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Rooibos, or Red Bush in Aficans, is rapidly growing in popularity throughout the world due to it's great taste and the amazing health benefits.  The source of Rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) is a native of the Western Cape of South Africa.  The needles of this shrub turn red when when fermented, and the brewed needles were first drank by the native Khoi people of the Cape.

The Khoi's magic cup of tea is no longer a secret.  There is currently a boom in the popularity of Rooibos that is spreading around the world.  This naturally caffeine-free cup is most popular in Germany, the UK, the US and Japan with more than 15,000 tons of Rooibos leaves brewed each year.  The health conscious world has made this simple red bush a 23 billion dollar a year industry and still growing.  Where else can you get the antioxidant equivalent and possibly even more so than green tea in a caffeine-free, smooth cup?  

Here are the top 5 benefits of Rooibos:

1)  Rooibos contains quercetin.  A powerful antioxidant that helps prevent heart disease, many forms of cancer and is an anti-inflammatory.

2)  Rooibos contains aspalathin.  A rare antioxidant that reduces stress and helps regulate blood sugar, protecting against diabetes and slows fat production.

3) Rooibos contains nothofagin.  Another rare antioxidant that is an anti-inflammatory that helps reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

4)  Rooibos is very popular with pregnant women as it is an anti-spasmodic.  Drinking Rooibos while you are pregnant soothes the stomach and lowers stress which is key for proper neurological growth for the fetus.  It is also given to infants with colic to help reduce symptoms.

5) Recent studies in Japan show that drinking Rooibos help reduce the symptoms of many seasonal allergies.

Rooibos has a delicate, sweet taste.  We've found that it blends very well with spices and preserved fruits and we use Rooibos as the base of several of our super popular tea blends such as Gingerbread Chai and Lemon Meringue Pie.

Have you experienced the nighttime stalker, the sleepytime killer, the tossing and turning, turning and tossing, head under pillow, covers over head, on the tummy, left side, right side, even upside down and you just can't seem to escape its doom?  Whether it be a final exam, a new job interview, a relationship gone sour, or a business decision that keeps you up staring at the ice melting away in your water glass with the nearby reflection of red lit numbers ticking away at your sanity as it approaches the set alarm time before you've even had a chance to catch one z.  Insomnia is no joke.   The good news is, tea for insomnia is no joke either.

You've tried all sorts of remedies. Over-the-counter, prescription, counting, reading, watching television, glass of milk, spoonful of yogurt, acupuncture, hypnotism and nothing seems to work. You've simply had enough.

California Tea House's Bedtime Chai is specifically designed to combat sleeplessness ... Bedtime Chai is a sleepytime tea, and it works. CTH invites you to take the natural challenge by sipping yourself to sleep. The main, all natural ingredient, valerian root, is a powerful herb famous throughout history to tranquilize oneself. 

Bedtime Chai's valerian root is blended up with organic honeybush, chamomile blossoms, organic vanilla pieces, whole cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg and toasted rice bits. The addition of chamomile, which is also known as a sleep aid that combats anxiety, seals this beverage as a powerful sleepytime potion. 

California Tea House invites you to take a sleepytime challenge for a peaceful slumber:

1. Eliminate caffeine intake at least 8 hours before you sleep.

2. Eat a hearty dinner at least 3 hours before bedtime that leaves you full.

3. Brew a hot cup of Bedtime Chai an hour before bedtime.

4. Drink your tea next to a fire, listening to soft music, or cuddling next to a loved one.

As always, we love your feedback!

How is it that you enjoy your night time tea? Do you enjoy a cup of herbal in the quiet after the kids go to bed? Do you sip a cup during the nightly news? I take mine out to the front porch and sip my tea while I drink in the night. Listening to the night sounds of suburbia, Killdeers winging through the dark... Sometimes watching a bat fly in and out of the streetlight catchng insects.

Other times I sit quietly with prayer beads in hand and ask the Universe to help plot my course to contentment, pray for the end of suffering and war... or pray for things closer to home and my heart... or I simply give thanks for the blessings I have.

These are prayer beads I made for a friend fighting breat cancer.

Do you have a night time ritual invovling tea?

The aroma of this tea, when I first opened the pouch, was heavenly! I love vanilla and you can tell it's in there with the lemon grass and lemon preserves.

While waiting for the kettle to boil I admired the lovely color, set off by the lemon grass pieces.

Once steeped, the flavors came to life with the rich red color... I love vanilla and the vanilla beans came through, as did the lemon preserves, to produce a lovely lemon creme flavor.

Rooibos tea has many health benefits.. It's full of antioxidants and is naturally caffeine free. It tastes great iced too! This tea is so good and when Stevia is added, it satisfies my cravings for something sweet. It would make a wonderful dessert tea!

So, the next time I get a hankering for lemon creme cookie sandwiches... I'll just brew a pot of Lemon Meringue Pie Tea instead!

October is upon is, and with it all the wonderful things Fall brings: changing leaves, cool, crisp air, apples, pumpkins, oh, and flu and cold season. 

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of year again, and if you are like most Americans, at some point this autumn you will find yourself sniffling and coughing, either with a harmless virus or with the full-blown flu. Either way, it's likely you'll be searching high and low for relief, and it may be hiding right before your eyes - in your kitchen cupboard, in fact.

Rooibos tea, prized for its mild taste and distinctive red hue, is a great choice when your nose starts running and your head starts to ache. The tea has a high level of disease-fighting antioxidants and is caffeine-free, so you can drink a cup or two to ease your symptoms without needing to worry about losing sleep (source). Additionally, this soothing tea has bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory qualities, making it a great choice to provide some relief to anyone suffering from an upper respiratory infection (source). Of course, anyone with a cold or suspected case of the flu should go to their doctor for treatment right away, but a cup of rooibos tea can certainly help you suffer less in the hours leading up to your appointment.

My favorite way to enjoy rooibos tea is by drinking a cup of Tiramisu flavored Rooibos mixed with just a splash of vanilla almond milk. I make it very hot and spend a few minutes breathing in the resulting steam: not only is the scent relaxing, but the warm, moist air helps clear my sinuses.