Eleven O'clock Rooibosch Teabags > Reviews (3)

WHAT IS IT?
I was first introduced to Eleven O'Clock tea in Johannesburg when I was about thirteen and I have to admit I entirely forgot about it in the presence of more exciting things, like kudus and elephants and lions and cheetahs... Until I was carefully perusing the tea aisle in Canterbury Wholefoods that is (kiddie in a sweet shop, that's me in the tea section), and there it was. A new tea for me to try! Oh the joy! It was only when I opened up the packet and breathed in a good nostrilfull of arome de rooibosch that I realised it wasn't new to me at all. It's unmistakeable-there's really no smell or taste like it.

Rooibosch is also known as 'rooibos', 'redbush', or in the USA (to avoid any confusion or phonetic malfunctions) 'the red tea'. It's made from the leaves of a wild legume grown in the South Western Cape of South Africa and was popularised by the Dutch, hence the somewhat guttural saliva inducing properties of the name.

PACKAGING
Apparently firmly believing in the phrase "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", Eleven O'Clock tea comes in a box that looks like it belongs on the shelf of 1930's House. In bold cream, red and blue, the front shows a picture of a caring mother figure in a fetching apron beaming at her young child as she pours it a lovely cup of Rooibosch tea. We all know that real children would just snort and shout "I'm not drinking that it smells of hospitals. Where's the Sunny D?", but I personally would rather subscribe to the lovely world of Eleven O'Clock.

INSTRUCTIONS
Just make the tea as usual, but don't be scared when it goes a funny colour. A bit like rust, or the spa water in Tunbridge Wells if you've ever been there. You can treat it just like you would normal tea; add milk, sugar or honey or all three if you're a bit odd. It also makes a fantastic iced tea with some sprigs of mint or lemonbalm added, this is the only thing that has kept me going through the heatwave-I'm a Celtic lass, I wilt in hot weather.

TASTE
Entirely impossible to describe. Rooibosch is slightly medicinal tasting so if, like me, you were the kind of child who used to steal Benylin from the medicine cabinet when no one was looking (well it clearly did me no harm wibble wibble) you'll love this stuff. It tastes sort of fresh, clean and herbal, a bit like the pink mouthwash at the dentist. I'm not really selling this am I. Just believe me on this one-it's glorious.

WHY'S IT SO HEALTHY?
Well, primarily it's naturally caffeine free. Therefore not only is it organically grown, but it's also free from any chemical processing. That can't be bad in a world full of E-numbers and scary ingredients that sound like they have tentacles. There are all manner of exciting old wives tales creeping about regarding the mythological health properties of the tea, but instead I'll treat you to the official take on the matter.What they claim: (shamelessly poached from the website at www.rooiboschtea.com)

• Sold in every health shopin the UK, where it is one of the best selling beverages.

• Soothing and natural, mild antispasmodic effect; gently delicious, relaxes, particularily at bedtime
• Naturally without caffeine or other harmful stimulants
• Low tannin content (1-4%)
• In 200 years of recorded use, no negative effect of any sort has ever been reported
• Strong antioxidant activity
• Children love it; in South Africa it is widely used for babies with feeding problems and colic
• Contains no additives, preservatives or colorants
• Japanese researchers suggest that it may have a beneficial affect on some skin conditions.
• In South Africa it is used as a relief for nappy rash and certain skin irritations
• Recommended by many support groups for various conditions where caffeine drinks have a particularly negative effect

I recently met a lady who adds three rooibosch teabags to her bath water, claiming it helps keep her skin supple. I have to admit she didn't look very supple, but then she may have been three hundred years old and related to a walnut for all I know. Regardless of such claims, founded or otherwise, Rooibosch tea will clean out your pipes good n proper that's for sure.WHERE CAN I BUY THIS LIFE ENHANCING INFUSION?
Lots of places these days, generally health food shops and certain supermarket chains (Waitrose, Budgens, Co-Op). I think there's a Holland and Barrett in every city and one on the moon so it shouldn't be too hard to track down a box of Eleven O'Clock Rooibosch. I bought my last pack at Waitrose, where (if I remember rightly) it cost me £1.89 for 40 tea bags. So, now you have no excuse but to add Eleven O'Clock to the veritable rainbow of tea colours available. I'm patiently waiting for blue tea to arrive on the scene...

NB. Prepare yourselves. Eleven O'Clock Rooibosch only comes in SQUARE bags! Do you remember the days before Tetley convinced us tea brewed from round bags actually tastes better?