Rooibos Tea Recipe
Serves 1
Rooibos tea is traditionally prepared by steeping leaves in barely simmering water over an extended period of time, and scientific study verifies the merit of this practice. Rooibos tea steeped for thirty minutes at a temperature just below boiling has 50 percent more antioxidant capacity than do leaves steeped for only five minutes. If you steep tea this long, double the amount of water to make about one cup of tea.
• 1 cup water
• 1 rooibos tea bag, or 1 teaspoon loose rooibos leaves
1. Bring the water and rooibos to a boil over a high flame. Reduce the heat immediately. Cover and allow to stand over a low flame for 5 minutes.
2. Strain and discard the tea bag or leaves. Serve hot.
Cornelia Carlson holds a doctorate in biochemistry and is an avid grower and user of herbs. She writes frequently for Herbs for Health and is the author of The Practically Meatless Gourmet (Berkley, 1996). She writes from her home in Tucson, Arizona.