What is rooibos?

Rooibos tea is an herbal tea made from a South African plant, a member of the legume family, called rooibos. The name means “red bush” in Afrikaans and comes from the fact that the stems and leaves of the plant turn a reddish color when they are dried. The color actually comes through when rooibos is used to brew tea, turning the water a reddish brown color that is lighter than your typical black tea.

Rooibos, pronounced “roy-boss,” is referred to as an herbal tea, or tisane, because it contains no actual tea  but is brewed in a similar manner. This also means that it contains no caffeine. Rooibos has a naturally sweet flavor, almost as though honey has been added to it, but contains no sugar.