Rooibos Tea
A deep red, naturally sweet tea from a South African shrub that contains no caffeine, not even a little, making it the rare cup you can drink at 9 p.m. without consequence.
What It Is
Rooibos grows only in a small mountainous region of South Africa's Western Cape. The leaves are harvested, bruised, and left to oxidize, which turns them from green to that familiar rusty red and brings out a gentle sweetness that needs no sugar to taste smooth.
It brews a full-bodied, amber-red cup with notes of vanilla and a little earthiness, nothing sharp or tannic. Because it has no caffeine and very low tannins, it does not go bitter if you forget it on the counter, and it does not keep children or light sleepers awake.
What To Do
Steep one heaping teaspoon per cup in water just off the boil for five to six minutes. It can go longer than green or black tea without turning harsh. Drink it plain, with honey, or with milk of choice. It takes well to both.
Rooibos also works cold. Brew it double strength, pour it over ice, and it holds its flavor without going murky the way some teas do. Try it as the base of an iced latte, or simmer it with a cinnamon stick and orange peel for a warming evening drink. Store loose leaf in a sealed container away from light.
