Thai herbal tea and rooibos are two of the best-known caffeine-free cups, and neither is made from the tea plant. Rooibos comes from a single South African shrub and tastes sweet and honeyed; a Thai herbal blend such as TeaTapee’s combines 15 botanicals and tastes earthy, woody and warmly spiced. This guide compares the two on plant, origin, flavor and brewing.
Thai herbal tea vs rooibos at a glance
| Thai herbal tea (TeaTapee) | Rooibos | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A blend of 15 botanicals, about 65% Jewel Vine (Derris scandens) | One plant, Aspalathus linearis |
| Where it comes from | Blended and packed in Thailand | South Africa’s Western and Northern Cape, centered on the Cederberg |
| Caffeine | None | None |
| Flavor | Earthy, woody, warmly spiced; clean, lightly sweet finish | Sweet, honey-like and woody |
| Color in the cup | Deep amber | Red-amber (red rooibos) |
| Brewing | 1 golden teabag’s powder stirred into about 200 ml of hot water, 2–5 minutes | Freshly boiled water, 5–7 minutes or longer |
What is rooibos?
Rooibos is the shrub Aspalathus linearis, a member of the legume family (Fabaceae). It is grown in South Africa’s Western and Northern Cape, centered on the Cederberg mountains, and its name is Afrikaans for “red bush”. Since 2021 “Rooibos” has been a protected designation of origin in the EU, the first African food name to be registered that way. The familiar red rooibos is made by bruising the cut leaves and stems and letting them oxidize, which turns them a deep red-brown; green rooibos is dried straight away and tastes milder and grassier.
What is Thai herbal tea?
Thai herbal tea is a blend rather than a single plant. TeaTapee’s blend is built on Jewel Vine (Derris scandens), which makes up roughly 65% of the recipe and gives the cup its woody base. Around it sit warm spices such as cinnamon, star anise and Siamese cardamom, two aromatic rhizomes, and woody, herbal and floral notes, 15 botanicals in all, finely ground and sealed in tea bags. Jewel Vine, like rooibos, belongs to the legume family.
How do Thai herbal tea and rooibos taste different?
Rooibos is sweet and rounded: honey, a woody note and hints of vanilla and caramel, with very little bite. It tastes naturally a little sweet even without sugar.
A Thai herbal blend is deeper and more layered. The Jewel Vine base is earthy and woody, the spices bring warmth, and the finish is clean and only lightly sweet, more savory-leaning than rooibos. If rooibos is a honeyed cup, Thai herbal tea is a spiced one.
Do rooibos and Thai herbal tea contain caffeine?
Neither does. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, and so is a Thai herbal blend like TeaTapee’s, because it is made from herbs and botanicals rather than the leaves of the tea plant. Both are herbal infusions, so neither needs decaffeinating, and both suit any hour of the day.
How do you brew each one?
Both like hot water. For TeaTapee, open one golden teabag and tip the powder into about 200 ml of hot water, stir and give it 2–5 minutes; a little less water brings the woody base forward. Our guide to brewing the perfect cup covers hot, iced and cold-brew methods.
Rooibos is usually steeped for 5–7 minutes and is famously forgiving: a longer steep makes it stronger rather than bitter. It is often drunk with milk and sugar as well as plain. Both make an excellent iced tea: brew them strong and pour over plenty of ice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is rooibos the same as Thai herbal tea?
No. Rooibos is a single South African plant, Aspalathus linearis. Thai herbal tea is a blend; TeaTapee’s combines 15 botanicals led by Jewel Vine, blended and packed in Thailand.
Which tastes sweeter, rooibos or Thai herbal tea?
Rooibos. It has a naturally sweet, honey-like taste. Thai herbal tea is earthy, woody and warmly spiced, with a clean, only lightly sweet finish.
Do rooibos and Thai herbal tea have caffeine?
Neither contains caffeine. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, and Thai herbal tea is made from herbs and botanicals rather than the tea plant, so it has none either.
What does rooibos mean?
Rooibos is Afrikaans for “red bush”. The name comes from the deep red-brown color the leaves turn when they are oxidized during processing.
Can you drink rooibos and Thai herbal tea iced?
Yes. Both make good iced tea. Brew a stronger cup than usual, let it cool a little and pour it over plenty of ice.