Aspalathus linearis (N.L.Burm.) R.Dahlgr. - Fabaceae - rooibostee, bossietee (afr.), rooibos, Rooibos

Erect to spreading, much-banched shrub or subshrub, up to 2m high, native to the western parts of the Western Cape Province in South Africa; stems reddish-brown; leaves dark green, needle-shaped, 1.5-6cm long; flowers yellow, solitary or arranged in dense groups at the tips of branches; fruit a small lance-shaped pod with 1-2 seeds. Cutted and fermented leaves and twigs are used to make healthy beverage, the infusion is also used as antispasmodic.

„The tea cuttings are chopped very fine and then bruised to ensure that the important chemical reaction which develops the characteristic colour and flavour of the tea can take place. After watering and airing, the tea is left to „sweat“ in heaps and it at this point that the tea acquires its typical reddish brown colour and develops its sweet flavour. After the sweating process has been completed, it is spread out in a large drying yard to dry in the sun.“ http://plantzafrica.com/plantab/aspallinearis.htm

„The main medicinal use of rooibos tea is as a milk substitute for babies who are prone to cholic.“
[Medicinal Plants of the World. Ben-Erik Van Wyk and Michael Wink, Pretoria 2004, 59]

„Used as a herbal beverage by the indigenous Khoi people since the late 1700s… Aside from the tea after infusing creating a deep natural red color with a full flavor and body, this herbal tea is caffeine free, has a low tannin content - estimated at 3% in the leaves, is high in antioxidant activity…
[Marnewick, Jeanine L. „Rooibos and honeybush: recent advances in chemistry, biological activity and pharmacognosy.“ African Natural Plant Products: New Discoveries and Challenges in Chemistry and Quality. ACS Symposium Series. Vol. 1021. 2009] http://port-trading.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/newsletter1.pdf

Samples of traditional rooibos tea were vacuum steam distilled/solvent extracted for analysis. The major components of the extract were shown to be guaiacol (24%), 6-methyl-3,5-heptadien-2 one isomer (5.2%), damascenone (5%), geranylacetone (4.2%), 2-phenylethanol (4.1%) and 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one (4%).“
[Habu, Tsutomu, et al. „Volatile components of rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis).“ Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 33.2 (1985): 249-254]

The high-impact chemical 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol, with its unique scent of grapefruit and tropical fruits, is also an important trace constituent of 'red tea' (rooibos tea).
[Meaningful Scents around the World, R.Kaiser, 2006, 69]

Main components of the volatile extracts (SDE/DRP) of rooibos tea were: isolongifolol, vanillin, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, tridecanoic acid, phenol, eugenol, 4-vinylphenol, dihydroactinidiolide, methyl cinnamate, heptalactone, and N-methylacetamide. Olfactory interesting minor components were e.g. benzyl alcohol, furfural, benzaldehyde, anisaldehyde, acetophenone, β-damascenone, β-ionone, guaiacol, isoeugenol, and indole.
[Song, Nho-Eul, et al. „Analysis of volatile compounds in rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) using different extraction methods and their relationship with human sensory perception.“ Food Research International 141 (2021): 109942]

---

„Most of the individual flavonoids and other phytochemical constituents of rooibos and honeybush are found either exclusively in one or the other plant, i.e. flavan-3-ols, flavones, dihydrochalcones, proanthocyanadins and phenolic acids are predominantly found in rooibos while isoflavones, coumestans, inositols and xanthones predominate in honeybush. Eriodictyol and luteolin are the only individual components identified to date that are common to both plants.“
[A review of the bioactivity of South African herbal teas: rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia). McKay, Diane L., and Jeffrey B. Blumberg., Phytotherapy Research Vol.21(1), 2007, 1-16]

Aspalathus linearis (N.L.Burm.) R.Dahlgr., Clanwilliam, Westkap, Südafrika CC BY-SA 2.5, Author: Amrum Wikimedia Commons