Rooibos vs. Honeybush: What’s the Difference?

Rooibos is a popular choice for a naturally caffeine-free tea. It is great for tea drinkers that want a full-bodied herbal tea option. Honeybush is another option that can replace the desire for a black tea late in the evening. These two herbal teas have a lot of similarities and because of that, it can sometimes get confusing. However, rooibos is not the same as honeybush and vice versa. Here is a closer look at rooibos vs. honeybush tea so you can familiarize yourself with the differences. 

What is Rooibos?

Rooibos (pronounced roy-bos) is a naturally caffeine-free herbal tea (or tisane) that is native to South Africa. It does not come from the tea plant, Camellia Sinensis, so that is why it is referred to as a tisane.

Instead, the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant are harvested by cutting then oxidized and dried to produce red rooibos. The leaves will turn a reddish colour. That’s why rooibos can also be labelled “red bush tea.”

However, the leaves can also be unoxidized. This means that the leaves would retain more of the green colour and not turn red.

Unoxidized rooibos is commonly referred to as green rooibos. It’s a less common type but the taste of green rooibos is fresher and lighter. 

What is Honeybush?

Honeybush is a cousin to rooibos! It is also native to South Africa, but not related to the Camellia Sinensis plant so it is also classified as a tisane instead of tea.

The name of this herbal tea comes from the flowers of the honeybush shrub (Cyclopia intermedia) as they have an aroma similar to honey.

Honeybush is harvested and processed almost identical to rooibos. It is cut, oxidized and then dried to produce reddish-brown leaves. 

Green honeybush (unoxidized) is also available, but not really seen in North America. 

Rooibos vs. Honeybush

Before we get to their differences, here is a quick rundown of their similarities. 

Both are:

• Technically not “true tea”, but a tisane (or herbal tea)
• Naturally caffeine-free 
• From South Africa
• Harvested and processed in a similar manner
• Steeped the same way

The Difference Between Rooibos and Honeybush Tea

Difference #1: The Plant

Rooibos is made from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant.

Honeybush is made from the leaves of the Cyclopia intermedia plant.

Difference #2: The Origin

The shrub-like plant rooibos is made from originated in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, specifically the Cederberg region.

The plant honeybush is made from originated in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

Difference #3: The Appearance

Rooibos leaves are reddish-orange and have a needle-like appearance. Generally, they are very thin and long. When steeped, the liquor is a deep red colour, too.

Honeybush leaves are more of a deep, brown colour. In terms of size, they are shorter and thicker, too. The colour of the liquor is lighter in comparison to rooibos. It is more of a bright reddish-gold infusion.

Difference #4: The Antioxidants

Both of these South African herbal teas are rich in antioxidants but their key antioxidants differ.

Rooibos antioxidants are polyphenol flavonoids, including quercetin, rutin, luteolin, aspalathin, nothofagin, and orientin.

Honeybush antioxidants are hesperidin, mangiferin, phenolic compounds, xanthones, isomangeferin, and benzophenones.

Also, honeybush has higher levels of antioxidants than red rooibos. 

Always consult your doctor before adding any herbal teas to your diet for health purposes.

Difference #5: The Flavour

The flavour of rooibos is woody and nutty, sometimes reminiscent of caramel, too. The low levels of tannins mean rooibos is also a forgiving tea. It has little to no astringency.

Honeybush is the sweeter herbal tea of the two. The full-bodied flavour profile has a natural sweetness with earthy undertones.

Similar to rooibos, honeybush also has low tannin levels. So, you can steep it for a long time without it getting bitter!

Like this rooibos vs. honeybush tea post? Pin it for later here → http://bit.ly/3mppCe8

I am a fan of both rooibos and honeybush. Do you have a favourite though? Let me know in the comments below!