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Today I want to share about my two favorite teas. But first a little back story, I have been a lover of strong black tea with milk for decades.
I spent some time in the U.K. when I was in my early twenties, and I was introduced to traditional British style tea, specifically PG tips tea. I eventually switched to PG Tips decaf because I didn’t like being hooked on caffeine. But, I still loved the density of a good dark cup of strong black tea with a dairy alternative like oat milk, dark and creamy. As a rule, I try to stay away from cow dairy, my body just feels better overall.
Last year, to my surprise with zero prior symptoms or precursory behavior on my part, I ended up in the ER with a perforated ulcer. My only trip to the hospital in the last two decades was to have my son after my pregnancy went awry. So, I was pretty surprised.
I also co-wrote a cookbook called The Versatile Vegetable (The food of life) and one of the main focuses was gut health. Go figure, never thought I would have an ulcer!
Part of the regime for healing excluded caffeine or anything acidic, like my beloved strong black tea. My favorite daily tea at the time was PG Tips decaf , even though I was already drinking decaffeinated tea I needed to stop the acidic black tea all together. I was not very happy about this news. It was really my biggest indulgence. I was one of those people that did not have much love for herbal tea as my regular daily tea. I occasionally enjoyed them when I had a cold or sore throat and I used them for their medicinal qualities. But herbal tea was no substitute for my rich, dense, creamy black tea
Luckily, my friend Christiana, who owns @mysticmantra in Malibu and makes adaptogenic powders that focus on gut healing and health reached out to me when she heard about my surgery. The herbal drinks Christiana makes battle the H pylori bacteria that are a common cause of ulcers. She sent me some herbs and honeybush tea. She also recommended Rooibos Rocks honeybush tea because it also would help combat the H Pylori bacteria that I had tested positive for.
She sent me a bag of her magic herbal stomach mix along with some loose honeybush tea. I made up a cup and was pleasantly surprised at how rich and delicious it was, it even tasted good with my favorite milk substitute, oat milk. So, I went on the hunt to buy more and came across a blend that included my other new favorite tea, Rooibos Rocks rooibos tea. For me to have a black tea substitute that had so many health benefits too was just so amazing!
Rooibos and honeybush teas are both caffeine-free herbal infusions. They have been used for their medicinal properties for centuries. Honeybush, or Cyclopia spp., is a shrub that grows in the Eastern and Western Cape regions of South Africa.
It’s closely related to rooibos, also grown in South Africa. Honeybush tea — also known as Heuningbos, bergtee, or mountain tea — is an herbal infusion.
Honeybush’s antioxidants
namely mangiferin and hesperidin — confer it a variety of health benefits, including antidiabetic and cancer-fighting properties, as well as improved bone and skin health.
While there are currently no reported side effects of the tea, it may interfere with the metabolism of certain drugs. Thus, be sure to consult your healthcare provider before trying it out.
Why Rooibos and honeybush teas are recognized as a superfoods
What is a superfood? One that’s especially rich in health boosting minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants
Guards against cancer
Rooibos is packed with Quercetin, Aspalathin and Chrysoeriol. Research suggests these may help prevent damage caused by excess free radicals in the body and reduces your chances of developing cancer.
Reduces stress and improves sleep quality
Rooibos and honeybush tea are both caffeine-free, so they won’t buzz you up or increase your blood pressure. They also contain traces of Magnesium. This is known as “nature’s tranquilizer” and can suppress the amount of the stress hormone cortisol that your body produces. Stress and poor sleep are both very detrimental to your wellbeing so drinking Rooibos is a very good idea!
Keep your heart healthy
The Aspalathin in Rooibos protects your heart by suppressing vascular inflammation and the build-up of plaque. Other studies show that Rooibos tea could help with ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) inhibition. This enzyme can contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease and drinking Rooibos may mean there’s less of it in your system.
Discourages diabetes and helps control your weight
While Aspalathin is good for your heart it also helps prevent you from developing type 2 Diabetes. Studies show it enhances insulin activity and improves blood glucose levels. It also helps reduce stress hormones that trigger hunger and fat storage.
Green Rooibos, even richer in Aspalathin, was shown to be especially effective at lowering raised blood glucose levels. What’s more, unlike so many other hot and cold drinks Rooibos is sugar free – and being naturally sweet you don’t need to add sugar. Diabetics are two to four times more likely to die from heart diseases or stroke, so this reinforces the argument made above that Rooibos has significant cardiovascular benefits.
Reduces inflammation and allergic reactions
The calming effects of Rooibos that we mentioned above not only reduce stress but inflammation. This makes it excellent for treating skin conditions like Eczema, Psoriasis, or Nappy Rash. These properties also help to relieve digestive disorders such as nausea, vomiting, heartburn, cramps, constipation, and even colic in children. These qualities, plus the fact it contains two bioflavonoids with antihistamine properties, make it effective in relieving unpleasant allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose.
Anti-aging properties too
All the above benefits help to keep us in good shape for longer. Studies also suggest it can even delay the formation of wrinkles by protecting the layer of fat directly beneath our skin from the sun’s harmful rays.
Good for bones, teeth, and hair
Rooibos and honeybush tea contain calcium, magnesium, and potassium as well as the antioxidants Luteolin and Orientin – all of which help preserve your bone density, support healthy teeth, and promotes hair growth.
Rooibos and honeybush teas are both caffeine-free herbal infusions. They have been used for their medicinal properties for centuries. Honeybush, or Cyclopia spp., is a shrub that grows in the Eastern and Western Cape regions of South Africa.
It’s closely related to rooibos also grown in South Africa. Honeybush tea — also known as Heuningbos, bergtee, or mountain tea — is an herbal infusion.
I hope that you will try either one of these delicious superfood teas!
Thanks for reading my blog,
Colleen
Check out the cook book I co wrote
grizzyLu 