Rooibos Tea

WHAT IT IS: Rooibos, (pronounced like "roy-boss") is Afrikaans for "red bush". Rooibos Tea is a broom-like member of the legume family of plants and is a tisane (herbal tea) with a sweet and slightly nutty flavor.

HOW IT'S MADE: Generally, the leaves are oxidized, a process often, and inaccurately, referred to as fermentation by analogy with tea processing terminology. This process produces the distinctive reddish-brown color of rooibos.

HOW IT'S BREWED: Heat the water as you would for loose leaf black tea (bring to a rolling boil) then steep one teaspoon per cup for 5-10 minutes. The taste is improved by longer brewing.