Rooibos and other Herbal Infusions

ROOIBOS, meaning "Red Bush," is a naturally caffeine free herb that contains potassium, fluoride, iron, calcium and magnesium with only 1% tannins.  Pronounced 'roy-boss,' this herb is grown in the Cedarburg region of South Africa. Like green tea, Rooibos has tons of anti-oxidants to keep you healthy - higher, in fact, than green tea.   It also tastes a little like black tea, slightly earthy and always full-bodied.   We also carry green rooibos blends.  Red rooibos is sun-dried for about a week after the leaves are 'bruised.'  This brings out the anti-oxidants and red colour.  Green rooibos is picked and then dried.   Health experts have claimed through various studies that Rooibos (Aspalthus linearis) aids in the following:

Many of our Rooibos varieties are certified organic and all varieties have no additives, preservatives or colourants.

HONEYBUSH belongs to the rooibos family and is a very rare plant.  Until recently, this herb was exclusively wild-crafted but is now grown on plantations as well.  Honeybush has a full-bodied, flowery taste with a touch of the sweetness of honey.  The "tea" is rich in minerals and trace elements; honeybush, like rooibos, contains no caffeine.

 Herbal and Fruit Infusions

These infusions are often high in Vitamin C depending on the fruit content.  A mixture of aromatic spices, flowers, herbs and fruit are often combined for unique blends that delight the taste buds.  Health, health, health!  Our infusions include many of these ingredients in different quantities depending on a specific blend: currants and berries, apple, citrus fruits, lavender, peppermint, chamomile, lemon grass, calendula, hibiscus, rose hip, spearmint, tropical fruits, jasmine...and more.   

We also carry Yerba Mate, pronounced 'yurba mahtay', a herb prepared from Illex paraguariensis - a South American evergreen shrub which is a relative of the common holly.  The leaves are processed like tea leaves and allowed to age to enhance the flavour.  Mate is rich in caffeine and was used by the native population of Latin America for centuries before European settlers established coffee plantations.  Traditionally, Mate was made using a cold water infusion in a small bowl, usually a hollowed-out gourd, and inserting a hollow tube or straw through which the tea is sipped. 

Gourd and straw from Argentina specifically made for preparing Yerba Mate.  The straw is called a bombilla, pronounced 'bombeeya'.  Upon special request, gourds and bombillas can be purchased from Teaberry's.  The bombilla today is generally stainless steel, but some have been made from silver.  Traditionally the bombilla was often made from organic materials.   Introduced to other cultures by the Guarani people of South America, Yerba Mate contains vitamins, minerals and a very high level of anti-oxidants as well as a high amount of caffeine.

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