Blue Spider

With all the attention that tea has been receiving lately, many people are trying Rooibos or Red Tea for the first time. This delicious tea deserves our attention, because of its wonderful flavor and many health benefits.

Rooibos tea is not really a tea at all, but rather an herbal tisane from the plant Aspalathus linearis. Aspalathus linearis is a small bush that grows only in South Africa. While the name Rooibos means “red bush”, the leaves are green when picked and only become red when fermented. The resulting tea is remarkably red in color.

South Africans have been consuming Rooibos for medicinal and refreshment purposes for a long time, but it began to be cultivated specifically for tea after being discovered in 1904 by Benjamin Ginsberg. Ginsberg was a Russian immigrant who so enjoyed the tea that he began to cultivate and market it.

Because Rooibos is not a true tea, but a herb, it contains no caffeine and is low in tannin. Studies done in South Africa have documented health benefits, including:

Acts on the nervous system to ease irritability, headaches, nervous tension and insomnia. Relieves stomach cramps and colic in infants Used to treat hay fever, asthma and eczema Slows the aging process of skin when applied directly Improves the immune system function
Rooibos tea is prepared just like black tea, except the brewing time is longer. Bring water to a full boil, then brew for 6 - 8 minutes. In South Africa rooibos is served with milk and sugar, but elsewhere it is usually served plain.

If you have ever eaten in a Thai or perhaps a Vietnamese restaurant, then you have probably seen an interesting orange colored beverage in a tall glass go by with a waiter or waitress you’ve often wondered just what kind of drink this might be. You’re pretty sure it’s a Thai drink…. after all, you are in a Thai restaurant! But, just what is it made of?

What you have seen is called Thai Iced tea. Surprise! It doesn’t look much like any tea that you are probably used to seeing. But, it is tea! It’s just prepared in a different way that you may not have heard of before. It looks intriguing, and it tastes wonderful, and is very welcome on a hot summer day, or whenever you are eating hot, spicy food.

Normally, Thai restaurants are not too giving when it comes to their recipes. But, the recipe for Thai Iced tea wasn’t too hard to come by. It is such a staple Thai beverage that almost anyone who knows their Thai food can tell you how to prepare it.

The type of tea that is used in Thai restaurants is called Lapsang Suchong and it can be found on the internet. You can also use any good quality black loose tea and end up with the same results. You will need around 2/3 cup of black tea leaves to make two glasses of Thai Iced tea.

You’ll also need 1 and 2/3 cup of good-tasting water, preferably purified,