The phrase herbal tea usually refers to infusions of fruit or herbs made without the tea plant, such as rosehip tea, chamomile tea, or rooibos tea.
Rooibos was used because it contains antioxidants with anti-fungal properties.
In 2011, researchers conducted a trial to test the effects of rooibos on various biological markers considered to be indicative of risk for cardiovascular disease and other degenerative diseases.
Rooibos tea has been shown to inhibit "in vitro" activity of xanthine oxidase, but an "in vivo" study has not been conducted.
Rooibos tea is the area's most famous export, though fruit and tobacco are also harvested on some farms.
Animal studies show that rooibos has potent antioxidant, immune-modulating and chemopreventive effects.
The taste of honeybush tea is similar to that of rooibos but a little sweeter.
Rooibos also contains a number of phenolic compounds, including flavanols, flavones, flavanones, and dihydrochalcones.
