Rooibos -- South Africa's gift to good health...
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Ross, I thought that my biological knowledge was somewhat outdated (I even kind of "excused" myself at the beginning of my post).
Thanks for the details! -
Yes, I found some. I went to my local health food store, Garden Cove, at lunch today and I was blown away at all the selections. I got some Rooibos. I got Highlands Honey and Madagascar Vanilla Red. Looking forward to the first cup.
I also found a large supply of hummus, pumpernickel, millet flakes and just about everything Ross has been talking about.
Who knew health food could be so good! Thanks again Ross, I will have to come North and buy you a brew when we are both skinny
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That's great Eric. I hope you stocked up some good healthy foods.
In my local grocery store I found they sell plain rooibos tea. I'm liking it more than the vanilla one I originally bought.
The plain one comes in a brand called 'INTABA - Teas of Africa' produced by Cape Natural Tea Products of South Africa. Liking it I decided to try another of their teas: Honeybush. Like Rooibos, Honeybush is also rich in antioxidants, caffeine free, and very low in tannins. They both are excellent and with each cup I'm getting more & more attached to their flavours. At this point I definitely prefer both to coffee so I don't ever see myself drinking coffee again. (I used to be a big coffee fan). The brand is quite reasonably priced at my grocery.
I notice on the website I link to above that the company will private label their teas too. Perhaps we should go into the tea business?? 'SU Fit-Club Teas' --- sounds good!
Regards, Ross
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Cool idea.
I had one of each flavor, the Highlands Honey yesterday and the Madagascar Vanilla Red. The MVR is strong! I like it. It woke me up and like you said, it tastes like there is half a cup of sugar in there.
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@unknownuser said:
%(#400080)[Apart from their popularity as pleasant tasting, caffeine-free alternatives to black and green tea, more and more evidence is coming to light that these unique herbal infusions have favourable medicinal effects. The claim that rooibos and honeybush are healthy beverages is gaining credibility as ongoing scientific research and case studies confirm their benefits.
Rooibos and honeybush teas are:
• completely pure and natural, containing no additives, preservatives, flavourants or colourants.
• naturally caffeine free, thus have a soothing effect on the central nervous system and are strongly recommended for people suffering from irritability, headaches, insomnia, hypertension, nervous tension and mild depression.
• rich in antioxidants that boost the body's immune system and help slow the ageing process.
• calorie-free and make refreshing drinks for people on a calorie-restricted diet as they have a naturally slightly-sweet taste.
• anti-spasmodic, thus relieving stomach cramps and colic in infants. Rooibos first gained popularity as a health drink in South Africa when it was discovered that it had a soothing effect on babies suffering from these common ailments.
• low in tannin, therefore will not impair the absorption of iron and protein in the body.
• helpful for the relief of stomach and digestive problems like nausea, heart burn, stomach ulcers and constipation.
• anti-allergic; rooibos tea has a soothing effect on irritated skin when directly applied to the affected area. In South Africa, it is a popular topical remedy for nappy-rash.
• free of oxalic acid, thus safe to drink for people suffering from kidney stones.
• beneficial in the management of allergies like hay-fever, asthma and eczema.
• natural sources of several minerals, complementing our daily intake of iron, calcium, magnesium and zinc, especially needed for maintaining a healthy immune system.]
I found the above info on the Intaba - Teas of Africa website and thought it might be a useful addition to this thread.
If you get a chance to try Honeybush tea - do so. It is good too.
Regards, Ross
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Thanks for that Ross, it is a great resource.
Now I want to know what nappy-rash is, or do I?
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Here in Canada we call it "diaper-rash". Those South Africans call their diapers "nappies". At least they make good tea. (What I mean is South Africans know how to make good tea - Nappies most definitely do not make good tea. Yikes!)
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Having married a South African girl 30 years ago, we have had this tea whenever we could get friends or family to send it over. Now it is all over the place and it is no longer a novelty when we entertain. Losing the exclusivity hurt a bit - sort of like when Google released the free SU!
Kelly
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Has anybody here tried rooibos cold? You know us Southerners, we love our iced tea!
And kdjanz, your avatar is creeping me out with that little red x in the corner. Do you have another
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boo, is a frogs arse watertight? Iced Rooibos ROCKS!
