How To Choose The Best Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea is a healthy, tasty, and traditional South African herbal tea. And it’s gaining popularity around the world as a caffeine-free treat.

Rooibos tea is also known as red tea. It’s made from a type of shrub that grows off the coast of South Africa. Then, the leaves are fermented and later steeped to deliver their signature flavors. But if you’re not a huge fan of fermentation, you can opt for green rooibos as a tasty alternative.

Most tea lovers enjoy rooibos the same way they drink black tea. Either with cream and sugar or in a latte. And rooibos tea is packed with antioxidants that offer health benefits like:

• Low in tannins and oxalic acid
• Supports heart health
• Cancer prevention
• Supports blood sugar levels
• Healthier digestion
• Sleep and relaxation aid
• Supports bone health
• Relieves headaches
• Relieves allergy symptoms
• May relieve colic

Whether you’re new to rooibos or you’ve been enjoying it for years, there’s something in this guide for you. Let’s dive into the rich world of rooibos tea to discover even more about this tasty tea.

*We want you to know that we take our suggestions seriously. We only recommend the best when it comes to tea. This means we put a lot of effort into researching teas with the best reviews, the best ratings, and the most sales.

The best rooibos loose leaf tea

Loose leaf rooibos tea contains whole tea leaves. This means you get even more of the health benefits in every cup. We recommend you try one of these loose leaf rooibos options to enjoy morning, noon, or night:

The Tao of Tea Rooibos Loose Leaf Tea

This full-bodied, fruity rooibos tea comes from an organic processor in South Africa. It has a light vanilla aroma and is made with 100% organic rooibos tea leaves. Give this high-grade rooibos a try any time of day because it’s caffeine-free.

Tealyra Lovely Night Chamomile Rooibos Mint Loose Leaf Tea

Get yourself tucked in and ready to relax with Tealyra’s delicious nighttime brew. It’s a lovely blend of rooibos, chamomile, and mint. This makes for an incredibly refreshing, but relaxing, cup of tea right before bed.

Davidson’s Tea Bulk Organic South African Rooibos Loose Leaf Tea

Davidson’s Tea is another great brand when it comes to 100% organic loose leaf tea. It’s harvested from high-elevation shrubs in the Cape Province of South Africa. Sip every cup knowing it’s organic and naturally caffeine-free. Plus, it’s easy to savor its robust, earthy flavors with hints of sweetness.

The best rooibos tea blends

If you’re open to experimenting, rooibos tea is available in flavored blends. Mix and match flavors to find the perfect match for your palate. Start with these highly-recommended rooibos tea blend brands:

Organic Positively Tea Company Caramel Vanilla Candy

Enjoy traditional red rooibos tea with a twist of new, sweet flavors. This blend merges rooibos, caramel, and vanilla into a single, sweet brew. Savor each sip to pick up on notes of vanilla, caramel, and other delicious undertones.

365 by Whole Foods Market Orange Vanilla Creme 

Pair this subtly sweet rooibos blend with desserts and other delectable treats. It’s earthy, citrusy, and creamy flavors are perfect for any palate. And best of all, every purchase supports healthier and safer working conditions.

Simple Loose Leaf Tea Company Green Berry Delight

As soon as you open this pouch of rooibos blend tea, you’ll be in heaven. Plus, it’s great for rooibos newcomers. It’s made with green rooibos — so it’s not fermented. It’s a great introduction to the world of rooibos, especially for people new to fermented teas.

Trader Joe’s Blood Orange Rooibos Tea

Try Trader Joe’s Blood Orange Rooibos Tea blend to mix things up a bit. It’s a fine rooibos tea infused with delightfully light flavors. You’ll notice subtle notes of hibiscus, rose, orange, and other natural flavors in every sip.

Harney & Sons Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea

This delicious and spicy pumpkin rooibos blend is perfect for fall and winter. It’s an herbal tea that’s packed with pumpkin flavor, cinnamon, clover, and nutmeg. Enjoy its brilliant, vibrant red color with each steep.

The First Sip of Tea Rooibos Blueberry Tea

For a fruitier brew, try this rooibos blend by The First Sip. This delicious rooibos tea is blended with blueberries, apples, and elderberry notes. Plus, it’s got all the antioxidants and vitamins that rooibos tea is famous for.

The best organic rooibos tea

For some tea drinkers, it’s all about the organic ingredients. Organic teas don’t use pesticides or other chemicals during the tea-making process. This includes growing, processing, and harvesting. Give these organic rooibos teas a try the next time you’re craving a cup:

Buddha Tea Organic Rooibos

This delicious rooibos tea is packed with health benefits and it’s 100% organic. Plus, Buddha Teas makes each tea bag bleach-free without any added chemicals. This makes it easy to enjoy rooibos tea without any of the worry.

Twinings of London Organic Rooibos 

Twinings of London makes a delicious organic rooibos tea available in tea bags. It’s sweet, earthy, and fair trade certified. Plus, it’s made from hand-selected leaves from trusted growers.

Harney & Sons Organic Rooibos Tea

This organic rooibos tea by Harney & Sons is as delicious as it is gorgeous. When it’s brewed, this tea has a beautiful and deep reddish color. Drink it hot or iced, at morning, or at night. It’s caffeine-free and certified organic.

Numi Organic Rooibos Tea

Don’t let this mellow brew fool you. It’s full of all the antioxidants and health benefits you love, without any of the caffeine. It’s certified organic and has a deep, earthy vanilla aftertaste.

Traditional Medicinals Organic Reishi Mushroom & Rooibos Tea

Trust Traditional Medicinals to cook up a delicious and nutritious rooibos blend. It’s got tons of healthy ingredients like rooibos tea, mushroom, and orange peel. These tea bags deliver antioxidants in every single sip!

The benefits of rooibos tea

Rooibos tea is as healthy as it is delicious. This all-time favorite tea is packed with lots of health benefits including:

• Antioxidants
• Reduced risk of cancer
• Reduced risk of heart disease
• Heart health support
• Lowered cholesterol levels
• Blood sugar level support
• Cancer prevention
• Bone health support
• Digestive support
• Better sleep
  

The caffeine consistency in rooibos tea

Rooibos tea is actually a type of herbal tea — it’s not grown from the same plant as green, white, or black tea. And because of this, it doesn’t have any caffeine. But rooibos tea is rich in flavor, antioxidants, and health benefits.

Final thoughts and top picks

Rooibos tea is a popular South African beverage. But it’s enjoyed all over the world by tea lovers just like you. We’ve pulled together our top picks for rooibos tea to help get your next cup started.