Rooibos: the best caffeine-free alternative for your evenings
Written by Dian VAULTIER·
In Brief
- It is 21 h, you want a warm, full-bodied drink, but no insomnia.
- Often mistakenly called red tea in the West, rooibos has no botanical connection to Camellia sinensis.
- The HOLLIN sommelier’s expertise: rooibos explained by a purist Tea Maison, with no added flavourings, based in Sartrouville (Île-de-France) and shipping its grand crus worldwide.
It is 21 h, you want a warm, full-bodied drink, but no insomnia. Rooibos is the most fitting answer, provided you fully understand what it is.
The paradox of red tea
Often mistakenly called red tea in the West, rooibos has no botanical connection to Camellia sinensis. It is not strictly speaking a tea, it is an time.
It comes from a thorny shrub, Aspalathus linearis, which grows only in the Cederberg mountains, in South Africa.
A naturally rounded aromatic profile
Its needles, harvested then fermented, take on a copper-red hue and develop naturally sweet aromas: hazelnut, vanilla, honey, sometimes with woody notes reminiscent of a Roasted Oolong.
No added flavouring is needed to achieve this rounded profile: the plant material itself provides it.
Zero theine, zero compromise for the evening
The main advantage of rooibos is its complete absence of caffeine and its very low tannin content. No impact on the central nervous system.
Its low astringency allows for long herbal teas long, without any risk of bitterness, making it an ideal drink for a filter mug shared at the end of the day.
Choosing an honest rooibos
Avoid heavily flavoured rooibos, which often masks an inferior base. A pure, properly fermented rooibos needle is sufficient in itself.
Our rooibos teas are selected in small batches and presented loose at our Hollin du Goût counter in Sartrouville, alongside our herbal teas and our teas pure.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What should you remember about rooibos?
- It is 21 h, you want a warm, full-bodied drink, but no insomnia. Often mistakenly called red tea in the West, rooibos has no botanical connection to Camellia sinensis.
- How does the HOLLIN Maison select its teas when it comes to rooibos?
- We taste every batch before listing it and work exclusively with pure teas. Oxidation, roasting and terroir are what create the notes: sourcing therefore focuses on the artisan's craft, not on added flavourings.
- Where can you discover and taste these teas in Île-de-France?
- At the HOLLIN du Goût counter, 22 avenue de la République, 78500 Sartrouville, open Monday to Saturday from 10h to 20h. There, you can smell the dry leaves, compare several grand crus and leave with the batch suited to your practice. Orders are also shipped throughout France and internationally.