South African Rooibos Pyramid Tea Bags

🍵 The Origin — Whole rooibos leaves and stems from the Cederberg mountains of South Africa's Western Cape, oxidised to a deep amber-red and packed into spacious biodegradable pyramid bags

🍵 The Cup — A rich, warm amber infusion, smooth and naturally rounded, with a gentle depth that needs neither sugar nor milk to be deeply satisfying

🍵 The Character — Softly earthy and naturally sweet, with a faint, almost vanilla-like warmth and none of the bitterness or astringency of conventional black tea

🍵 The Evening — Naturally caffeine free and inherently soothing, this is an ideal late-night cup — though its easy, mellow character makes it equally welcome at any hour

South African rooibos pyramid tea bags bring the smooth, naturally sweet warmth of genuine redbush to one of its most convenient formats, with no compromise on quality or character. Rooibos — from the Afrikaans for 'red bush' — grows exclusively in the Cederberg mountains of South Africa's Western Cape, where acidic, nutrient-poor soils, high altitude, and intense sunlight combine to produce a plant found nowhere else on earth. This is not simply a geographical quirk; it is the reason genuine South African rooibos carries a flavour and character that cannot quite be replicated anywhere else.

The plant, Aspalathus linearis, has been used by the indigenous Khoisan people for centuries. Commercial cultivation began in earnest in the early twentieth century, and rooibos has since become one of the most widely loved caffeine free herbal teas in the world — valued for its smooth, approachable flavour as much as for its naturally calming character.

What makes rooibos so immediately appealing is its near-total absence of bitterness. Unlike teas made from the Camellia sinensis plant, rooibos contains very low levels of tannin, meaning it stays soft, smooth, and rounded however long it steeps — an ideal choice for those who want a comforting cup without having to watch the clock. The infusion pours a deep, warm amber and carries a gentle earthiness with a natural sweetness and a faintly vanilla-like warmth that is quite unlike any other herbal infusion.

The pyramid bag format is well suited to rooibos. The spacious, three-dimensional design gives the leaves room to expand fully during steeping, delivering an infusion closer in depth and aroma to a well-brewed loose leaf cup than a standard flat bag could achieve.

Finding caffeine free teas of genuine character is something High Teas London has been doing since 2008. With one of the largest collections in the country — over 350 teas and infusions — our aim has always been to bring something genuinely good to your cup, whether that means a classic loose leaf black tea or a warming, caffeine free option like this one.

Ingredients: Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis).

Brewing Note: Rooibos is one of the most forgiving infusions to brew. Place one pyramid bag in your mug and pour freshly boiling water directly over it — unlike delicate green or white teas, rooibos is perfectly happy at 100°C and will not turn bitter if left to steep for longer than intended. Allow it to infuse for 5 to 7 minutes for a full, rounded cup. It is equally good enjoyed on its own, with a splash of milk for a creamier character, or with a little honey if you like a touch of added sweetness. Rooibos also makes a wonderfully refreshing cold drink — brew a strong cup, allow it to cool fully, then pour over ice with a slice of orange or a few fresh mint leaves.