ROOIBOS: THE NATURALLY CAFFEINE FREE CHOICE

BORN FREE

While conventional black tea, and even green tea, contain caffeine, rooibos is naturally 100% caffeine free. Unlike the traditional tea bush, the rooibos plant (part of the pea and bean family) has absolutely no caffeine in its genetic make-up, making rooibos perfect for anyone looking to cut their caffeine intake and still enjoy a delicious brew.

KICK THE CAFFEINE

Caffeine is a chemical found in certain plants, most notably coffee, cacao and of course Camellia sinensis, the tea bush. As a natural stimulant, it affects the brain and can make us feel more awake. Too much can cause problems such as heart palpitations, high blood pressure, anxiety and poor sleep. The resulting tiredness can make us reach for another caffeine hit, and so the cycle continues.

CAFFEINE FREE VS DECAF

The best way to cut down on your caffeine from tea is to swap out your regular brew with either a decaf or naturally caffeine free tea. But is there a difference? The answer is absolutely, yes.

THE DECAFFINATION PROCESS

Decaf teas undergo a process to remove the caffeine molecules that occur naturally in the leaves of the tea bush. Most decaffeination methods involve the use of a potent chemical solvent (methylene chloride or ethyl acetate) or carbon dioxide to strip the caffeine from the tea leaves.

Paradoxically, most decaf teas still contain some caffeine, because it cannot ever be fully removed. Many of the chemical solvents used in the process can’t be entirely removed, either. The heavy processing and residual solvents can hugely affect flavour and antioxidant levels – with a knock-on impact on the health benefits of the tea.

A NATURAL ALTERNATIVE

Naturally caffeine free teas, like rooibos, don’t undergo decaffeination processing. They are full of all the natural antioxidant goodness of the leaf, there are no trace chemical solvents and – most importantly – the flavour is uncompromised. This will always be our preference when cutting down on caffeine.

ROOIBOS – TRUE BREW

Full, smooth taste. Deep, amber colour. Naturally caffeine free rooibos stands up and stands out as a satisfying alternative to your standard brew. Enjoy it ‘red’ or with milk and plant milks, make it as strong as you like and even leave the teabag in - it won’t turn bitter. There’ll be none of that pesky scum that you get with regular tea, either. Just a lovely clean cup.

A POSITIVE CHOICE

Yes, it contains zero caffeine and tastes delicious, but there’s more to rooibos than that. Low in tannins and packed with antioxidants like aspalathin, a polyphenol exclusive to rooibos, evidence of the wide-ranging benefits of this wonder plant is growing. Studies have shown rooibos may support cardiovascular health, stabilise blood glucose, boost brain function, aid recovery after exercise, and even assist weight loss!