Rooibos and Honeybush
If you've given up caffeine in the evenings, or you're shopping for someone who has, rooibos and honeybush are the easiest swap for a proper cup of tea. Neither comes from the tea plant, both grow only in South Africa, and both take flavouring well, so the choice here is really about how plain or how dressed up you want that cup to be.
Plain rooibos, the classic red brew
Rooibos on its own, often called "red tea", is the reference point for everything else on this page: naturally caffeine free, with a flavour that's sweet, mellow and a little mineral rather than sharp or tannic. It's the one to reach for if you want something that tastes like tea in the evening without the buzz, or if you're introducing a teabag drinker to loose leaf for the first time.
Green rooibos, lighter and more delicate
Green rooibos is the unoxidized version of the same plant, so instead of the deep red colour and woody-piney edge, you get a lighter body and a grassier, less citric cup with natural sweetness still intact. It suits drinkers who find red rooibos a bit heavy, and it takes citrus and fruit flavouring particularly well, which is why you'll see it turn up in bright, orchard-style blends good hot or iced.
Honeybush, the honeyed sibling
Honeybush is rooibos's relative from South Africa's Eastern Cape, named for the honey scent of its flowers. Expect a smoother, gentler roasty cup with more body than rooibos, a good pick for anyone who likes their evening tea on the softer, sweeter side without any actual added sugar.
Fruit flavoured versions
Both rooibos and honeybush take fruit flavouring easily, since the base itself is already naturally sweet rather than bitter. Peach, orange and apricot are the classic pairings here, each leaning into that orchard or citrus-grove character rather than masking it, which makes these good starting points for anyone new to red bush tea who still wants something recognisable.
Dessert and spice blends
For something closer to a treat than a simple cup, look at the chai, chocolate and holiday-spice blends. These combine rooibos or honeybush with vanilla, chai spice, cocoa, nuts or caramel, and are built to be sipped slowly, the kind of thing that suits an after-dinner cup or a cold-weather gift.
Samplers, for tasting your way through
If you're not sure whether you prefer the mineral edge of rooibos or the honeyed roast of honeybush, or you're buying for someone else and don't want to guess wrong, a sampler is the sensible route. Each one packs several styles into smaller portions, enough cups to work out a favourite before committing to a full pouch.
How to choose
- Plain or flavoured: if it's for evening drinking or a caffeine-sensitive gift recipient, plain rooibos or honeybush is the safest bet; flavoured versions are for when taste is the main draw.
- Rooibos or honeybush: rooibos is mineral and woody-sweet, honeybush is softer and more honeyed with fuller body. Neither is better, it's a matter of which base flavour you'd rather taste under any added flavouring.
- Red or green rooibos: red is the traditional deep, sweet cup; green is lighter and grassier, and often chosen for citrus or summer-fruit blends served hot or iced.
- Everyday cup or dessert blend: the chai, chocolate and spiced blends are richer and better suited to occasional treat drinking than an all-day pot.
- Unsure what to pick: a sampler lets you try both rooibos and honeybush styles before buying a full-size pouch of one.
Questions people ask
Is rooibos actually tea?
Not technically. It doesn't come from the tea plant, which is why it's naturally caffeine free rather than decaffeinated. The same is true of honeybush.
What's the difference between rooibos and honeybush?
They're related plants from South Africa, but honeybush has a gentler, honey-scented roast character and a fuller body, while rooibos is sweeter and more mineral. Both are naturally caffeine free.
What is green rooibos exactly?
It's the same plant as red rooibos, just unoxidized, so it keeps a lighter colour and a woody-grassy taste instead of the deeper red flavour. It's often used as the base for citrus and fruit blends.
Can I drink these any time of day?
Since they're naturally caffeine free, most people drink rooibos and honeybush freely through the day or evening. As always, check the packaging and follow any preparation instructions on it.