Herbal Spotlight: Rooibos Leaf

Rooibos Leaf comes from the Rooibos plant, (meaning “red bush”), or Aspalathus linearis, is a broom-like member of the plant family Fabaceae that grows in South Africa’s fynbos biome. African cultures have grown and used tea in their daily lives for hundreds of years. Malawai, a country in East Africa, is home to the oldest tea bushes on the continent, dating as far as the 19th century. Kenya, also in country in East Africa, is known as one of the world’s largest tea producers. In South Africa, farmers export 6000 tons of Rooibos a year, which is a crop that grows abundantly in very harsh conditions. Rooibos makes a delicious, caffeine-free tisane with a bounty of health benefits! Rooibos Leaf features prominently in two of our favorite tisanes; Allergy Herbal Tea and Skin Herbal Tea.

In Allergy Herbal Tea, this healing plant helps to relieve runny nose and itchy eyes caused by allergies because of the two bioflavonoids it contains called rutin and quercetin. These bioflavonoids block the release of histamine, which is the chemical the body produces in response to allergens. This is the same compound that over the counter antihistamines block, except the compounds in Rooibos Leaf don’t leave you feeling drowsy or with a dry mouth.

In Skin Herbal Tea, Rooibos Leaf is not only full of antioxidants but is also a powerful anti-inflammatory compound. Rooibos Leaf soothes skin conditions, especially eczema, psoriasis, and acne. The herb also has potent anti-aging properties which help to reduce wrinkles and fine lines and promote the production of healthy skin cells.