Dammann Frères Cederberg Rooibos Loose Herbal Infusion

Rooibos — pronounced roy-boos and meaning "red bush" in Afrikaans — is one of the world's most naturally distinctive herbal infusions, and this Cederberg Rooibos from the celebrated French tea house Dammann Frères is a particularly fine example of the form. It is made from the needle-like leaves of the Aspalathus linearis shrub, which grows nowhere else on earth but the Cederberg mountains of South Africa's Western Cape, a remote and striking landscape of sandy, highly acidic soil where rainfall is scarce and temperatures swing dramatically between seasons. The rooibos plant has resisted every attempt to cultivate it elsewhere in the world — something in this singular terroir cannot be replicated, and that uniqueness shows clearly in the cup.

Dammann Frères, the Parisian tea house founded in 1692 and one of the oldest in the world, sources this rooibos directly from the Cederberg region. The leaves are harvested, cut, and lightly oxidised in a process not unlike that used for black tea — it is this oxidation that deepens the colour from green to the rich, characteristic reddish-brown. The result is a loose herbal infusion with beautifully low tannin levels, which means it brews without bitterness and can be left to steep for as long as you like without turning harsh.

In the cup, the colour is a warm, glowing amber-red. The aroma is round and gently woody, with a natural sweetness that carries soft suggestions of honey and a quiet earthiness. The flavour follows suit: mellow, smooth, and softly sweet, with a light nuttiness and a clean, lingering finish. It is a gentle, full-bodied infusion with a velvety quality that sets it apart from both fruit infusions and standard herbal teas.

Because it is completely caffeine-free and very low in tannins, rooibos is one of the most versatile and widely enjoyed herbal infusions in the world. It is equally well suited to morning, afternoon, and evening drinking, and takes equally well to milk, a slice of lemon, or a little honey — though it is just as rewarding drunk completely plain. It is also excellent served cold or as an iced infusion in warmer months.

Since 2008, High Teas London has been one of the country's leading independent tea specialists, offering over 350 teas and infusions — one of the largest collections available anywhere in the UK. Sourcing something as carefully produced as this Dammann Frères Cederberg Rooibos is exactly what we have always been here to do.

Ingredients: Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis).

Brewing Note: Rooibos is a forgiving and generous infusion to brew. Use freshly boiled water at 100°C and allow around one heaped teaspoon of loose rooibos per cup. Steep for between five and seven minutes — unlike most teas, rooibos will not turn bitter with longer brewing, so adjust freely to your preferred strength. It needs no milk but takes it well if you enjoy it that way, and a small amount of honey complements the natural sweetness beautifully. For an iced version, brew a strong pot, allow it to cool, then pour over ice — it makes a particularly refreshing cold drink, requiring no added sugar.