Rooibos

I'd never heard of this tea before browsing the Jing website but it has now become a firm favourite. I particularly like this tea as it is caffeine free so suitable for drinking before bedtime. I now regularly have one or two cups every evening. Best drank without milk or sugar. Lovely!

People outside of Africa know it as redbush, but people from Africa laugh at that name. Rooibos is a staple in Southern Africa. It is perfect for cold mornings, warm evenings, as a waker-upper, with honey, sugar, lemon, milk... whichever way you like your tea, rooibos is complementary to it. Ask anyone from the southern end of the continent about rooibos and you can be guaranteed a good comment or two about it.The already distinctive and attractive scent becomes stronger when you brew it, the longer it stands, the deeper the colour gets without becoming bitter. In fact, in Africa it is boiled, and drunk with lots of sugar or even cold with some squash added as a refreshing iced tea. It is perfect without any sweetening too.It can be re-brewed also without losing too much of its flavour, it doesn''t contain caffeine and is loaded with anti-oxidants and anti-fungal compounds (scientifically proven).

I discovered Rooibos through Jing tea whilst looking for something that i could drink late in the evening that wouldnt give me that laying awake staring at the ceiling caffeine boost.It has now become an everyday staple that i simply cannot do without. it's so versatile and seems to morph and change, complimenting whatever mood im in or what im eating.It really comes into its own on a cool evening where it takes on a warming, smokey flavour, conjuring up images of tobacco and leather - like easing into an old worn leather chair in a cosy fire-lit study. Then on a sunny day it can feel fresh, clean and fruity - perfect to finish a nice light lunch.It takes well to a few infusions, again, changing every time - becoming more subtle and gentle. I tend to make a few cups in one go in a tall infuser then decanted into a glass jug which looks just as good as it tastes with a deep rusty red colour, unlike any other drink.Writing this has made me want a cup - so im off to make one now!