A common complaint about rooibos (pronounced roy-boss or roy-bus and otherwise known as red bush or red tea) is that it has a medicinal flavor/aroma; that was my initial assessment too. A few cups later, however, and I was seduced by its gentle, sweet, refreshing flavor. Rooibos comes from a South African plant and, like tea, can be produced as green (minimally oxidized) or red (oxidized). It’s caffeine free and rich in antioxidants.
For this review, I tried a sample of plain, loose leaf Rooibos from the online tea merchant, Adagio (www.adagio.com). Preparation involved placing the leaves in a teapot, covering them with boiling water, and steeping for five minutes.
I detect a few scents in Adagio rooibos’ strong, sweet aroma: earthiness, menthol, marijuana (being consumed), apples, and vanilla. It offers a sweet taste with a smooth finish. A little squirt of lemon complements this rooibos very well.
| Aroma (brewed): | Sweet, earthy, menthol, vanilla, apples, burning marijuana |
|---|---|
| Body: | Medium |
| Flavor: | Sweet and smooth with little astringency |
| Color: | Reddish Amber |
All these years I had it wrong — those people with lawn concert tickets were just brewing large amounts of rooibos tea!
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