There is rather extensive group of the drinks, by tradition which are called as teas. Despite this the name they have no relation as prepare from other plants to infusion of leaves of a tea bush. Slightly sweetish rooibos which is cooked from bush leaves with the same name belongs to number of such drinks.
Rooibos, or ройбос represents a bush from family bean which thin branches are covered with the soft leaves resembling needles. The homeland of this plant is the South of Africa. The nationalities inhabiting this region long since cooked fragrant tonic from rooibos leaves. From Africans the European settlers learned about a plant. After demand for exotic African tea considerably exceeded the offer, attempts to grow up rooibos on other continent were made. However it wasn't succeeded to make it. In the first half of the XX century rooibos began to be grown up commercially. Seeds of this plant sow to the soil from February to March. In the summer the grown-up seedlings are replaced to the constant place, and one and a half years later from young bushes already reap the first harvest. Leaves of rooibos collect together with thin branches then a linking of escapes cuts into small pieces. It is considered that quality tea from this bush has to contain parts of leaves and branches 3-4 millimeters long and no more than a millimeter thick. For receiving green rooibos the crushed escapes steam, stopping fermentation. The drink made from such raw materials will differ in a herbal flavor. Raw materials from which it will be possible to receive traditional sweetish infusion with wood and nut shades of a smell are rumpled, accelerating fermentation, and dry. Make rooibos hot water slightly more cold than abrupt boiled water. For preparation of a cup of drink take a dry-mix teaspoon. Infuse liquid within 4-5 minutes. It is possible to make a fermented kind of this tea 2-3 times. Rooibos is drunk as in pure form, and with addition of milk, honey, sugar, orange or lemon. The sweet of this drink is explained by availability of glucose in it. Rooibos contains very few tannins which impact an astringent taste to traditional tea, and is deprived of caffeine. Infusion from leaves of the African plant is rich with iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium.