, she met Virginia Burke-Watkins, whose allergies to cottonwood had subsided after she drank Rooibos. Burke-Watkins joined forces with Theron, eventually becoming the U.S. representative for the product. In some ways, it is an easy job. Converts to Rooibos drink the tea to calm nervous tension and allergies, as well as stomach and indigestion problems, while boosting the immune system.

So why is the United States just now learning more about this special tea and its properties? Grant Fairlie, former purchasing director of a South African supermarket and current distributor of Five Roses Quality Tea, says, "In the past, distribution was a capacity issue. There was a problem with supply until the producers consolidated."

Barbara Graves, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales for The Republic of Tea, says another reason Rooibos tea is just now being introduced to the United States is because South Africa has recently emerged as a viable trading partner in the last few years since its political changes. Graves notes that the U.S. looks to Europe, namely Germany, who has led the trend of marketing Rooibos successfully due to an increase in demand for health-conscious products. Graves, who is an interested party, predicts the demand for red tea will be just as strong and the tea just as popular as with American consumers, especially those who are sensitive to caffeine.

How Does Rooibos Fit into Your Diet?

Is Rooibos tea a fit for your overall health concerns? So far studies on Rooibos are mainly limited to laboratory and animal studies rather than epidemiological and clinical human studies designed with control factors. Diane Quagliani, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and owner of Quagliani Communications, Inc., warns that "Rooibos tea is probably fine to drink, but should not be considered a substitute for daily fruits and vegetables." Still, Quagliani admits that an extra shot of anti-oxidents probably couldn’t hurt.

As far as taste goes, Rooibos is smooth with no bitter aftertaste. Graves remarks that "Rooibos has the body of a black tea but with a mellow taste, and blends very well with milk." Because the tea is pleasant in its raw state, consumers can expect to see Rooibos marketed in its pure form as well as infused with flavors. The Republic of Tea is launching five new Rooibos blends in mid-April of this year: Cedarberg Organic Red Tea, Botswana Blossom Red Tea, Capetown Harvest Red Tea, Good Hope Vanilla Red Tea, and Safari Sunset Red Tea. Their packaging includes a distinctive design with bold African textiles in the graphics that will separate the brand from their other green and black teas. Five Roses Quality Tea is launching their Rooibos line including a pure Rooibos Select Tea, and blends of Rooibos with fennel, chamomile, honey, and lemon. Fairlie explains that with the blends, Rooibos leaves are infused, or bound together with various flavors from the pure product. Fairlie says the Five Roses Rooibos teas should be available in the Midwest by late spring.

If you are looking for a soothing hot or cold beverage that is tasteful and packs a healthy punch Rooibos may be just for you. It is evident Rooibos tea can be sipped daily for pure enjoyment, and it may contribute to a healthy diet plan and offer additional health benefits. U.S. consumers, ever short on traditions, can contemplate creating their own traditions, including this age-old tea emerging in the new world.

Resources

www.rooibosstory.com

International Food Information Council

The Tea Council

Rooibos Herbal Tea, Espelin Tea

Rooibos Limited

"Allergies: An Amazing Discovery" c: 1974 M.C. Printers, Republic of South Africa, by Annique Theron

Virginia Burke-Watkins: 214-341-5221, 877-839-0052, better@airmail.net, Burke International 12989 Jupiter Rd. Suite 104 Dallas, TX 75238

Five Roses Quality Tea, 800-422-2595

Grant Fairlie, 800-422-2595, johnsommer@pinda.com, 800-422-2595

The Republic of Tea, 800-298-4TEA, 800-354-5530

Diane Quagliani, R.D., M.B.A., dquagliani@aol.com, 708-246-6838

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