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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.
If you're a regular reader of this tea blog, the past month's posts have taken you to Spain, Hawaii, Britain, and my grandparents' dining room table. Next up: Israel.
I spent several months living and traveling in Israel last year. and I came home hooked on Middle Eastern favorites like just-baked pita, falafel (deep-fried balls of mashed chickpeas, usually served
with hummus), and halvah (a melt-in-your-mouth sesame candy). But if there's one thing that can transport me to that foreign place in the blink of an eye, it's the tea that I drank almost daily: Rooibos with cinnamon and vanilla.
This tea blend is not a notably Israeli one, nor is it particularly popular (as far as I know). I saw it on a shelf, tried it, and got hooked. It's created a quirky memory highway which I consider wholly mine - there just can't be many other people who also happen to associate this unassuming tea with this ancient, beautiful, and long-disputed land.
When I small this tea, I instinctively breathe it in deeply, slowly. My shoulders relax. When I sip it, I smile. This tea is unhurried. It doesn't conjure up hammocks and palm trees specifically, but it clearly brings me to the mellow mindset of a lazy, blue-skied afternoon.
Israelis, if you're wondering, usually drink stronger stuff, like mud-thick Turkish coffee. And the tea drinkers are crazy about black tea with mint - which is available bagged, but is best if you grab a fresh "nana" (mint) sprig or two for your mug. (Now there's a delicious idea I'm suddenly itching to revisit...)
When I arrived in Israel, my carry-on contained a small bag of can't-travel-without-'em teas (my longtime favorites). When I left, it was with a soothing new go-to. This magical tea is every bit as sweet as the memories I made while I was away.
 Introducing the first ever tea for dogs, Machu's Blend. An all-natural, herbal tea blend formulated to keep your best friend healthy, happy and lower the stresses that shorten the lifespan of urban dogs. We have a Great Dane named Machu Picchu who has become a bit of a mascot here at California Tea House. Machu spends most of his time laying around on his enormous day bed, soaking up the sun and welcoming guests while we scramble around blending and tasting new teas.
Like all dog lovers, we want only what's best for Machu. We feed him all-natural, grain-free dog food, he sleeps on an organic mat and we use only herbal, topical treatments to prevent ticks and fleas. So naturally, when we needed to treat a skin condition that was causing Machu to shed, we sought a healthy, organic alternative to the chemical, traditional treatments that, until now, were the only option.
After consulting with numerous veterinarians, and compiling research on herbal treatments for canines, we put our tea blending skills to work for our canine companion. Machu's Blend is a once-a-day herbal tea comprised of Chamomile, Ginger Root, Fennel Seed, Skullcap and Calendula that not only promotes healthy skin and coat for your dog, but also lowers stress and aids digestion of dry dog food, easing the stomach and reducing gas. In addition, Machu's Blend is great for treating dogs that suffer from seizures as well as motion sickness caused by car rides.
Brew up some Tea for your Dog today, and enhance your best friend's quality of life. Click here to go to Machu's Blend.
 Christmas is drawing near and a crisp chill is in the air as we all plan our holiday shopping lists. I was fortunate enough to get to sample one of the gifts I will be sending to many people on my 'nice' list this year: Gingerbread Chai Tea. Not only is this blend, which is a subtly spicy combination of Rooibos tea leaves, ginger, lemongrass, vanilla and cinnamon, incredibly tasty, but it's also very healthful.
Ginger has long had a reputation for naturally easing gastrointestinal distress (source), but many people do not realize that ginger is also a potent anti-inflammatory, may fight cancer, and boosts the immune system (source). Ginger also contains a large amount of such vital nutrients as potassium, copper, magnesium, and vitamin B6 (source).
This tea is caffeine-free, which makes it perfect for pregnant women and nursing moms, as well as anyone who has to be up early for work! It has a wonderful complex, slightly sweet, spicy taste when brewed by itself; add sweetener and milk, and it tastes like a quite sweet, slightly spicy cookie! It has an excellent, warm aroma, reminiscent of gingerbread houses and Christmases past, while brewing; it would provide the perfect ambiance for any holiday party!
Gingerbread tea -- in addition to tasting like an indulgent dessert -- has many benefits and is a wonderful choice for this holiday season!
 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!
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