Rooibos tea is gaining popularity in South Africa and around the globe as a healthy beverage. Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the South African Rooibos Council, spoke to Radio Islam about the health benefits of the increasingly enjoyed beverage. Many South Africans have grown up with rooibos, but don’t know much about the origins of the tea.

Rooibos is indigenous to South Africa. It grows in a very small area in the Western Cape, around the area of the Cederberg mountains, and around a town called Clan William. it also grows as far south as Piketberg, as well as in the Northern Cape. According to du Toit, in the wild, the plant grows to about 1.5 meters tall, and when farmed it grows between half a meter and one and a half meters tall. She says that it is easily farmed in the region. The rooibos plant is a shrub, the leaves of which are needle-like, and about a centimetre long, making the plants very much adapted to the area where they grow. The region can become extremely hot in summer; temperatures can go up to 30 degrees Celsius. In winter, temperatures can fall below zero. The rooibos plant also grows in high altitudes of between 200 and 1000 meters above sea level. Du Toit said that the area where rooibos grows was arid, and therefore very much desert-like. She said that the soil that it grows in looks very similar to sea-sand. The plant grows in very harsh conditions and it’s very well adapted to grow in those conditions.

With a lifespan of about six years, rooibos can be harvested from about 18 months after planting. Du Toit said that there was no plant like the rooibos plant in the world. Fynbos is classified as one of the six plant kingdoms in the world. And the one in South Africa, in the Western Cape, is actually the smallest in the world. It is also the only plant kingdom that is contained within the borders of one country. She said, “So, it is very much unique in where it is situated, and the type of plant it is, it being a legume. It’s part of the family of peas and beans – the seed of the plant looks very similar to a pea seed, except that there’s only one seed in the flower, while with peas, there are several in a pod.”

Some countries have attempted to try and grow rooibos, though unsuccessfully. This is because, according to du Toit, the unique conditions required for the plant to grow are very difficult to replicate in other parts of the world. The European Commission has approved the registration of rooibos to be in their protected designation of origins register. What this means is that designated protection status indicates the quality and the reputation of that product, and it’s linked to a geographical area. This is extremely significant because rooibos is one of the most important exports that we can be proud of as South Africans. Its very important, thus, that it be protected. Rooibos is the first African food to have been included in the European register.

Explaining the production process, du Toit said, “when the plant is harvested, they will take it to a processing plant, where they will cut the long leaves up into very small pieces that are similar to what we see in the tea bag.” When that is cut – remember that the plant is a green plant with green leaves – they mix that cut tea with water, and then they leave it out in the sun to ferment for about 12 hours.” She added, “And then, that red, amber colour that we know, develops in the fermentation process.” Its then left in the hot African sun to dry. Du Toit says that the tea is then collected and processed into the tea bags, packed and then shipped away.

The SA Rooibos Council spokesperson advised that the best way to enjoy the drink was black, without milk or sugar. She added, “If you do add a little bit of milk, it’s okay, but I would stay away from the sugar.” She says the tea does have a naturally sweet taste. Du Toit said, “if you want the most out of your rooibos tea, you can boil it on the stove for about 10 minutes or so, and then you’ll get the most antioxidants out of that.” One can drink Rooibos every day.

Du toit says that a Professor, Dr. Janine Marinovic, had people drinking six cups of tea for six weeks and after that she proved that Rooibos lowered bad cholesterol and improved good cholesterol. Some other benefits include that it’s good for your digestion, and is really good for people who have diabetes. It’s great for stress, especially for prolonged stress, as is being experienced during the coronavirus pandemic. It also helps you to sleep so if you suffer from insomnia. It’s also effective for people who want to lose weight, along with a healthy diet.

These days, there’s a lot of innovation in the rooibos sector. Rooibos can be found included in yogurts, breads, any kind of baking, where it replaces water, and even in cooking. It’s also incorporated into beauty products, and rooibos extract can be found in body care, and skincare products. Health products, such as some supplements and sports drinks, also include Rooibos in the formula.

Umm Muhammed Umar