Rooibos tea - setting a trend in China

gmmg.com Published: 2017-07-24 16:50:00
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Rooibos tea is a drink that most South Africans grew up with. Its unique flavor and health benefits make it one of the country's most popular drinks. In recent years, with increased global trade and tourism, rooibos has traveled across the world to China, where it is also gaining in popularity.

Rooibos tea is a drink that most South Africans grew up with. Its unique flavor and health benefits make it one of the country's most popular drinks. [File Photo: lzbs.com.cn]

Rooibos tea is a drink that most South Africans grew up with. Its unique flavor and health benefits make it one of the country's most popular drinks. [File Photo: lzbs.com.cn]

Rooibos tea is technically not tea, but the leaves from the Aspalathus Linears plant. The species is a type of fynbos found in a 300km area surrounding Cape Town, mainly in the Cederberg region. As such, the seeds of the plants are extremely rare. Each seed pod only contains one seed, which falls to the ground naturally once it is ripe. The local ant species will collect these seeds to store as food. The traditional method for rooibos farmers is to collect these seeds from the ant colony or sift through the sand around adult plants.

Rooibos contains super oxide dismutase properties, meaning that it is an anti-oxidant which scientists say can help slow the aging process. It can also control blood sugar levels and improve the lives of people with diabetes. Additionally, unlike conventional teas, rooibos does not contain caffeine, and is known for being able to relax the central nervous system. Furthermore, rooibos has minimum amount of tanning, which is said to be good for the digestive system.

In China, tea is becoming popular for its health benefits. While traditional Chinese teas are mainly green teas, with a few options of black teas, more and more people are said to be switching over to rooibos.

Rooibos is considered one of the three treasures of South Africa, alongside gold and diamonds. Industrialized in the 1950's, rooibos tea farming has become a major source of income for South Africa over the decades.

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