Bush tea

Question

I have been reading Alexander McCall Smith's stories about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. His characters like to drink "bush tea", which I have only now realised is not the same as "ordinary tea". Is it a related plant? Does it taste different?
I looked on google, but did not find the descriptions very informative, except to comment on its red colour.
Fran

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I have been reading Alexander McCall Smith's stories about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency.[/nq]
I found that last summer. Enjoyable.
[nq:1]His characters like to drink "bush tea", which I have only now realised is not the same as "ordinary tea". ... different? I looked on google, but did not find the descriptions very informative, except to comment on its red colour.[/nq]
I imagine it's the same as rooibos tea, which comes from South Africa and is popular in the Netherlands these days. The name means literally "red bush" (scientific name, Aspalathus linearis). It is not from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis); it is "tea" in the same sense as "herb tea" and "mint tea." The flavor is pleasant and mild. You can easily Google up articles on "rooibos".

Best Donna Richoux

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I have been reading Alexander McCall Smith's stories about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. His characters like to drink ... different? I looked on google, but did not find the descriptions very informative, except to comment on its red colour.[/nq]
It's Rooibos tea, from South Africa. See:
http://www.rooibosltd.co.za/bg/plant.html

GC

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[nq:1]I have been reading Alexander McCall Smith's stories about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. His characters like to drink ... I looked on google, but did not find the descriptions very informative, except to comment on its red colour. Fran[/nq]
As others have indicated, it's Redbush or rooibos tea. I was drawn to the idea from reading the same books (and I love the books) and found this site :
http://www.redbushtea.com/home.html
which enables you to request a copy of Redbush News and sample of the product. Sadly, the sample is available only in Rightpondia, but they will fill orders for Leftpondia:
http://www.redbushtea.com/mailorder/mailorderusa.html Though I see there are now stockists over there -
http://www.harney.com/harneyteas/rooibos.html
Personally, I didn't like the stuff - but I have an unrefined and generally undiscerning palate so what do I know? If it's good enough for Mma Ramotswe and Mma Makutsi it should be good enough for me.
John Dean
Oxford

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[nq:1]Personally, I didn't like the stuff - but I have an unrefined andgenerally undiscerning palate so what do I know? If it's good enough for MmaRamotswe and Mma Makutsi it should be good enough for me.[/nq]
BTW, how do you pronounce "Mma" and what does it mean? It's probably obvious to a native English person but I just happen to be Polish. Is it like "madame"?
Hanna

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...
} BTW, how do you pronounce "Mma" and what does it mean? It's probably } obvious to a native English person but I just happen to be Polish. Is it } like "madame"?
On the CD version they pronounce it like mm-mah, punching the m's so you know they're both there.

R. J. Valentine

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[nq:1]I have been reading Alexander McCall Smith's stories about the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency. His characters like to drink "bush tea", which I have only now realised is not the same as "ordinary tea". Is it a related plant? Does it taste different?[/nq]
Collins Dictionary:
rooibos tea n. S. African. tea prepared from any of several species of Borbonia or Aspalanthus, believed to have tonic properties.

It is often called "bush tea" as opposed to "Ceylon tea" (never called "Sri lanka tea"). It tastes different. I drink it without milk and sugar, while I have both milk and sugar in Ceylon tea.
It is thought by some to be more healthy because it has little or no caffeine. Recently there have been articles in yuppie magazines saying that it has lots of free radicals that are supposed to stop you rusting or something. I picked that up from radio talk shows on the car radio, so can't vouch for the accuracy.
(Cross-posted to soc.culture.south-afrca in the hope of eliciting a more informed response from the one or two knowledgeable people there )

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

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It means "mother" (in Tswana) and is pronounced with the stres on the M, if you can imagine that, the double "m" at the beginning is supposed to indicate that. The corresponding word for father is Rra.
It's a respectful/affectionate form of address to older people.

Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/7734/stevesig.htm
E-mail - see web page, or parse: shayes at dunelm full stop org full stop uk

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[nq:2]Personally, I didn't like the stuff - but I have ... and Mma Makutsi it should be good enough for me.[/nq]
[nq:1]BTW, how do you pronounce "Mma" and what does it mean? It's probably obvious to a native English person but I just happen to be Polish. Is it like "madame"? Hanna[/nq]
Brush up your Setswana -
http://www.gov.bw/tourism/culture and his/language.html

John 'Ga ke bue Setswana' Dean
Oxford

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[nq:2]I have been reading Alexander McCall Smith's stories about the ... "ordinary tea". Is ita related plant? Does it taste different?[/nq]
Good heavens, yes, it tastes different. It is firstly not even related to tea. More properly it would be called a "tisane".
[nq:1]Collins Dictionary: rooibos tea n. S. African. tea prepared from any of severalspecies of Borbonia or Aspalanthus, believed to have ... tea"). It tastes different. I drink it without milk andsugar, while I have both milk and sugar in Ceylon tea.[/nq]
I also drink mine black and sugarless when hot. It makes an excellent base for cold drinks when one adds a fruit concentrate - I like the artificially sweetened ones.
[nq:1]It is thought by some to be more healthy because it has little orno caffeine. Recently there have been articles ... you rusting orsomething. I picked that up from radio talk shows on the car radio, so can't vouch forthe accuracy.[/nq]
Those who like it in preference to tea swear blind that it's more wholesome. I like them both and don't feel a need to justify one above the other.
[nq:1](Cross-posted to soc.culture.south-afrca in the hope of elicitinga more informed response from the one or two knowledgeable people there )[/nq]
Peter Brookes or Mark Richardson or one of the other clever people on the group might be able to help.
Moira, the Faerie Godmother

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Moira, I think that you are right about not needing to justify one above the other, because both have their very good qualities. I must admit that I really do enjoy rooibos, but I take it with sugar and I have always found that it is quite a good restorative after imbibing a touch too much the night before.
The Khoisan used it for medicinal purposes and I believe that certain similar products, including cosmetics, based on rooibos, are now both available and being further developed.
I am not so sure about being a clever person though.

Mark Richardson

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