Honeybush, named after its similarity to the taste of honey, is found primarily in South West and southeast Africa. Honeybush and Rooibos tea are similar. However, the latter is a bit sweeter.
Honeybush tea is free of caffeine and is known to comprise of bioactive compounds that have several health benefits. A study also demonstrates that there may be a possibility that honeybush tea benefits have potential anti-osteoclastogenic effects and benefit the bone in several ways.
Nutritional Value for every 240 ml of Honeybush tea (Department of Chemistry of the University of the Free State)
| Nutrients | Mg |
| Iron | 0.3mg |
| Potassium | 0.01 mg |
| Calcium | 0.01 mg |
| Copper | 0.003 mg |
| Zinc | 0.015 mg |
| Magnesium | 0.002 mg |
| Manganese | 0.11mg |
| Sodium | 1.5mg |
Honeybush tea(1) is caffeine-free. It can be consumed at night and has a reputation of being a calming beverage minus any sedative properties.
The herbal tea is less in tannins and isn’t a highly astringent tea, which is a common problem with green and black tea leaves when steeped for long.
Drinking honeybush tea benefits you during a cold as it eliminates phlegm and treats whooping cough. It contains pinitol, a modified version of sugar that has similarities to inositol.
Pinitol works as an expectorant and controls diabetes as it lowers down blood sugar levels by increasing the effects of insulin in the body.
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Honeybush contains flavones, isoflavones, coumestans, luteolin,4-hydroxycinnamic acid, polyphenols(2), and xanthones. These antioxidants help to lower blood lipids.
Drinking Honeybush tea benefits your body during menopause as the isoflavones and coumestans reduce the symptoms of pain caused during ovulation, PMS, and menstrual cramps. It prevents your body from a radical attack.
This herbal tea helps indigestion. It breaks down and reduces body fats in the digestive tracts.
The anti-inflammatory nature and phenolic compounds of honeybush tea benefits people who have arthritis as it reduces inflammation and prevents any chronic inflammatory diseases. It relieves rheumatic aches and reduces the pain caused due to the widening of blood vessels.
According to a study in December 2010 published in ‘Chemico-biological interactions, ‘ it was stated that phenolic compounds have a direct effect in regulating the inflammatory response by the body of the inflamed cells in the intestine, in cases of Inflammatory bowel disease.
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Drinking this tea helps to boost your immunity and protects you from viral infections. It also stops the growth of unhealthy bacteria in the body and keeps you healthy.
A study suggested that the ingestion of unfermented honeybush tea inhibits the growth of tumors in rats. However, more investigation on this is required to ascertain its effects on humans.
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To get the maximum honeybush tea benefits, try this recipe.
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Although there are no noted side-effects of honeybush tea, it is always recommended to check with your physician before making this a part of your routine and ensuring that it doesn’t interfere with the existing health conditions.
Honeybush tea doesn’t traditionally imply tea. The tea is not made from the leaves of the plant, but instead, these are just brewed from fermented parts of the plant. Packed with anti-oxidants, honeybush tea makes for an excellent treatment against cold, flu and also aids digestion.
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Rooibos tea is low in caffeine, tannins, and high in oxidants. Honeybush tea benefits the nervous system by boosting the immunity of the body and is also known for its richness in iron, calcium, and mostly, for being caffeine-free.
Not really. Honeybush can be called a close cousin of rooibos, and although they may have plenty of similarities, their distinct taste creates a difference between them. Rooibos is sweet and has an earthy, nutty flavor, while honeybush has the taste of wood and honey.