For the next 28 days I am on an elimination diet. It's been long overdue. With chronic tummy issues and anxiety as well as raging post-partum hormones and sleep deprivation... IT WAS TIME.
This is a rather strict diet and as part of it I was forced to give up my daily cup of Joe. Now, I do not drink a ton of coffee, nor did I ever feel like the caffeine was a necessity. I just love the taste and the ritual. So naturally I needed to come up with a substitute (which may even turn into a replacement).
Enter Rooibos (pronounced Roy-bos) tea.
Now Rooibos, although treated as a traditional tea by many, is in fact an herb and therefore can be considered medicinal and therapeutic. It carries a very distinct flavor and smell that I have quickly grown to adore. The tea is made from the leaves of a bush that grows in Southern Africa where it is also known as Red Bush tea (it carries a distinctive red color upon steeping). I have been mixing it with lemon and raw honey but plan to try it with homemade almond milk as soon as I make a batch.
Rooibos is naturally caffeine free, low in tannins and loaded with minerals. I've read it can help with headaches, insomnia, asthma, eczema and boost the immune system overall. Rooibos also contains polyphenols which are said to have anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antimutagenic qualities.
Seems like the perfect addition to my healing elimination diet doesn't it?
To take it a step further, I read that South African women claim that the plant was very soothing for their colicky infants and given that I am breastfeeding a gassy, poor sleeping 6 month old, this is a WIN WIN!
I know there are many more positives to this "tea" but I will just leave it at that and get back to my cup.
Interesting use: A "London Fog" is a way of preparing Rooibos where you steep the tea in steamed milk then add honey.
