Roobios chia tea is a lifesaver. I love coffee with real cream, even though I didn’t indulge daily. So it really stunk big time when I discovered that I needed to cut out caffeine. I was never a huge fan of herbal teas, but on recommendation of friends, I’ve discovered a few really delicious teas that pair nicely with my E breakfasts. This Roobios chia from Savvy Teas & Herbs is one of them.
And today, I have a special treat to share! Someone is going to WIN a $35 gift certificate to Savvy Teas & Herbs…don’t forget to enter just below the Trim Healthy Tuesday posts below!
Also, through Monday, August 26th, you can enter the promo code GWEN10, and get 10% off any purchase at Savvy Teas & Herbs. Savvy teas has a HUGE selection of high quality loose leaf teas, including herbal blends, green and oolong. They also stock herbs, natural soaps, and homemade vanilla extract. Love me some Savvy!
It’s pronounced ROY-boas…the last syllable is pronounced like “boast” w/o the ‘t’.
If you’ve never tried Rooibos, then you’re in for a treat! This is a true herbal tea…so it’s naturally and fully caffeine free…great news for Mamas who are pregnant, nursing, or who just don’t jive well with caffeine. And WAIT until I tell you about the health benefits!
Roobios originates in Africa, where it’s been used and prized as a healing tea. It’s harvested from the bark of the red bush, or honeybush and it does have a naturally honey-woodsy flavor.
Nickole, from Savvy Teas adds a custom blend of spices, and just a touch of stevia leaves to the organic rooibos, so it’s perfectly spicy and sweet, and amazing. This chai is not intensely spicy or hot, but it’s just a great ‘pumpkin pie’ level of flavor and spice that makes me smack my lips. I’m kind of a sucker for fresh ginger, so I’ll toss a thumb of that in as well.
If you like a kickier blend, you can always toss in cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, or whatever fresh or dried spices you have on hand while it steeps. Using whole herbs is nice, because you get all the flavor and none of the sludge. Here I am using about a half cup of the tea blend to 2 1/2 cups of boiling water.
Health Benefits of Roobios Tea
Rooibos is a local ‘superfood’ herb in regions where it grows wild. It’s used traditionally in Africa to treat allergies, colic, skin conditions, digestive problems, and nervous tension. It’s super rich in antioxidants, and even contains certain antioxidants not found in other teas. Rooibos has up to 50% more Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) than green tea! It has also been shown to be protective against certain cancers, great for circulation and high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels.
Rooibos is very high in minerals, providing magnesium, zinc, calcium, iron and more. It contains only about half of the tannins than green or black teas, which enhances your body’s ability to absorb that iron. AND it’s rich in flavoniods, especially quercetin, which you may remember from my onion blog post…quercetin is a fantastic anti-inflammatory.
Rooibos can also be applied externally for skin irritations like eczema, dermatitis, sunburns, diaper rash, itchy/rashy skin, acne and rosacea. Studies are also showing promising results with inhibiting DNA damage, decreasing inflammation, and even reducing fasting blood sugar levels.
And, unlike black or green teas, roobios is naturally caffeine free, and actually helps you get a restful night’s sleep. This is GOOD stuff!
Rooibos can be enjoyed hot or cold. I like to steep it in a jar or my coffee press for long periods of time until it’s nice and rich. Since it’s technically a bark, it is hearty enough to boil for long periods of time (called a ‘decoction’), and this is actually how I’ve been told that it’s done in Africa. I like to make a very strong concentrate and keep it in the fridge. If I want it cold, I pour it over ice, and then add almond milk or cream. If I want a hot cup of tea, I just add the tea concentrate, and boiling water to the strength that I prefer. Perfect.
So that’s the whole story on Rooibos Chai from Savvy Teas & Herbs. Don’t forget to enter to win a $35 gift certificate to Savvy Teas and Herbs for the products of your choice! You can enter down below the Trim Healthy Tuesday Link Up Guidelines (just above the comments). A winner will be chosen Monday, Aug. 26th, and announced in next week’s Trim Healthy Tuesday post.
Stacy, over at Stacy Makes Cents is also on a beverage kick this week with her triple berry smoothie….sounds yummy!