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Eric - further to when Juju writes "it rocks" note that the Intabas - Teas of Africa website has some interesting recipes that use Rooibos & Honeybush teas. The mixes with fruit juices sound good.
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I love Rooibos tea, "Tick Tock" (used to be called "Eleven O'clock")is my favourite brand with particularly good forties style packaging. Could I also recommend two other tea's worthy of the tea connoisseur? Firstly "Dr Stuarts" Wild Fennel tea. It tastes amazing, packaging is a bit generic though. Secondly and more importantly, but extremely hard to find "Celestial Seasonings" Sweet Almond tea. If you have a sweet tooth this tea is ace because it tastes really sweet but not sickly, it's like a dessert. Also if you are tyring to shed a few pounds, almonds contain a chemical that suppresses the appetite. Also 10/10 on the packaging; persian textile and woodcut prints.
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@unknownuser said:
boo, is a frogs arse watertight? Iced Rooibos ROCKS!
Ok Juju, which flavors of Rooibos is good iced? I tried the Highlands Honey and the Madagascar Vanilla Red iced this weekend and could not finish the glass. I like them hot but cold they were not so good.
I also have the Zambezi Red Chai. I really like that one hot but have not tried it cold yet.
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If you can by it on our little Island then chances are you can buy it almost anywhere else. They certainly will sell it at your local Health Food stores. If you look carefully in the tea shelves & the organic food shelves of your local grocery you may find it.
My favorite is just the plain Rooibos. Plain Honeybush is similar and I love it too. I'm steeping a cup right now. Both have really grown on me --- my very first cup of the plain rooibos didn't really turn my crank. By the time I'd had a few I've really grown to appreciate it. I now have zero interest in coffee even though I used to really-really enjoy it.
Eric -- if you really want a nice ice tea try any of the Celestial Seasonings fruity teas. Their 'True Blueberry', 'Tropic of Strawberry', Country Peach Passion', and 'Lemon Zinger' all make very tasty unsweetened ice teas. They won't have the anti-oxidants of the Rooibos but they will be very refreshing and have zero calories.
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@unknownuser said:
Ok Juju, which flavors of Rooibos is good iced? I tried the Highlands Honey and the Madagascar Vanilla Red iced this weekend and could not finish the glass. I like them hot but cold they were not so good.
I also have the Zambezi Red Chai. I really like that one hot but have not tried it cold yet.
Boo, those are flavours foreign to me. Over here when I buy iced tea (rooibos) I buy the "Lipton - Iced Tea" brand, I prefer the lemon flavoured one, there are some others that aren't bad either.
The best is really when it is home made. No other flavourants added, just sugar to taste.
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Well I had a pretty good Father's day and then this morning I got in my truck on my way to work this morning and there is a box of Twinnings Rooibos, no other flavor in it. Just straight Rooibos. I am looking forward to it. My wife is good to me.
I have not seen any Lipton Rooibos here. I might have to order some but at least Publix (one of our local groceries) carries the Twinnings brand.
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I'm sorry to be a little late with this reaction but I believe I should still give it:
Regular large doses of vitamin C mean extra work for the kidneys and can increase the growth of kidney stones. As far as known it can not cause kidney stones, but if you already have them, it can make them grow faster.
Vitamin C can also, in very large regular doses reduce to absorption of Cu (copper).
Vitamin C has a positive effect on the absorption of Fe (iron), this could theoretically lead to an overdose of iron. But in the context of Rooibos you don't have to worry about this effect, Rooibos also contains substances that reduce iron absorption.
The maximum safe dosis (UIL upper intake level) of vitamin C is about 30 x the RDA (recommended dietary allowance).
Our own organs can produce vitamin C, when we become ill, we can produce levels similar to UIL.in short: as long as you're not a vitaminCaholic, don't worry.
poster-Maggy
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Thanks Maggy. I have to say that I am starting to like the "regular" Rooibos very much. I have not tried it Iced yet however.
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Eric -- Each time I make a cup (or pot) of Rooibos tea I put the spent teabag in a cup of water and put it into the fridge to chill. Then later I'll toss the bag and enjoy the chilled tea. For me it isn't as good tasting an ice tea as the fruity Celestial Seasonings ones but it is refreshing & I know I'm getting as many antioxidants from the tea bag as possible.
I'm making a pot of Rooibos right now for my father --- I want to see if I can hook him so he can forget his regular tea for this healthy one.
Regards, Ross
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