# Rooibos tea - love it, hate it, meh, never heard of it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [November 4, 2023, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561 "2023-11-04T03:01:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/1 "2023-11-04T03:01:23Z")
I don’t want to hijack the i[s Panera Bread responsible for death of a woman who drank caffeinated lemonade and died thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/1), but there was [a reference to rooibos tea](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/family-sues-panera-bread-over-possible-death-from-energy-drink-do-they-have-a-case/992226/171) that I’d like to pursue. Obviously some people like the stuff. It was extremely popular in South Africa when I traveled there constantly in the late 1990s. But as far as I am concerned, it tastes like shit. Or anyway, what I imagine shit must taste like. The stuff is so weirdly, marvelously bad that I used to buy it all the time to give as gag (heh) gifts to friends and relatives back in the US. “Here, try this stuff. Can you believe people actually drink it?” It’s available on Amazon, so there is apparently a demand for it outside of South Africa. I’m curious what other people think of it. (FWIW, I can’t stand sugar in beverages, so I always drank it unsweetened. Maybe it’s better with sugar, if one likes sugary beverages in the first place.) ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/2 "2023-11-04T03:11:05Z")
I lived with a South African family for a while, and yes, you are correct about what it tastes like. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/3 "2023-11-04T03:11:37Z")
My brother-in-law was in South Africa for extended periods of time years ago. He developed a taste for it. That did not get passed on to my sister (his wife), who doesn’t like it. Somehow, he still manages to find it here in Canada, and always has some in the pantry. My own wife (now ex) loved tea and expressed an interest in trying it when were were visiting once. He prepared it, and she drank it, but her verdict was that she could take it or leave it. I opted not to try it; I’m not a tea drinker. So, one “likes it,” one “doesn’t like it,” and one “neutral.” ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/4 "2023-11-04T03:17:54Z")
I discovered rooibos when i visited South Africa. I liked it immediately. I tried to buy it when i got home, but most of what i could find was watery and bleh. Or doctored up with all sorts of flowery stuff or vanilla or… For a while i wondered if i had imagined it just tasted like a different tea kinda thing, but a bought a lot of brands and found that Rishi was okay. Not great, but pleasant enough. I’ve since discovered “fresh pak” (thanks, @MrDibble ) which tastes like the stuff i liked in South Africa. Honestly, i wonder if part of the difference is just that it is fresher that what i found here. At any rate, I’ve been drinking it somewhat regularly since i bought that box. It’s a nice hot beverage when i don’t want caffeine or sugar. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/5 "2023-11-04T03:20:39Z")
Is it really a tea. Or made from some other plant? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/6 "2023-11-04T03:29:11Z")
I got a version/blend of it that was specifically said to taste like regular ice tea, as a caffeine free alternative. And, to be fair, I do think it did taste like that. But it also has this weird astringent quality that dried out my mouth and made it uncomfortable to drink. I’ve considered drinking more when I wanted a taste of tea, but I never have. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/7 "2023-11-04T03:35:07Z")
I like it. Doesn’t taste like anything else to me. I just like the flavor. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/8 "2023-11-04T04:09:53Z")
It’s not tea (which is the extract of the leaves of camillia sinesis, the common green tea plant). It’s an extract of the leaves of the rooibos bush (aspalathus linearis) of southern Africa. > **[Rooibos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooibos)** > > Rooibos (/ˈrɔɪbɒs/ ROY-Boss; .mw-parser-output .IPA-label-small{font-size:85%}.mw-parser-output .references .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .infobox .IPA-label-small,.mw-parser-output .navbox .IPA-label-small{font-size:100%}Afrikaans: \[rɔːibɔs\], meaning "red bush"), or Aspalathus linearis, is a broom-like member of the plant family Fabaceae that grows in South Africa's fynbos biome. > The leaves are used to make a herbal tea that is called rooibos (especially in Southern Africa), bush tea,... ---
**Author:** ![Hermione1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d07c76/32.png) [@Hermione1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermione1)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/9 "2023-11-04T04:19:28Z")
I love it–especially with infused honey. (It’s very good in cold weather with cinnamon or ginger honey.) And it’s supposed to have loads of health benefits (antioxidants, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/10 "2023-11-04T04:36:44Z")
Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/11 "2023-11-04T04:39:11Z")
> [@Hermione1](#): > > And it’s supposed to have loads of health benefits (antioxidants, etc.) Per the wiki article, it’s supposed to be high in vitamin C and caffeine free. I mostly consume teas as a caffeine transport, so this reduces rooibos’ attractiveness to me considerably. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/12 "2023-11-04T04:47:21Z")
I’ve tried it a couple of times. I didn’t find the taste offensive, but I can’t think of a case where I would drink it instead of regular black tea. I actively dislike chamomile tea, though. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/13 "2023-11-04T05:23:42Z")
I like rooibos with a splash of half-and-half. It’s a non-caf tisane I can drink when anything herbal would make me feel sick. ---
**Author:** ![ParallelLines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/parallellines/32/3575_2.png) [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/14 "2023-11-04T05:28:46Z")
I have it in my house. My wife likes it as a decaf option, and drinks it straight, no sugar. But she doesn’t have it frequently - if she doesn’t think of it, she goes months without it, so it’s probable in the ‘like’ not ‘love’ category. I can drink it with honey, but even then, I’d characterize it as “meh” per the OP. If I don’t want caffeine (a valid choice) I’ll more frequently drink decaf (of at least moderate quality), rather than most herbal infusions that are sold in the ‘tea aisle’ of the American megamart. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/15 "2023-11-04T06:01:38Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Is it really a tea. Or made from some other plant? As @gnoitall pointed out, it isn’t made from pekoe leaves. It’s referred to as “tea” in the vernacular, as in dried leaves/flowers steeped in hot water - like chamomile tea. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/16 "2023-11-04T06:04:59Z")
TY, I understand now. Just being curious. Sounds like something my daughter would like. I’m gonna get her some for Christmas and shock and amuse her. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/17 "2023-11-04T06:19:46Z")
Not a fan. I don’t find it bad necessarily, but I have good tea, so I won’t drink any of that. I also dislike the super expensive “aged” teas, which I’m pretty sure makes me a hopeless barbarian. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/18 "2023-11-04T07:06:29Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Is it really a tea. Technically a “_tisane_”. But calling it a tea would not make you crazy in my book. It has no caffeine. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/19 "2023-11-04T07:31:49Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Technically a “_tisane_”. Beck, you could match it up with a good Hercule Poirot novel for the complete gift. 😀 ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2023, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561/20 "2023-11-04T08:59:00Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I’ve tried it a couple of times. I didn’t find the taste offensive, but I can’t think of a case where I would drink it instead of regular black tea. I actively dislike chamomile tea, though. I mostly drink it when i want a pleasant hot beverage without caffeine. Generally, i like tea more than rooibos. But i like rooibos a lot more than any of the decaffeinated teas i have tried. And while i also enjoy a nice ginger or liquorice tea from time to time, rooibos hits a similar “tea like” note to Camellia sinensis. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rooibos-tea-love-it-hate-it-meh-never-heard-of-it/992561.md?page=2)