What a cool giveaway! Too bad I hate tea. LOL LOL
Stacy, you could win this…and send it my way! 🙂
Stacy this does not even taste like tea, add stevia and sweetener too. Delish.
Someone told me the same thing about oolong. THEY WERE WRONG. 😉
I would like to enter the giveaway, but didn’t see where to do it. Is it just by commenting? I love Chai tea!
I’s also love to enter your giveaway but don’t see where to do it. I would love to find some herbal teas that I actually like and would drink to replace some of my coffee and black sweet (stevia-sweetened) tea
Ditto Gwen – is there a link to enter the giveaway? Love Chai tea. It’s how I make my Shrinker 🙂
I want to enter too 🙂 I also have a question. You linked to a white chili recipe but it uses white corn. I thought corn was a no no on THM? Is white corn different? I copied the recipe but think I will substitute chana dal for the white corn. Thank you!
Yes, corn is one that you want to limit. When using it in a recipe you want to check how much corn it ends up being per serving to determine if it is alright. This recipe (using 8 servings) would have about 3Tbsp corn per serving which is about 5g carb if I figured it correctly. Substituting chana dal is definitely an option.
I don’t see a link to the giveaway, so I hope commenting counts! 😉 I am an avid tea drinker, but find I can’t drink black tea in the evenings like I used to and still get a good night’s sleep. Would love to try out the rooibos!
Gwen, what are your thoughts for Rooibos for “The Shrinker”? I can’t do caffeine either. Is it the Oolong that has the benefits in the Shrinker? Would a decaf Oolong be just as effective? Thanks for your input! I appreciate it! This post looks so yummy!!!
I don’t do much caffeine at all. I have tried the ‘decaf’ it yourself. Pour boiling water over tea bags, let it sit for 30 sec, then pour out and use bags again. Seems to work okay for now, but I want to find decaf oolong. I think you can use it as an ‘additive’ to the oolong. I know some ladies brew chai along with the oolong for the flavor and spices.
Well, I am impressed with the benefits that are listed for the tea. So lets consider this my entry in the giveaway…Thank you for sharing this information…Jonni
Pick me! Pick me! 🙂 Thanks so much for all you do for us, Gwen!
Roiboos is also referred to as ‘bush tea’ If anyone reads the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency novels (I HIGHLY recommend them) or have watched it on HBO (I get the dvds from our library), this is what they are drinking!
Is a comment sufficient to enter the $35 gift certificate to Savvy Teas & Herbs giveaway, if so count me in! (I didn’t see a link.)
I would love to enter this giveaway. How do I enter? I’ve been wanting some Rooibos. 🙂
Yummy! I love roobios.
I want to win! I love Savvy Teas! Just found your site through them. Love all your recipes I’ve looked at so far!
Yum! Rooibos is one of my favorite kinds of tea!!
I love Saavy Teas & Herbs, their roobios chai and herbal salve! Pick me! 🙂
I’d like to enter 🙂 so I’m leaving a comment.
I would love to try this tea!
Oh, I love Rooibos tea and I love chai. Gave chai tea up when I stopped all caffeine so this is great since I can tolerate Rooibos tea. Great Giveaway!
I was so disappointed that I would not be able to do the shrinker due to the caffeine. This may just be the answer. Either way, the health benefits alone are exciting!
I loveeeee tea, especially chai! Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I’d love to win some amazing tea!! 🙂
Love me some tea! Thank you for the info on rooibos tea. Couldn’t find the link to enter the giveaway.
I would love to try out Savvy Tea so I hope I win so I can
Can’t wait to try some of that tea!
Shared on FB? Do I need to post a link?
Oops that first part was supposed to be a statement. 🙂
sounds yummy. I would love to try. I love my coffee too but would be nice to have some alternatives that are caffeine free
I looked for a way to also share this on FB and could not find a link to FB on this post. Am I overlooking it?
Would love to try this tea and win this giveaway.
Thank you Gwen. I would love some tea!
I like herb teas, but I haven’t been drinking them since I started THM, because I like them with a lot of honey. I’ve never tried Rooibos Chai tea, but would love to. Maybe if I try a touch of cream or almond milk in my herb teas, I’ll like them with stevia. Hope I can find a way to like them again. Anyone have any ideas?
