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Green Rooibos is made from the Rooibos plant, and is less processed than Red Rooibos. It is not oxidized, as opposed to traditional red Rooibos tea. This is similar in concept to the difference between green tea and black tea. The difference between these two types of tea being that Rooibos is not made from the Camellia Sinensis plant, whereas black and green teas are. The purpose of altering the processing techniques for any type of tea is to alter the flavor and effectively the outcome of brewing it! You’ll get quite a different beverage when it comes to tea.
But how does it affect a herbal brew like Rooibos? Much loved as a decaf alternative to black tea, Rooibos is a tasty African grown herbal tea that has tons of flavor, and just as many healthy compounds! We’ll cover some of the basics below so you can find out which types of Rooibos is for you!
What’s the Difference Between Red and Green Rooibos?
As stated above, green Rooibos is not nearly as oxidized as red Rooibos. Oxidizing means to expose to oxygen. This process first begins as soon as the tea, or herb, leaves are picked. In making a green herbal tea or otherwise, the leaves need to stop oxidizing as quickly as possible. This flush, or picked batch of leaves is usually steamed in order to quickly halt any oxidation from occurring. This leaves a ‘fresher’ and less roasted, or bitter taste. As it pertains to Rooibos herbal tea, this means a milder, fresher and lighter cup of tea. Many tea drinkers take green tea, as well as green Rooibos tea without milk or sugar, as they would a regular cup. That being said, flavor is just one part of the equation. What else does this mean for the popular herbal tea you know and love?
Is Green Rooibos Tea Healthy?
Yes, it is! Simply put, Rooibos tea is a great natural alternative to many of the added sugar laden, fizzy and chemical filled drinks you can have throughout the day. Not only that, but it brings a whole host of healthy goodies along with it. If you manage to keep the milk and sugar out of your green Rooibos, you can enjoy quite a few healthy bonuses, so to speak!
Our Personal Favorite Green Rooibos
Antioxidants in Green Rooibos
Rooibos contains a high level of antioxidants. These are the healthy compounds you’ll hear praised quite frequently whenever the health benefits of tea come up. And for good reason too, as there are legitimate claims to these chemical compounds as having the potential to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Sounds pretty incredible when you’re talking tea, right? This herbal drink makes the perfect addition to a healthy diet, especially when used in order to mitigate and or reduce caffeine consumption. It’s worth noting as well that green Rooibos has a higher antioxidant content than regular reg Rooibos. The difference is that it is not fermented, heated and oxidized nearly as much as green Rooibos. The former undergoes a high-temperature processing, as well as fermentation that strengthens the flavor of the brew, but ultimately reduces the number of antioxidants in the leaf.
What Does Green Rooibos Taste Like?
Green Rooibos has a much milder taste than the regular red variety. Because of how little it’s processed, you can expect a lighter tasting cup of herbal tea. Surprisingly, much like conventional green tea it has a certain grassy taste to it as well. You’ll find that it tastes less like regular tea than red Rooibos, but with a much more milder palate. Enjoy green Rooibos without milk or sugar for the best experience possible.
You might find that milk doesn’t quite fit the profile of this lively, light-hearted tea as much as it does a black tea or red Rooibos. If the latter is your get-up-and-go decaf cup of choice, this one is your daytime drink, and one you’ll certainly enjoy. Sip for your health, and enjoy a crisp type of flavor that’s backed by all of the positive health benefits to drinking Green Rooibos that are out there! Also, this tea makes for a really good pitcher of iced tea! Seriously! For every 8-10 ounces of water, use one tea bag to brew a tall pitcher of green iced Rooibos tea. This stuff makes for some crisp and refreshing decaf iced tea.
Why Drink Rooibos Tea?
Rooibos itself is a refreshing herbal tea that’s invigorating and delicious. It provides a deep taste, with lots of flavor similar to a full-bodied black tea. Green Rooibos is no exception, giving the same hearty taste without any of the caffeine. And, with a high antioxidant content, you can also enjoy all of the fabulous health benefits associated with drinking traditional green tea!
All of the anti inflammatory and anti carcinogenic properties are still there, in an all natural and calorie and caffeine drink you can enjoy any time of the day. One of the biggest things Rooibos tea has going for it, besides it’s flavorful taste, is that it can be consumed any time of the day! Next time you’re steeping a cup of the good stuff, just remember that you’ve got options as to whether or not you need that caffeine boost. If you do decide to get some green Rooibos for yourself, trust me, you won’t be disappointed.
