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Red Rooibos tea is a South African produced tea derived from Aspalathus linearis. The leaves or the plant are harvested and oxidized to give the reddish-brown color that is seen in the Rooibos tea. The process of oxidation is sometimes referred to as fermentation. Should the process not take place, green Rooibos tea is otherwise produced. It's more expensive than the red variety because of more complex production processes.

Though it started as a local tea in the South Africa, it has gained popularity with the rest of the world. It has a deep reddish-brown color, which is why it's sometimes referred to as the red tea. The process of preparation does not differ much from that used in preparation of black tea. But unlike black tea, Rooibos tea is sweeter, even without added sweetener with a characteristic nutty taste. There are grades for Red Rooibos tea but they are not as distinct as, say with Oolong tea. But it's done depending on the ratio of leaf to stem content. The more leaf there is, the darker and richer the taste. This variety is almost always exported from South Africa to international markets, which are mostly in the Europe region.

Red Rooibos tea can be taken with milk or lemon, or simply on its own. Honey is a recommended sweetener as it compliments the taste. Being herbal tea, it has no caffeine which makes it a great coffee substitute. Besides its great flavor, there are other reasons why the great majority enjoys Red Rooibos tea which are mostly health-related. It is rich in antioxidants which means your body gets energized and refreshed when most of the free radicals are gotten rid of. It improves the functioning of the immune system as most other teas, and discourages the breakdown of elastin and collagen in the skin. You therefore get fewer wrinkles, and remain looking young for longer.

The greatest benefits derived from Red Rooibos tea are those that are in association with the nervous and the digestive systems. It reduces nervous tension and relieves of and digestive problems one might have. Even with respiratory functioning, Red Rooibos tea greatly boosts it. Patients suffering from asthma and related ailments are advised to take the tea. It also assists with weight loss and several kinds of allergies.

Being a widespread variety, it's easy to find Red Rooibos tea in your local grocery store or supermarket.