Awesome! I’d love to try it!!
I just ordered my THM book – thanks to your blog! I’m so excited to start learning about this program. So, thank you for all that you share with us!!
Cool beans. I’d love to try some new teas!
Oh, I love tea and would love to win this!
gwen is my favorite. there. I win. :p
I shared it on my wall. question- if I share it in any groups, will that get me another entry? 🙂
Love chai teas! My brother actually started me on them when he got me a box of chai for Christmas one year and last year my dad got me a box of Rooibos chai. It really has an amazing flavor and it’s awesome in the Shrinker! 🙂
I love the Shrinker with Rooibos Chai as well. Delicious!
shared on facebook!
This post about tea is very timely, because my 15-year-old coffee lover was just diagnosed with small vessel disease in her toes, which means no coffee or caffeine for her anymore. We would love to win this! This kind of tea would meet her needs. 🙂
I’ve just shared this blog post on my Facebook page. !!! 🙂
I’ve had that kind of tea before. It was good, though I only had a cup.
Can you share why you had to cut out caffeine? I never consumed caffeine until beginning THM a couple of months ago…now coffee is the biggest treat for me! I try not to have it everyday, but I’m wondering what concerns there would be now that I’ve fallen in love:) I also started drinking the Oolong tea in “The Shrinker”. From almost zero caffeine to having some everyday, should I worry?
Some with adrenal issues need to watch their caffeine intake.
Would it be the cause of adrenal issues or is it just something that people with adrenal issues can’t handle? I guess I need to do some studying:) I have had hormone issues, but nothing that interferes with keeping my weight stable.
I do not know on that but definitely something to study out.
I don’t know on that. What I gather so far is that those with adrenal issues already do poorly with it. But when the system is balanced, it may not have that negative effect.
I love teas! They have been a huge help in keeping me off of soda!
Please enter me into the drawing! Congratulations on your remarkable health and weight loss journey.
Sarah T.
Oh, I am so addicted to tea! Thank you for all of the info on rooibos tea. I’ve been wondering what it was.
I would LOVE to win this great give-away! Savvy Teas & Herbs have many fabulous products! Best of luck to everyone!!
I love tea!
I love tea and I have one son that drinks out of house and home when there is chai tea in the house so I NEED to win this 🙂
I just got through straining some Immune Improve tincture I made with their herbal mix. Our middle son has been coughing and needs this tincture asap. I would love to win this to buy more herbs!
Very interesting on the tea!
Shared on Facebook.
I love your blog! I am always interested in healthy living ideas, and your pictures are stunning!!!
I love herbal teas and rooibos is one of my favorites as well. I make up my own chai blend but would love to try Savvy’s blend. Thank you for the giveaway!
I really enjoy chai tea, but I have never had Rooibos. Would love to try it! Alas, no facebook.
I’ll have to try the tea recipe. I like Savvy herbs too.
This is a great giveaway! I really like the company too.
I’d love to win! Pick me!
I shared on facebook! 😀
The Chai tea sounds great! I never thought of adding fresh ginger. Mmmm…
I love mixing my own tea blends…I haven’t tried rooibos yet. Such a fun giveaway.
Thanks for the chance to win! I drink iced tea every day! 🙂 Yummmm.
thank you…I will be back often to learn more! I love herbal teas.
I love herbal teas!
I also shared this on fb! Thanks for the giveaway!!!!
This is a great site! I’m glad I found it and get to enter a giveaway to boot! Thank you!
Thanks Savvy for all your reasonably priced products!!!
Check out Gwen’s Nest for good health information.
I am so glad to have found your blog! I can’t wait to try out some recipes.
Blessings.
Great products at Savvy and a great site here!!
I love tea but haven’t tried this – would love to!
I love Rooiboos tea and I would love to win some
I love your blog! I’ve sent so many ladies over here to read about THM. Thanks for all you do.
I love my nettle tea from Savvy..
I would love to win this. Savvy Teas and Herbs have great products!
I would love to try this!!!
I shared on Facebook
Great Giveaway!! Good Luck everyone!!!
I love tea! TY for the giveaway!
I’m such a chai fan!
Share on Facebook and twitter too!
