{"slug":"rooibos","name":"Rooibos","steep_time":{"low_seconds":300,"high_seconds":360},"steep_temperature":{"low_c":95,"high_c":100,"low_f":203,"high_f":212},"web_url":"https://timebeforetea.com/teas/rooibos","title":"How to Brew Rooibos","description":"Steep Rooibos for 5m – 6m at 95°C – 100°C (203°F – 212°F). A step-by-step brewing guide from Time Before Tea.","steps":[{"name":"Measure your tea","text":"Use about one teaspoon of Rooibos leaves per 8 oz cup."},{"name":"Heat the water","text":"Bring fresh water to 95°C – 100°C (203°F – 212°F). Water that is too hot will scorch the leaves."},{"name":"Steep","text":"Pour the water over the leaves and steep for 5m – 6m. Start at the shorter time and taste as you go."},{"name":"Strain and serve","text":"Remove the leaves as soon as the steep is done so the tea does not turn bitter."}],"faqs":[{"question":"How long should you steep rooibos tea?","answer":"5 to 6 minutes in water at a full boil. You can go longer for a stronger cup. Rooibos is low in tannins, so it gets more intense rather than bitter."},{"question":"What temperature should water be for rooibos?","answer":"203–212°F (95–100°C), a full boil. Rooibos is an herbal tea made from a sturdy, oxidized leaf, and it needs very hot water to give up its flavor."},{"question":"Can you over-steep rooibos?","answer":"Not in the way you can with black or green tea. Left for 10 minutes or more, rooibos becomes stronger and woodier but not harshly bitter, because it has very little tannin. That makes it one of the most forgiving teas to brew."},{"question":"Does rooibos have caffeine?","answer":"No. Rooibos comes from Aspalathus linearis, not the tea plant, and it's naturally caffeine-free. That makes it a popular choice in the evening."},{"question":"Is rooibos a real tea?","answer":"Technically it's a tisane, an herbal infusion, because it doesn't come from Camellia sinensis. It's brewed and drunk like tea, though, and in South Africa it's simply called tea."},{"question":"How much rooibos should I use per cup?","answer":"One to one and a half teaspoons (2–3 g) per 8 oz (240 ml) cup. The needles are dense, so a heaping teaspoon is about right."},{"question":"Can you put milk in rooibos?","answer":"Yes. Red rooibos has enough body and sweetness to take milk, much like a black tea. Green rooibos is better plain."}],"product_handles":[],"store_available":false}