Rooibos comes from a single place: the Cederberg Mountains of South Africa, where the Khoisan people first put it to use, a tradition that stretches back more than 300 years. The plant grows in sandy, acidic soil and needs the region's particular swing between hot dry summers and cold wet winters, along with a relationship with native fungi in the soil, to thrive the way it does. After harvest the leaves are chopped, bruised to start oxidation, and dried in the sun, which is what turns them that deep reddish-brown and builds the rounded, aromatic character rooibos is known for. Leaves picked before that oxidation step are sold as rooibos green tea instead.
In the cup, expect an earthy, naturally sweet base with a nutty edge and a texture that leans smooth, almost creamy. Teatico's tasting notes for this one add lavender, citrus, lemon, orange, honey, caramel, maple and vanilla, so a herbal, faintly floral quality can come through alongside the citrus brightness, especially if you're paying attention to the finish. It carries no caffeine at all, which puts it in a different category from black tea (roughly 40-70 mg per cup) or green tea (20-45 mg), and makes it a reasonable choice for the evening or for anyone cutting back on stimulants. It's also low in tannins, so it doesn't interfere with iron and mineral absorption the way stronger teas can.
Steeping is forgiving. Use one teaspoon of leaves per cup, pour water at a full rolling boil rather than the cooler temperatures suited to green or white tea, and let it sit for around 7 minutes — Teatico's own guidance runs to 420 seconds. Rooibos doesn't turn bitter with extra time in the pot, so there's room to push the steep longer if you want a bolder cup. Most people drink it plain, since the natural sweetness holds up well on its own, but it also takes additions easily: a twist of lemon or orange peel, a pinch of cinnamon, ginger or cloves, fresh mint or lemongrass, a spoon of honey, or a splash of almond, soy or oat milk for something closer to a latte. It works hot or over ice.
