How To Brew Rooibos Tea: The Ultimate Guide to Making the Perfect Cup

Rooibos tea is a naturally caffeine free herbal tea that has been enjoyed for generations in South Africa. It has a sweet, earthy flavor with notes of pine and citrus. The reason it’s so popular is because it tastes delicious, and doesn’t have any side effects or bitter after taste. This blog post will cover everything you need to brew the perfect cup of rooibos tea at home. We’ll also go over several brewing tips to help you get the best possible result every time. So keep reading to find out how to brew your perfect cup of tea.

The Different Types of Rooibos Tea

There are two main types of rooibos tea: red and green. The red rooibos is a dark red color with a fragrant, earthy flavor. It has a naturally sweet taste that doesn’t need to be sweetened. The green rooibos is new, it is lighter, more delicate in flavor and aroma. This type of rooibos tea has notes of lemongrass and citrus fruits like grapefruit and lemon.

Brewing Tips

1. Use filtered water
2. Use loose leaf tea if possible
3. Steep in hot water at 212°F (100°C) – very important
4. Brew with a tea infuser or tea strainer (or teabag)
5. Add sugar/milk to taste
6. Drink immediately after brewing

How to Make Rooibos Tea

You can brew rooibos tea in a variety of ways. Here are the two most common ways to make this type of tea:

Hot Method (See traditional way below) and Cold Method

The hot method is perfect for cold winter days when you want to hot tea to warm you up. You don’t need any special equipment for this method. All you do is put the desired amount of loose leaf rooibos(or teabag) in a cup, add boiling water, and steep for however long you wish. Traditionally you would steep it for a fairly long time, until all the leaves have opened up and imparted all their flavour (see below). This will make a “strong” cup of tea, but if you prefer it less so, steep it for a shorter period.

The cold method is perfect for hot summer days when you want an iced or cold drink. You’ll need a pitcher and a strainer to make this type of rooibos tea. Add your desired amount of loose leaf rooibos(or teabags), pour over boiling water, cover, and steep until it reaches the desired strength. Add sugar if you wish and pour into glasses filled with ice cubes, and serve. Add a slice of lemon as a garnish.

Milk or No Milk, Sugar or no Sugar?

That’s completely up to you. You will find the purists who will say “don’t ever add milk or sugar to tea”. However, most people have milk in their tea. The same goes for sugar, there are no rules.

In South Africa many people put condensed milk in their Rooibos tea. (solves the problem – kills two birds with one stone)

Traditional Way To Make Rooibos Tea

There are many “traditional” ways to make Rooibos tea, here are some:

1. Place the tea in a pot and cover with boiling water, steep until the leaves have opened, then pour off the water. Now fill the pot with the desired amount of boiling water and steep again, until it has reached the desired strength. This will make a smooth and milder brew.
2. Place tea in a pot on the stove, add water and bring to the boil. This will make a very dark brew with a strong flavour.
3. Add boiling water to the tea and steep for a long time (30 minutes or more). This will make a dark flavourful brew.

Conclusion

Rooibos tea is naturally caffeine free, making it the perfect choice for when you want an evening or morning beverage without the jitters. The best part about brewing your own Rooibos tea is that you can make it in the way that suits you best. Whether you want to brew it on the stovetop, with a teabag or in a French press. So go ahead and enjoy your perfect cup of Rooibos tea!