I first learned of rooibos tea—sometimes called red bush tea—while reading
the novel The Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith.
The story is set in Botswana, South Africa, and you may have seen the HBO movie
based on it. The heroine, the wise and thoughtful Precious Ramotswe, favors red
bush tea. She often reflects on life, love, and human nature while sipping her
favorite brew. By the time I finished the novel ten years ago, I absolutely had
to find some red bush tea for myself.
I instantly formed a liking for the tea made from the South African red bush
plant. Technically it’s a tisane, but as my mother says, “Tisane… it just doesn’t
have such a pleasant ring, does it?” Rooibos is the only non‑tea tea I truly enjoy.
It has the deep red‑brown color of orange pekoe and a clear‑sky‑hot‑afternoon
comfort to its flavor.
I’ve tried many brands—most organic—and they were all good, until I recently tried
Intaba South African Rooibos Tea
.
It’s richer and more flavorful than any I’ve had before.
Cold Rooibos Tea for Hot Days
Summers in south Alabama are hot and sultry, and a cold glass of rooibos tea is
wonderfully refreshing. For a 1‑quart pitcher made CurtissAnn‑style:
- Brew 4 Intaba Rooibos tea bags in 2 cups of boiling water for 5–6 minutes.
- Add 1/4 cup sugar (or to taste) to your pitcher.
- Add a generous slice of fresh lemon—at least half an inch thick.
- Pour the hot brewed rooibos into the pitcher and stir well.
- Fill the rest of the pitcher with ice and/or cold water.
Pour over ice, sit on a shady porch in front of a fan, and relax.
When CurtissAnn isn’t relaxing on the front porch with a tall glass of cold
rooibos, she spends her time writing novels! Visit her website at
CurtissAnnMatlock.com
.
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