Rooibos Vanilla – Organic Rooibos with Bourbon Vanilla

Rooibos Vanilla by Kusmi Tea, the South African red bush with Bourbon vanilla

Rooibos Vanilla is a caffeine-free organic herbal infusion made from South African red bush, refined with natural Bourbon vanilla flavoring. Primarily rooibos, with added Bourbon vanilla flavoring. Loose in a 100g tin, organically grown. Mild, honey-sweet, vanilla-forward – the classic caffeine-free evening infusion.

Rooibos Vanilla by Kusmi Tea is not a tea in the botanical sense, but an herbal infusion made from the South African red bush (Aspalathus linearis). After harvesting, the needle-like leaves are chopped, fermented, and dried in the South African sun – this results in their characteristic reddish-brown color and mild, slightly honey-sweet flavor. In this Kusmi version, organic rooibos is refined with natural Bourbon vanilla flavoring. Naturally caffeine-free and low in tannins, it never turns bitter, even if steeped for a long time.

Reddish-brown infusion, mild and sweet with a warm vanilla aroma

As soon as you open the tin, a comforting aroma rises: the warm, slightly woody note of the rooibos, wrapped in the rounded sweetness of Bourbon vanilla. The leaves are characteristically fine and needle-like, reddish-brown, almost cinnamon-colored – once you have seen rooibos, you recognize it instantly.

In the cup, Rooibos Vanilla presents a glowing reddish-brown color that evokes amber or tea from a samovar. The first sip is mild and round, with the familiar honey note of rooibos forming the foundation – good rooibos teas taste of honey, wood, spices, and caramel. Overlaid is the vanilla: warm, creamy, and possessing that velvety sweetness that sets Bourbon vanilla apart from the rest. No bitterness, no tannins, no harshness – just soft, mild warmth.

For evening reading or a caffeine-free nightcap

Rooibos Vanilla is the ideal evening tea for anyone who wants something warm to drink late at night without compromising their sleep. It pairs well with vanilla crescents and butter cookies during the Advent season, a slice of apple pie with whipped cream, rice pudding with cinnamon, or a quark dessert. It also makes a great addition to a weekend brunch with panettone or pandoro, and in the colder months, it becomes a warming companion on a Sunday afternoon.

Rooibos Vanilla tastes best on its own – the vanilla already provides sweet accents, so sugar is usually unnecessary. A small splash of milk can transform the tea into a South African style, as it is often enjoyed in Cape Town.

For a pot, you need about 2 tablespoons of rooibos per liter, steeped in 95°C hot water for 5 to 6 minutes. One advantage over true tea: even if you steep the rooibos for longer, it will not turn bitter – the plant contains no tannins that could over-extract.

Within the Kusmi rooibos family, Rooibos Vanilla is the sweetest variety – for a nuttier option, try Rooibos Almond. If you are looking for that vanilla note in caffeinated teas, you can find it in the St. Petersburg black tea with caramel and vanilla or the Prince Wladimir with orange and vanilla.

Kusmi Tea and caffeine-free alternatives

Rooibos grows exclusively in the Cederberg mountains in the South African Cape region – it does not thrive anywhere else in the world. The indigenous Khoisan people knew of the plant's healing properties long before it became internationally known.

Harvesting takes place from January to March, during the South African midsummer: the branches are cut by hand, finely chopped, fermented, and then sun-dried. This turns the green needle leaves into the characteristic reddish-brown infusion – warm, mild, pure.

The history of Kusmi Tea begins in 1867 in St. Petersburg, where 21-year-old Pavel Mikhailovich Kousmichoff opened his own tea house. After the Russian Revolution, the family fled to Paris in 1917. In addition to classic black and green teas, the house now also maintains a selection of caffeine-free alternatives like rooibos and herbal infusions – for all those seeking enjoyment without caffeine in the evening.

Since 2017, almost all products have been organically grown and packaged at the workshop in Le Havre. You can find an overview of all our blends in our Kusmi Tea collection.

Control body FR-BIO-01 Non-EU Agriculture