Oh Rooibos tea you inspire me to bake

Apparently I have always been partial to a cup of tea

From waiting up for my father to have Rooibos tea with him to growing up drinking mostly tea.

Or it could just have been my young self realising that is the only way I would spend time with my dad as he was always working.

Eventually I also married into the family that founded the original Rooibos tea company in Clanwilliam, South Africa many years later.

What is it about Rooibos tea that makes me want to write about it

She says with a cup of tea right next to her.

Tea is the stuff of history, just think Boston Tea Party.

Of course, this was no party at all, but a dramatic display of the value of commodities and relationships gone wrong.

Rooibos tea, like many others, is also such a tea.

It has inspired a fascinating cosmetics and healthcare industry.

What is more, it was such a rarity when I first arrived here, that I used to bring that over rather than chocolate or my favourite cheesy maize snack.

What makes this tea special

• It is red in colour, making it stand out clearly from black and green tea
• It is full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatories such as quercetin and does not contain any caffeine
• There is significant research suggesting its cancer prevention, weight loss and bone health properties
• You can drink it just steeped in boiling water, thus avoiding all those calories and the cortisol reaction within your system

Rooibos is used in dozens of classic South African recipes

From soaking peaches for potjie (a favourite South African stew) to keeping fruit cakes moist for weeks, Rooibos is the main ingredient in my favourite chocolate cake.

These days Rooibos is also used in everything from Mulled wine (Glϋhwein as I am from Namibia) to salted caramel popcorn to shortbread and tea cakes.

The recipe for this Rooibos tea chocolate cake with Rooibos ganache featured on page 21-23 in this edition of Celebrate South Africa is one that features in my forthcoming cookbook “Naked Baking”.

Contact us if you would like to pre-order one.

Until next time,

M.