Like rooibos, honeybush originates from the Cape mountains. While little is known about its history, this infusion is nevertheless very well regarded for its health benefits. It is easy to prepare and lends itself to a variety of flavours. A closer look at this remarkable herbal tea.
What is honeybush, the honey bush infusion?
Like rooibos teas and maté, honeybush is a drink extracted from a shrub. This shrub only grows on the arid lands of the Cederberg mountain, north of Cape Town. The plants there are entirely organic.
Its scientific name is cyclopia. However, its common name is that of honey bush. It comes from the fragrance of its yellow flowers.
Honeybush is made from the leaves of the shrub. They are harvested and dried. Then, the cyclopia leaves are ground into powder, more or less coarse depending on the product.
Unlike classic infusions such as maté, the golden drink contains neither theine nor caffeine.
How did the golden herbal tea arrive from Africa?
Every family in Cape Town has their own version of the origin of honeybush. Coming from the Cederberg mountain, it was among the natural products harvested by local tribes. They consumed the herbal tea as a traditional remedy (like red rooibos) and used it for healthcare.
With the development of trade, an endless list of shipping companies made stopovers in South Africa. Some witnessed the care provided using honeybush and red rooibos.
According to various accounts, it was these traders who brought the product back to Europe. Some speak of the Dutch, who reportedly harvested several species of cyclopia for healthcare purposes. Others mention the English, who supposedly used the drink in place of the traditional cup of tea.
What are the properties of the golden Cape infusion?
Honeybush has properties similar to those of red rooibos. This comes as no surprise since the two plants are species of the same family.
Originally, it was the Khoi tribe who were the first to use honeybush for its medicinal properties. But today, this African product is increasingly sought after in traditional healthcare.
Its composition is exceptional:
- pinitol;
- xanthones (antioxidants);
- vitamins (mainly C);
- minerals.
The honey-flavoured plant is recommended for:
- coughs and colds;
- colic;
- ageing;
- menopause;
- weight loss;
- lipid balance.
How to prepare a honeybush tea?
Like rooibos, honeybush is an organic infusion. For a golden drink with intense honey aromas, you should allow 10 minutes in water at 90°C. For the quantities, simply use one teaspoon of organic leaves (or one sachet) per cup of water.
Cyclopia is rich in antioxidants. Water that is too hot affects its benefits, while cold temperatures block its aromas. According to specialists, you can leave the honeybush to brew for longer, as it does not develop the bitterness of teas.
You can add fruity notes to your plain honeybush with strawberry or orange. Vanilla and ginger also pair well with the subtle taste of honey flowers. A wonderful change from the traditional cup of tea.
What are the differences between honeybush and rooibos?
Rooibos (red or green) and honeybush are closely related plants. Free from the theine found in teas, these two infusions differ primarily in taste, colour and properties.
Where red rooibos develops a hazelnut and fruit fragrance, honeybush, for its part, has a lovely wild honey scent. The red colour of rooibos also contrasts with the golden hues of its sister shrub. As for their medicinal properties, they are complementary. Only the presence of pinitol gives an expectorant effect to the golden infusion from Cape Town.
Which honeybush tea to choose as a gift?
Organic honeybush is making a remarkable entrance into the world of gift boxes. In place of coffee or tea, products based on Cape Town plants are winning everyone over.
The list of accessories in gift boxes is endless. However, it is the "sachet" format that proves most popular. It allows for varied herbal teas with exotic notes full of flavour:
- strawberry and vanilla;
- orange and ginger;
- organic red rooibos.
To preserve the benefits of cyclopia, the weight of the plant must exceed that of the other ingredients. Many accessories allow you to brew honeybush and rooibos, but the "sachet" version is sometimes more convenient.