Canadian Health Food Association Show and Rooibos Tea

I spent last weekend working at the CHFA show at the New Vancouver Convention Centre. Even though it's hard work, I love these shows! They started me on this healthy journey I've been on for the past 4 or 5 years. It just makes sense to meet the people who make the products, ask questions and, most importantly, get free samples!

My friend, Liz, has a rooibos tea company Nu-Tea Company Ltd. I've been drinking rooibos tea since I was a teenager and I adore her tea because it has such unique flavours. I've tried the blackcurrant, passion fruit, honeybush and orange spice before and they all taste great. Not only does the tea taste good, Liz also contributes a portion of her tea sales to the Watoto Child Care Ministries, a charity that I did my first ever blog entry about! I got some mint chocolate and also some Earl Grey rooibos tea, yum!

Here is Liz's guide to rooibos(http://www.nu-tea.ca/TeaBlog/tabid/84/EntryId/13/Quick-Guide-to-Rooibos.aspx)

• Rooibos is pronounced “Roy-Boss”
• Rooibos is safe for infants and helps to soothe babies with colic and sleeping problems
• Rooibos increases the absorption of iron in the body
• Rooibos helps to control your appetite and is calorie free
• Rooibos contains no caffeine and is relaxing
• Due to its mineral content of iron, potassium, zinc, manganese, magnesium and calcium, Rooibos makes a great thirst-quencher for active kids and athletes
• Rooibos is the perfect substitute for coffee or black tea, and it helps you sleep better.
• Rooibos is as effective as water for hydrating the body and it supplies your body with anti-oxidants and minerals.
• Tega Rooibos tea can be steeped for hours. It doesn’t get bitter as it is low in tannin and it is a whole leaf tea
• Harvesting of Rooibos tea is done on a sustainable basis. Once a year the shrubs are topped, and then allowed to re-grow and to flower before they are again harvested. This method of harvesting is so sustainable that some Rooibos plants have been harvested over a period of more than fifty years
• Rooibos plants are hardy and can survive in adverse conditions with low water and acidic soil. Remarkably, with symbiotic alkalinisation of the soil, Rooibos plants can actually raise the pH of acidic soil from 4 to 6.8.
• Rooibos grows in the Cederberg Wilderness Area, which is one of the most pristine and species rich areas in South Africa, and also has one of the highest concentrations of unique and threatened plant species.
• As Rooibos tea is naturally calorie and caffeine-free it can be consumed in unlimited quantities
• Rooibos does not need irrigation. With its network of roots and its long tap root that reaches as deep as 6 feet, it finds moisture during summer drought.
• Rooibos tea was discovered by the ancient Khoi-San Bushmen, a tribe of hunter-gatherers, who are believed to be the original human inhabitants of sub-Saharan Africa. They used Rooibos frequently as an herbal remedy for a wide range of ailments.
• You can enjoy your Rooibos and Honeybush without calories and sweeteners as they contain natural non-sugar based flavones.
• Kids love the sweetness of Honeybush.
• Tega Rooibos is certified organic by QAI.
• Rooibos leaves are naturally green. They turn red after being “roasted” in the sun for 10 hours.
• Green Rooibos is higher in anti-oxidants than red Rooibos, lighter in flavour and just as smooth in taste.
• As a true adaptogen, rooibos tea will refresh you during the day and relax you at bedtime
• Rooibos contains alpha-hydroxy acid, known to promote healthy skin
• The limited tannin in Rooibos tea translates to a smooth taste, unlike conventional teas that are bitter mainly because of tannin content.
• Several studies show that rooibos tea contains highly defensive natural antioxidants.
• Applied topically to the face, Rooibos can be a beauty-enhancer and help relieve skin irritations and acne.
• Tega Tea is sponsoring African orphans through the Watoto project.
  The mission of Watoto is to create a powerful force for positive change in the lives of abandoned children and help raise future leaders, to lift them up and fill them with love in order that they might do the same.

Cooking Applications

• Add anti-oxidants, flavour and color to your cooking and baking by utilising Rooibos tea
• Steam vegetables in Rooibos
• Rooibos can be used as a meat tenderizer
• Boil your rice or pasta in Rooibos tea – it adds a wonderful flavor, color and effect
• Freeze your left over tea into ice cube containers and use on a hot day with your favourite iced Rooibos tea and fruit juices