Iced rooibos tea is a delicious, refreshing herbal summer drink. It takes minutes to prepare and is a healthy, caffeine-free, sugar-free alternative to soft drinks and a tastier option than plain water!
Jump to:
What you'll love about the recipe
- Rooibos (or redbush) tea is naturally caffeine free and low in tannins so you can drink it at any time of day. It's also ideal for children.
- It's healthy. Rooibos tea, made from a South African shrub called Aspalathus linearis, is rich in antioxidants and polyphenols. Orange and cinnamon are also a natural source of antioxidants.
- No added sugar. Unlike many soft drinks, iced rooibos tea can be enjoyed unsweetened.
- Delicious. Rooibos has a full-bodied, rich, slightly sweet flavour which works very well as a refreshing summer drink. Its thirst-quenching taste will ensure that you stay well hydrated on a hot day. It's also perfect for entertaining, served in a big pitcher.
- Quick and easy to make, iced red tea has just 3 ingredients.
Ingredients
Rooibos tea. I use tea bags to make iced rooibos tea as it won't need straining, but you can use loose leaf tea if you prefer. One teaspoon of loose leaf tea is the equivalent of one tea bag.
Adding a piece of fresh orange to homemade rooibos iced tea naturally sweetens it slightly, and I love the flavour of orange and rooibos together.
Cinnamon. A cinnamon stick is ideal for this recipe. Half a cinnamon stick is sufficient; you can reuse it several times. If you don't like cinnamon, you could also use other warming spices such as cloves, cardamom, ginger or star anise.
How to make iced rooibos tea
All you'll need to prepare your perfect iced rooibos tea is a heat-proof jug and some boiling water.
Pour the boiling water over the tea bags and add the slice of orange and cinnamon stick. Leave the tea bags in the liquid until you are ready to serve. Unlike other teas, I find that rooibos tea does not go bitter even if you brew it for a long period of time.
Leave to cool. If you place it in the fridge, it'll reach room temperature in about an hour.
Serve over ice with an extra slice of orange, and maybe some mint. Or go to town with other fruits such as apple, strawberry or peach! Or for a sparkling iced tea, top up with some sparkling water.
Variations
If you want to add extra sweetness to your redbush tea drink, try a spoonful of honey or maple syrup. You could also add some vanilla extract for a slightly sweeter flavour. I drink a lot of iced rooibos tea, so I prefer to drink it unsweetened.
If you want a refreshing summer drink that is ready to drink immediately, you might like this honey lemonade recipe.
Expert tip
If you are a big rooibos iced tea drinker, you can top the jug up once or twice during the day. Just add some more boiling water and place it back in the fridge. Discard the tea bags at the end of the day.
Double or triple the recipe as needed for entertaining.
Leftover tea can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can make rooibos tea with cold water. But you'll need to use double the quantity of tea bags and infuse the tea for 8-12 hours. You can also make sun tea if you prefer by leaving the tea to steep in the sun for about 4 hours.
As rooibos tea is caffeine free, it can be drunk at any time of the day. It is also low in tannins which means it won't interfere with the absorption of minerals such as iron and can be safely drunk with meals. And of course, iced rooibos tea gives you more drinking opportunities in the summer weather!
Unlike many other teas, rooibos doesn't contain bitter-tasting tannins. That means that it can be brewed for a longer period of time. I regularly re-steep my rooibos tea bags once or twice, and I do the same when I make iced rooibos tea too.
Other healthy drinks you might like
If you like caffeine-free tea, why not try some of the recipes below? Many of these herbal drinks can be made for free if you are lucky enough to live in the countryside and can go foraging.
You might also like to try this healthy iced coffee recipe. It works well with decaf coffee if that's what you prefer.
Have you tried this easy, healthy recipe? Please leave a rating and/or comment at the bottom of the page. Your email will not be published.
Your feedback and questions are much appreciated.
You can also follow me on Pinterest and Facebook.
Why not subscribe to the newsletter to receive free delicious healthy recipes straight to your inbox?
Recipe
Iced Rooibos Tea
Ingredients
- 2 rooibos tea bags
- ½ cinnamon stick
- ¼ orange
Instructions
- Place the tea bags, orange and cinnamon stick in a heat proof jug and cover with 500ml boiling water.
- Leave to cool. This will take about an hour in the fridge.
- Serve over ice with a slice of orange.
Notes
- If you want to use loose-leaf redbush tea, replace each tea bag with one teaspoon of loose tea. Strain out the tea before serving.
- If you want your tea to be sweeter, add a teaspoon of honey or maple syrup.
- The jug of iced tea can be topped up with boiling water once or twice. Discard the tea bags at the end of the day.
Comments
No Comments