Wellness Origin HubRooibos latte, the caffeine-free red cappuccino
How to make a rooibos latte, or red cappuccino, at home: strongly brewed South African rooibos with frothed milk, honey and cinnamon, caffeine-free and ready in ten minutes.
A rooibos latte is very strong rooibos tea topped with hot frothed milk and sweetened with a little honey. It has a warm, red-orange colour and a round, slightly sweet taste of honey, vanilla and dried fruit, with no bitterness and no caffeine. It takes about ten minutes and needs no special equipment.
Rooibos, meaning "red bush" in Afrikaans, is made from the leaves of Aspalathus linearis, a shrub that grows almost only in the Cederberg mountains and surrounding areas of South Africa's Western Cape. The Khoi and San peoples of the region used it long before it became a commercial tea in the twentieth century. Today it is drunk across South Africa, usually with milk and sugar like ordinary tea.
The "red cappuccino" or "red espresso" is a newer café drink, which spread in South African coffee shops from the early 2000s. Finely ground rooibos is pulled through an espresso machine to make a concentrated shot, then topped with steamed milk. This home version gets close by brewing a small amount of tea very strongly.
How to make it
- Put the rooibos in a small teapot, jug or mug and pour over the freshly boiled water.
- Cover and brew for 6 to 8 minutes. Rooibos does not turn bitter, so a long brew simply makes it stronger.
- While it brews, heat the milk in a small pan until it steams, without letting it boil.
- Froth the milk with a frother or whisk, or shake it in a tightly closed jar.
- Strain the tea into a mug, pressing on the leaves or bags to get every drop, and stir in the honey.
- Pour in the milk, spoon the foam on top and dust with cinnamon.
Tips for the best flavour
- Use boiling water. Unlike green or black tea, rooibos takes fully boiling water without any harshness. A kettle straight off the boil is ideal.
- Brew small and strong. Use a small amount of water and plenty of leaf so the tea is not drowned by the milk. Two tea bags in 100 ml is about right.
- Try green rooibos. Unfermented "green" rooibos is lighter, grassier and less sweet. The usual red kind is better for a latte.
- Fine leaf brews faster. Loose rooibos is often finely cut. If your strainer lets bits through, use a paper filter or tea bags.
- Sweeten after brewing. Honey dissolves best in the hot tea before the milk goes in.
Rooibos latte compared
| Drink | Base | Caffeine | Flavour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rooibos latte | Strong rooibos | None | Honeyed, sweet, mild |
| London fog | Earl Grey tea | Some, from black tea | Citrus and vanilla |
| Golden milk | Turmeric and spices | None | Earthy, warming, peppery |
| Masala chai | Black tea and spices | Some, from black tea | Spicy and robust |
Variations
- Vanilla: add a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract with the honey, which suits rooibos's natural sweetness.
- Spiced: brew the rooibos with a crushed cardamom pod, a slice of ginger and a strip of orange peel.
- Iced: brew double strength, cool, and pour over ice with cold milk and a little maple syrup.
- Plant-based: barista-style oat milk froths well and its gentle sweetness works with rooibos. Our comparison of plant milks covers the other options.
- Without milk: the strong rooibos on its own, with honey and lemon, is a good evening tea.
Make ahead and storage
Use the buttons beside the ingredients to make more than one cup. Strong rooibos keeps in a closed jar in the fridge for up to three days, ready to warm with milk for a quick latte or to pour over ice. Loose rooibos keeps for a year or more in an airtight tin, away from light.
Questions people ask
Is rooibos really caffeine-free?
Yes. Rooibos is not related to the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, and contains no caffeine. That makes a rooibos latte a good choice in the evening or for anyone avoiding caffeine. It also contains very little tannin, which is part of why it does not go bitter.
Is rooibos good for you?
Rooibos contains antioxidant compounds, including one called aspalathin that is found almost only in this plant, and researchers have studied them with interest. The evidence in people is still limited, so it is best thought of as a pleasant caffeine-free drink rather than a health remedy. Our herbal teas guide compares it with other caffeine-free cups.
Can I use a milk frother?
Yes, any handheld or jug frother works. If you are choosing one, our guide to milk frothers for lattes at home looks at the main types.
Photograph: AI-generated image
