Beauty Tea, I mean Roobios Tea, JULIENNE SPENCER, RHN

Who else here is a tea lover? I am seriously tea obsessed. I have a tea drawer that is so full I’ve had to move stock to a cupboard! See, obsessed. Teas, caffeinated and herbal have so many health benefits. Especially for the skin! I like to drink my teas throughout the day to get the many health and beauty benefits! There is also a nice self-care ritual involved in making a cup of tea.

Lately I have become super obsessed with Roobios tea. Also known as African Red Bush tea. It’s a nice red colour when brewed and is really sweet tasting. It comes from the leaves harvested from the Aspalathus Linearis (say that 5 times fast!) plant in the Cederberg region of South Africa. This tea has been grown for thousands of years and is used traditionally to treat many skin ailments. Still to this day they use similar harvesting methods, by using only the young branches, bruising the stems and leaves, then they are left to ferment and oxidize and give us our glorious tea!

So let me tell you why this tea is the cats meow:

Caffeine free and low in tannins – tannins give tea the more astringent taste.
Anti-inflammatory – due to so many antioxidants in this tea, including two rare ones called aspalathin and nothofagin.
Contains Minerals – now it’s not packed with high doses of these, but it does contain trace amounts of iron, potassium, calcium, manganese, copper, zinc and magnesium. Still better than nothing!
Anti-aging – There is alpha hydroxy acid in roobios! Alpha hydroxy acid is said to reduce signs of wrinkles and premature aging, and in tea it is a safe natural source to consume. This tea is also insanely packed with polyphenols, which fight free radicals, which then of course helps your skin!
- Bonus tip: When you brew yourself a cup, save a little tea in a separate bowl on the side and use it topically as a toner, but wait until it cools! One study proved topical application of roobios tea mixed with other herbal teas, had the best efficacy in wrinkle reduction.
Helps with Acne – Hello! The natural occurring alpha hydroxy acid, along with zinc are very beneficial to the skin and can alleviate some skin conditions. Studies show topical application, along with drinking the tea, has been beneficial in reducing acne breakouts. Scientists believe the high level of flavonoids, which encourage the body to kill unwanted pathogens, is why it’s so great for skin conditions.

So grab yourself a cup of this beauty enhancing tea! Make sure you use boiling water, and let it steep for 5-10 minutes to get all the good stuff. For fun add a cinnamon stick. It adds some punch to the tea, along with the blood sugar stabilizing effects!

Cheers to healthy skin!

References:

Animal Intuitive and Holistic Nutritionist

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply