Rooibos: caffeine, brewing and taste
The sources describe rooibos as a caffeine-free herbal infusion: 0 mg per cup.
At a glance
| Type | Not tea: a caffeine-free herbal infusion |
|---|---|
| Caffeine | 0 mg |
| Water temperature | see packaging |
| Steeping time | see packaging |
Caffeine
It therefore adds nothing to your daily caffeine total.
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How it is made
Made from Aspalathus linearis, a broom-like legume that grows in South Africa's Western Cape, mostly in the Cederberg mountains. It is not the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), so rooibos counts as a herbal infusion. The leaves are usually oxidised, which gives the reddish-brown colour. Green (unoxidised) rooibos is also made, but it costs more to produce.
Taste
Oxidation gives the red-brown colour and enhances the flavour, so oxidised and green rooibos differ. The sources give no more detailed taste description, so we do not write one.
How to brew
Steeped in hot water, like black tea. We found no exact temperature or time in the sources, so follow the packaging.
Frequently asked questions
How much caffeine is in rooibos?
The sources describe rooibos as a caffeine-free herbal infusion: 0 mg per cup.
How do you brew rooibos?
Steeped in hot water, like black tea. We found no exact temperature or time in the sources, so follow the packaging.
Does rooibos count towards the daily caffeine limit?
No. Rooibos is described as caffeine-free, so it does not add to your daily caffeine total (the EFSA limit for adults is 400 mg a day).
Also useful
Sources
Brewing temperature and time are typical: manufacturers' instructions may differ. Data checked 2026-10-24. General information, not medical advice.
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