The indigenous Rooibos: the wonder plant

Rooibos is as much a part of the Bushmans Kloof experience as the warm, caring service and hospitality. They serve jugs of delicious Iced Rooibos Tea on arrival as a signature welcome drink, while and steaming pots of Rooibos tea are very popular at their legendary High Tea.

The History

The indigenous Rooibos plant (Aspalathus linearis), has received praise from across the world for its delicious taste and proven health benefits. This wonder plant grows naturally only in the Cederberg region of the Western Cape and can be found growing wild across the expanse of the reserve. It was first discovered by botanists in 1772, and was named ‘red bush’ by the Dutch settlers. The ancient Khoisan civilization that lived in and around the Cederberg used it as a herbal remedy for many different ailments, and it’s believed that they were the first to discover that the needle-like Rooibos leaves could be used to make a refreshing brew. The Rooibos pioneers used axes to harvest the plant in the wild, after which they then bruised the leaves with hammers, before leaving it to ferment in heaps and then dry in the sun. Today the plant is harvested and processed in very much the same way, although more sophisticated equipment is used of course!

It modern history started in 1968, when a South African mother, Mrs Annetjie Theron first put the spotlight on Rooibos, claiming that it soothed away her baby’s colic. She published a book on her findings and went on to launch a full range of health and skincare products with Rooibos as the basic ingredient. Rooibos then made headlines in Japan in 1984 as an anti-ageing product, and has since been used in many anti-ageing body and skincare product ranges. At The Spa at Bushmans Kloof, extracts of the Rooibos plant can be found in many of their therapeutic face and body treatments, and it’s integral to the signature B|Africa product range, which combines indigenous African plant extracts with the natural resources of the sea.

The Benefits and Uses

Nowadays, enjoying Rooibos as a tea is perhaps its most recognized form – a delicious, healthy and caffeine-free drink that is packed with anti-oxidants. It has a unique, sweet and slightly nutty taste, which has a soothing effect on the digestive and central nervous systems. Executive Chef Floris Smith is big fan and is fond of using Rooibos tea as an ingredient in some of his Cape Country dishes. This has led to Bushmans Kloof contributing to Rooibos Limited’s cookbook, ‘A Touch of Rooibos’, voted the best single-subject cookbook in South Africa, and the third-best cookbook in the world at the 2010 Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

One of only a few indigenous South African plants to have become an important commercial commodity, Rooibos tea is still produced mainly in its natural distribution area – the districts of Nieuwoudtville, Clanwilliam, Citrusdal and Piketberg, and then exported all over the world.

Rooibos Iced Tea

Ingredients:

• 2 litres of water
• 20 Rooibos tea bags
• 65ml honey
• 5 star anise
• 2 tbsp whole black peppercorns
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 whole cloves
• 1/2 cup of sugar
• 250ml of apple juice

Method:

1. Bring all the above ingredients, except the apple juice, to boil.
2. Simmer for an hour. Allow to cool.
3. Strain the tea mixture. Add the apple juice and decant into jugs.

Place in your fridge until ready to serve.

Rooibos Glühwein

Ingredients:

• 250ml strong Rooibos tea
• 120ml orange juice
• 2 oranges, cut into slices
• 5 cloves
• 2 sticks of cinnamon
• 125ml of honey
• 500ml of red wine
• 250ml of port

Method:

1. Place the Rooibos and orange juice in a pot.
2. Add oranges, cloves, cinnamon, and honey and bring to the boil.
3. Add wine and port and bring to a boil again.

Strain and serve hot.