Had no idea about the benefits of roobios over regular teas! Will have to try as I do love the taste of chai. Please enter me 🙂
Love Rooiboos Tea!
I love Savvy Teas and Herbs and have ordered from them for a couple of years now. Their Pregnancy Prep tea has been a favorite. I would enjoy spending $35 there!
I would love to win this certificate!
sounds yummy…I might am going to have to try this…sharing on my FB page
Would love to win anything from Savvy teas and herbs! : )
It’s my birthday Gwennie! Ha! I want to win!
Ok I now shared it on my Facebook page.
What an awesome giveaway! I shared this on facebook too!
I love Chai Tea and Nickole too. 🙂 This is great that ya’ll are giving awesome incentives for people. To Stacy who doesn’t like tea, I am sure you would find one you like here. They have some that taste like coffee themselves. Amazing.
Hey I wanted to let you know that I posted to Face book. I could not find the button on here so I just copied and pasted the link on my page. Thanks for this opportunity. I am gong to pin it now also.
Ahh alas I found out I could share my comment so I have a few shares on FB. 🙂
I’m commenting! (It’s awesome tea. Simply awesome. But you know my opinion about it, right?)
I’ve shared it on FB. Didja see it?
https://www.facebook.com/sarah.kay.3538/posts/10151831810524901
Yup. That’s original rambling on the subject right there, folks.
Would love to win. Thanks!
I found your blog via the Savvy Tea site and I am so glad I did! Can’t wait to look through your recipes! I would love the chance to win the gift certificate to Savvy Tea & Herbs. They have so many great products and I am now anxious to try Rooibos Chai tea. Thanks!
I Love Tea!
The second I win, I am ordering the Rooibos tea!! I love chai and this sounds great!
Just shared this on Facebook!! I hope I win! Thanks!
I’ve ordered from Savey Teas and Herbs, and received great products and great customer service. I like Chai Tea and will be trying out the Rooibos Chai Tea if I’m lucky enough to win the giveaway.
We have ordered tea from here for almost two years now. Always excellent quality and very fresh. I dont order from anywhere else 🙂
I am also impressed with the benefits of Rooibos so consider this my entry.
I would love to try this!! Thank you for writing about it!
I love hot teas!!
I’d love to try this new tea! 🙂
Excited about this giveaway!!
I have always loved rooibos tea, I drink it every day. I don’t drink any other tea since beginning rooibos. I even have my grand kids drinking it. Love it.
I love me some bush tea! Thanks for the chance to win the rooibos tea!
I just shared a link to this page for the tea entry with all my fb friends!
I’ve been wanting the oolong and rooibos tea for a couple months! Thanks for the chance to win!
I love tea…have not tried this company. Thanks for the info!
I *love* chai tea! This would be amazing!
Dear Gwen, my beloved Rooibos Tea has found it’s way into your kitchen . I have lived on this tea for 25 years or so now. I love just the plain redbush but will have to find the Chai rooibos now too. I’m know to one of my pastors as the African queen. Julie Knight
Ha! Love it! Hope you enjoy the chia version as much as I do!
Wonderful post but I was wanting to know if you could write a
litte more on this topic? I’d be very thankful if you
could elaborate a little bit further. Bless you!
Hi Sherri,
Can you tell me which topics you want me to elaborate on? I’d be happy to!
I have literally been raised on Rooibos tea and I living proof of it’s health benefits.Glynis has turned me on to Yorkshire tea and I enjoy nothing more than sipping a hot cuppa tea even when it is hot outside. It actually tastes great chilled. Although, nothing can take the place of my Rooibos tea, hot; cold; with or without milk.Thanks TeaLady!
I am new to seeing your rooibos chia tea post. Also new to learning to like this tea.
Would you share the way you make your concentrate and then how much do you use to make a cup of tea.. What do you as to the concentrate and how much of what you add? I get that everyone’s tastes differ but I need a place to begin so I don’t give up trying this. I’m wanting to get off coffee and this sounds like it might help.
Thank you for your consideration of this request!!
I will add that to my post list for this winter! Thanks for the idea!
I usually stick with the 1 tsp of dried tea per cup of hot water. It’s the general rule of thumb and a great jumping off point for learning to make your own tea. Be sure to check out the cinnamon tea post as well…TOTALLY yummy!