U.S. Wellness Naturals — Loose Leaf Rooibos Tea Review

When it comes to Rooibos tea, I am exceptionally picky. I have drunk many cups and determined that they were “okay” but not “worthy” of purchasing again. This includes both bagged teas and loose leaf offerings. A couple of years back, I found a rival for my previous favorite Bos Rooibos in the form of my new favorite loose leaf option: U.S. Wellness Naturals Rooibos.

Now, I restock tea any time the one-pound bag gets low, which happens every four to six weeks, depending on how many lattes I make in a week.

If you’re also a fan of great tasting Rooibos and don’t live in South Africa, I think you’ll probably find this is a great option for your regular cuppa.

My Love Affair With Rooibos Tea

Back in 2004, I toured South Africa with the Moody Chorale. We hopped from city to city for three weeks, singing concerts on mission grounds, in churches, in open air malls, and other unique venues. And after almost every concert we gave, Rooibos tea was served. As uncultured American college kids, we drank it with milk and sugar or honey.

And at first, it was more out of politeness than anything that I drank the national drink of South Africa. My grandmother had been drinking hot tea my entire life, but she was stuck with Lipton — and so I had never adapted to drinking this hot beverage in the Southeast. I have never been impressed with Lipton or similar brands, despite my now penchant for hot tea.

And with every cuppa Rooibos on that three-week tour, I learned not to “tolerate” this delight but to love it.

Now, these twenty-something years later, I still drink this tea whenever I can — practically every day. But it wasn’t until about five years ago that I could get a good cuppa here in the States; I had to rely on friends traveling to and from Africa to bring me a good blend.

That all changed, first with Bos Rooibos and then U.S. Wellness Naturals Rooibos.

What Qualities to Look for in Rooibos Tea

If you haven’t drunk this redbush tea — drink of the gods in my opinion! — in South Africa or when dining with South African friends, you may not be as picky as me. But you’re probably still interested in some higher-quality offerings than the cheap stuff from Celestial Seasonings.

Don’t get me wrong, I can enjoy a good cuppa Celestial Seasonings Madagascar Vanilla Rooibos if there’s nothing else around, but it’s not the same as high quality tea.

For high quality tea, first off, look for loose leaf offerings. These teas are the result of tender care from the growers, harvesters, and roasters who put tea through a laborious process. This is true for all tea types, whether herbal like Rooibos or camellia sinensis-based choices like black and green teas.

I won’t go into the rigorous process, but we’ll just say that the larger the leaf fragments, the higher quality the tea. The cheaper tea brands you can grab for a couple bucks are basically the leavings from the high-end quality tea processing. Not in every case, but in most.

Additionally, look for organically, ethically, and sustainably grown teas. These qualities are not only better for the Earth, but they’re better for the tea. The flavor profile and product quality far outrank the lesser brands.

Finally, look for a robust flavor. Rooibos tea is earthy and herbal in flavor, and unlike practically any other tea you might try. This is because Rooibos cannot be grown anywhere but the Cederberg region of South Africa.

But lesser quality tea brands (i.e., the leavings) will have blander, lighter flavoring. I’ll be candid — these brands are primarily for folks who “don’t know better” on that quality.

U.S. Wellness Naturals Rooibos Tea Review — Highly Recommended

I’ll admit, U.S. Wellness Naturals Rooibos doesn’t quite reach the quality of the Rooibos in my memory from South Africa. And, as you might know, flavor and aroma are some of the strongest memory triggers. However, I wouldn’t expect the exported tea quality to be as high as that for the locals enjoying their national drink.

That being said, U.S. Wellness Naturals Rooibos tea is some of the absolute highest quality Rooibos I have had since leaving the Rainbow Nation. For anyone unable to pop over to Pretoria for a cuppa, I recommend snagging a bag of this delicious tea.

It’s got the smooth, high-quality taste you’re craving, and blends perfectly into a latte, chilled Rooibos blended drink, and works as an iced tea. Rooibos is also 100% caffeine-free and is loaded with antioxidants like camellia sinensis teas.

So, not only do I recommend folks grab a bag of U.S. Wellness Naturals Rooibos for its flavor, but I also highly recommend folks explore this tea for those health properties. It’s a great option for a pre-bedtime drink thanks to its lack of caffeine and rich flavor, and pairs well with just about fruit, vegetable, dessert, or savory food.

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