ROOIBOS TEA

A Romance with Rooibos

There are no words to describe how much I love rooibos... everything about it: the taste, the smell, the colour, the effect it has had on my general health and energy levels. Rooibos is the reason I now lead a totally caffeine-free lifestyle; I've never looked back and I feel so much better for it! But it wasn't always like this, I used to drink loads of caffeine...

I love tea, this is my Chinese side. I could drink hot drinks all day long. I was introduced to tea as a child in colonial Hong Kong and just loved how warm and comforting it was, especially the English way with milk and sugar. I remember coming home from school when I was about 8 years old and making myself a cup of Earl Grey with milk and sugar, it was heaven (not your typical 8 year old)! This remained an occasional treat as I grew up in tropical climates and didn't feel the need to drink hot liquids so often. But when I moved to the UK, my predilection to drink tea increased due to its cultural acceptability and simply as a way to warm up during the cold winters.

Tea breaks are also such a natural way to break up the day when working long hours at a desk! As I started my working life in London, I realised I would be drinking up to 6 cups of milky and sugary black tea every day! This left me feeling bloated, heavy and lacking energy. I slowly swapped the milk for plant milks which are naturally sweeter and so didn't need the sugar anymore. But something still wasn't right... I still remember that awful feeling of a dry throat and dehydration after every cup. And indeed, black tea does dehydrate you, contrary to popular belief. Both black tea and coffee are also very acidic (in terms of pH levels), which further drains the body's natural ability to heal itself. I won't harp on about the harmful effects of caffeine on the body in this post, but I just ask you to consider that perhaps your intake of caffeine may be the source of many ailments that you are experiencing such as digestive problems, skin problems, migraines, poor sleep, low levels of concentration, mood swings amongst many other conditions.

So try cutting caffeine out of your diet to see if you notice a difference; this includes everything from coffee and tea to carbonated drinks and energy drinks. Reach for some herbal teas instead, and see how you feel after a few weeks... You may never look back! I certainly didn't once I found rooibos. I never intended to cut out caffeine completely I just loved rooibos so much. I know some of you may be thinking: "But I've tried loads of herbal teas and they're all quite watery and subtle, none of them deliver that punch of comfort, warmth and roundedness that a proper English cuppa does." Please just give rooibos a try with milk (and honey, if you like it sweeter). Since I've cut out caffeine entirely, I've experienced so much more energy, mental clarity, a flatter tummy and clearer skin.

Rooibos is widely available in most supermarkets in the UK, my top picks are Tick Tock's Organic Rooibos, Dragonfly's Earl Grey Rooibos and Mariage Frères, the iconic tea destination in Paris (there is a concession in Selfridges too for you Londoners) that is home to the most abundant selection of rooibos teas ranging from Bourbon vanilla rooibos to lavender and rose rooibos to rooibos with notes of candied chestnuts... In case you still aren't convinced see below the long list of rooibos' health benefits. Perhaps you will begin a romance with rooibos too? Let me know how you get on...

Love and light,
Bain-Marie

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10 Health Benefits of Rooibos

1. Naturally Caffeine free – The rooibos plant grows naturally without any caffeine. This is important, as it means it does not undergo a chemical process to remove the caffeine. It also means that anyone can drink it, including those who do not want to drink caffeine such as children & pregnant women. The other key benefit of no caffeine is that rooibos tea can be consumed in unrestricted amounts.

2. Contains powerful antioxidants – Rooibos tea contains a wide array of antioxidants, which help to protect the body in a number of ways. Two polyphenol antioxidants called aspalathin and nothofagin are found in high concentrations in rooibos tea. These antioxidants protect the body by fighting free radicals. These are unstable cells, which attack healthy cells in order to stabilize themselves. The polyphenols also have anti-inflammatory properties and can safeguard against heart disease.

3. Prevents against some cancers – Some studies have demonstrated a link between consumption of rooibos tea and a reduction of cancer-causing chemicals. This is because of the high level of dominant antioxidants, some of which have anti-mutagenic (anti-cancer) properties. This means that they defend cells & DNA against damage and inhibit them from developing into cancer.

4. High mineral content – One of the key health benefits of rooibos tea is that it contains several minerals that are vital to health. These include: magnesium (essential for the nervous system), calcium & manganese (essential for strong teeth and bones), zinc (important for metabolism) and iron (critical for helping blood & muscles distribute oxygen).

5. Improves circulation – One of the many potent antioxidants in rooibos tea is called Chysoeriol. It can improve circulation by preventing the activity of the enzyme that triggers cardiovascular disease. Drinking rooibos tea also has been known to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

6. Relieves stomach complaints – As rooibos tea contains high levels of flavonoids, especially one called quercetin. It has the ability to relieve numerous abdominal ailments such as cramps, diahorrea and indigestion. Flavonoids are known help to reduce spasm, inflammation and allergies. It has also been widely stated that the health benefits of rooibos tea extend to alleviating colic in babies. As it is totally caffeine free, it is perfectly safe for them to drink rooibos tea.

7. Aids absorption of iron – Unlike most black teas, which prevent the body from absorbing iron effectively because of the tannins they contain, rooibos tea supports the body in absorbing iron. Rooibos tea contains less than half the tannins of black tea.

8. Can relieve skin conditions – A recent study found that rooibos tea can help you to look more beautiful! Rooibos tea contains phenylpyretic acid, which can help to improve acne, psoriasis and eczema. You can apply a freshly brewed and cooled tea bag to the affected areas and it will soothe and heal any inflammation.

9. Can protect against Parkinsons/Alzheimers disease – Drinking rooibos tea regularly can protect against a process known as lipid peridoxation. This occurs when free radicals damage brain cells and nerve tissue. If this is prolonged, it can eventually lead to progressive and deteriorating brain disease, such as Alzheimers.

10. Encourages restful sleep – Rooibos is unique in that it can be consumed as often as you wish and at any time of day and is the only herbal tea that can be enjoyed with milk! Many people choose to drink it before bedtime as it can help with insomnia. Due to its high mineral content and lack of caffeine, it’s known to help people to feel calm and relaxed.