As we wind down 2020 and head into the festive season, we share some exciting news and give you even more reasons for using Rooibos this holiday season. In this newsletter, you can learn more about how Rooibos can help you to keep your weight in check. We also share ideas with you on how using Rooibos to enjoy a healthier holiday period in general. Some ideas include creating Rooibos mocktails or by crafting your own Rooibos iced tea.

We also look at new research that suggests that Rooibos might be effective in treating COVID-19. Local researchers have taken up the task of finding South African medicinal plants that can be used to assist those battling the virus.

The SA Rooibos Council has released an article on local brewers that have started incorporating Rooibos into their beverages. In this newsletter, we give you a summary of this news. 

Finally, you can also learn more about the Rooibos information centre in Clanwilliam and how Rooibos could protect against Alzheimer's Disease. 
Local researchers who study medicinal plants are turning to Rooibos as a potential treatment for COVID-19. South Africa has a long history of using medicinal plants as effective treatments against a range of ailments. 

The researchers have identified unique bioactive compounds in Rooibos that could be effective in treating the symptoms brought on by the coronavirus. They suggest that these compounds may even inhibit the COVID-19 virus from manifesting itself. 

Currently, they are in the second phase of their research, which involves conducting laboratory tests using Rooibos to see if it can be used commercially to treat COVID-19 patients.

Click here to read more about their findings.

Laager Rooibos has shared a few tips with consumers on how they can enjoy a healthier festive season this holiday period. December is traditionally a time to relax the dietary restrictions and let loose, but with health taking centre stage this year, it’s important to maintain a good balance heading into the 2020 festive season.

Among the tips they gave, they suggested that one drinks more homemade iced teas. Switching out the sugar-laden fizzy drinks for water or home-made ice tea could be very beneficial. It will help you meet your daily hydration recommendation (eight glasses a day), while also taking away the temptation of overeating. Rooibos can of course be used to make tasty iced teas. You can find a recipe for this on the link below. 

They also suggested that consumers opt for Rooibos mocktails instead of alcoholic beverages during this time. There’s a tendency to indulge in more alcoholic beverages at this time of year, but alcohol can deplete B vitamins while also diminishing the body’s natural immune system. You can view a few exciting Rooibos mocktail recipes on the link below.

Click here to read more.
This festive season local brewers and mixologists are making the most of South Africa’s rich plant life, by using indigenous ingredients when developing unique beverages for local and international markets.

Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council said the value of indigenous plants are starting to be recognised globally.

“There is a growing awareness of the importance of indigenous plants in new product development and the differentiation it offers marketers. Their use in alcoholic beverages is arguably among the most exciting developments and opens up new opportunities for beer, wine and brandy producers alike,” Du Toit said.

Many cocktail bars in South Africa have started incorporating local plants like Rooibos in their beverages. Cause & Effect in Cape Town is one such example. Other local entrepreneurs, like Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, have developed a line of Rooibos infused beer. 

Du Toit said that the promotion of local plant life has major economic value and could in turn improve the outlook for rural communities where many of these species exist.

Click here to read the full article.
As we head for the holidays, you might be considering ways to drop a few kilos on the road to a healthier lifestyle. In a recent article on MSN Lifestyle, Rooibos tea was listed as one of 5 top teas to drink when trying to lose weight.

What makes rooibos tea particularly good for your belly is a unique and powerful flavonoid called Aspalathin. Research shows this compound can reduce stress hormones that trigger hunger and fat storage and are linked to hypertension, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.

Rooibos also has a unique, sweet taste, making it a delicious treat any time of the day.

Click here to read more.
House of Rooibos is an information centre that features a unique Rooibos experience where you can find out about all things Rooibos.

Come and enjoy a refreshing cup of Rooibos and see our informative displays that include a 10-minute video about the history, production process and health benefits of this versatile beverage. The presentation is available in eight international languages, and we are open to group bookings.

Please take note of House of Rooibos' operating hours during the festive season. Our normal operating hours are still Mondays to Fridays from 09:00 to 17:00.

We are open the following Saturdays: 12 December & 19 December 2020 from 09:00 to 13:00. We are also open on Wednesday, 16 December from 09:00 to 14:00. We close on 24 December 2020 at 14:00 and reopen 6 January 2021 at 09:00.

House of Rooibos is in the heart of the Rooibos capital of the world, at 4 Voortrekker Street, Clanwilliam. For more information, contact House of Rooibos at sales@rooibosltd.co.za or +27 (0) 66 115 7749.

Click here to visit the website of House of Rooibos.
Postdoctoral fellow Dr Taskeen Docrat from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology has won first prize at the recent Virtual Postdoctoral Research Summit. He won the prize for the best elevator pitch on this topic: The Abili “Tea” Of Rooibos to Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease.

“The protective functions of the widely consumed Rooibos herbal tea are of growing interest. Our research is unique as limited information on how Rooibos affects the brain exists. We aim to establish the neuroprotective mechanisms exerted by the antioxidant compounds in Rooibos for the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders,” Dr Docrat said.

The difficulty of this Summit was to pitch a very complex research proposal in less than three minutes. Breaking down hard-to-understand scientific facts is no easy task! But, it seems that she managed very well after being crowned the winner. 

She will be continuing her research on the effect of Rooibos on Alzheimer’s Disease in 2021.

Click here to read more.
Sign up to our monthly Live Rooibos newsletter for all the latest Rooibos tips, delicious recipes and ideas. To stay up to date with the latest news from Rooibos Limited, follow us on social media. 
Distributed by:
Rooibos Limited
Rooibos Avenue
Clanwilliam
Western Cape
8135
South Africa

Copyright © 2020 Rooibos Limited
All rights reserved
Share this email:
Email Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove®
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
Rooitee Street
Clanwilliam, | 8135 ZA
This email was sent to hein@digency.co.za.
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.