A caffeine-free infusion, our Honeybush is a light-bodied, slightly sweet organic herbal tea with hints of toasted grains and tart plum, with a black pepper finish. This organic African tea has a warm woody aroma with notes of fruity tobacco. Indigenous to South Africa, honeybush was "discovered" in the 1700's when local inhabitants realized that the flowers, stems and leaves from this plant could be used to make a drink that had a pleasant taste with honey-like flavor. Generally the plant is cut right down to the ground during harvesting. The remaining roots do not die however, and within two years they have grown into harvestable size again, quite often nearly twice the size of the original bush.
Ingredients: organic South African honeybush
Origin: Cederberg, South Africa
Honeybush only grows in the mountainous Cederberg region 400 miles north of Cape Town on the western edge of South Africa. The Cederberg Mountains are famous for their dramatic, wind-carved sandstone formations like the Maltese Cross and the Wolfberg Arch, well-preserved prehistoric rock paintings by the early San people, and the rare Clanwilliam Cedar trees from which the area takes its name. Arable land is limited by the altitude, dry climate, and rocky terrain of this area. Rooibos is the most famous export from this region, though fruit, tobacco, honeybush, and grapes are also harvested.
Steeping Instructions
At Arbor Teas, we believe tea should be brewed to suit your personal taste. We’re happy to make recommendations to get you started, but don’t hesitate to experiment! When brewing your tea, your main considerations are tea quantity, water temperature, and steeping time. We recommend herbal and rooibos teas to be steeped for 5 to 7 minutes in water heated to a full rolling boil. For the best flavor, use fresh water whenever possible, and avoid overboiling. If you want a stronger brew, just use more tea. And don’t forget to re-steep your tea leaves to get the most out of your leaf!
"Honeybush prepared using the Cold Brew method really accentuates the tart plummy notes, and peppery finish. A unique and flavorful caffeine-free brew for hot summer days!"
Trish
"I like to relax to this nice woodsy tea with a slightly sweet honey overtone."
Jeremy
"Many people ask us how Honeybush and Rooibos differ in flavor - in my opinion, I believe Honeybush is woodier, lighter in body and less tart."
Health Benefits
Herbal teas exhibit a wide range of beneficial health properties, as diverse as the plant varieties themselves! Our single-herb tisanes have benefits unique to each botanical, and our various herbal blends include a medley of herbs that boast a combination of health properties.
For more information about health benefits of various herbal teas, check out our Herbal Tea Health Benefits page!
Please note: the information above is for educational purposes only and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
I was previously purchasing my organic honeybush from another supplier and after multiple times of having it out of stock I gave up and decided to give Arbor a try. Had my first brew this morning and couldn't be more pleased. Do yourself a favor and get some. Nice hints of honey on the nose and a smooth finish. Roobios is very similar but far more stronger and full bodied. I prefer honeybush instead as it's a little lighter. Appreciate the hand written note on the packing slip. It's the little things like that which make Arbor stand above the rest. Will be purchasing again for sure!
5
A great alternative to rooibos!
Posted by Michael Vanier on 6th Apr 2024
I like rooibos, but I often find it a bit thin. Honeybush is a rooibos relative which is sweeter than rooibos and has a significantly thicker "body". It has a really nice taste, and I find it more flavorful than rooibos, so I'll definitely be ordering this again.
4
A Sweet, Woody Rooibos Relative
Posted by Nicola on 27th Aug 2021
I agree completely with the other descriptions on this page: this is absolutely a part of the rooibos family, but somewhat sweeter, woodier, and earthier; essentially going in the opposite direction compared to green rooibos. Thus, honeybush's flavor will appeal to many, but I find it less complex than what one may find in a well-produced rooibos. Give it a try, and see if it's for you.
5
Honeybush awesome!
Posted by Billie Eversole on 17th Nov 2020
I ordered this tea as a sample and really loved it! It has an amazing taste to it. Its sweet and earthy. I have come back to order more!
4
Woodier Alternative to Rooibos
Posted by Emily Yocom on 29th Oct 2020
I got a sample size of this one, and I was surprised how similar in flavor it was to rooibos. I thought this one was woodier and more full-bodied, but it wasn’t a personal favorite. Glad I tried it out though!
5
Nice alternative to black tea
Posted by Haley DiRenzo on 14th Nov 2019
This is a nice alternative to black tea if you want something a little lighter, less bitter, and sweeter. It pairs well with milk.
5
Happy surprise!
Posted by Yen-Wen on 12th Oct 2016
When I thought about earthy taste, I was not sure about if that would be a pleasing experience. It turned out WONDERFUL, I would regret if I never tried it! It's a happy surprise for me! It's really pleasant taste with light body. It's slightly sweet so no need for sugar at all! Wow, what a find! I will be back for more for sure!
3
Interesting Tea
Posted by Robin K. on 15th Dec 2014
I was surprised by the deep reddish color of this herbal tea. It has an earthy smell, and somewhat woody taste, followed by honey-like sweetness. I would like to try a red rooibos tea at the same time to compare, since the taste was similar. A good herbal option for evening.
5
Comforting!
Posted by Joey on 16th Mar 2014
I loved this tea on any cold day! A perfect tea to serve hot with milk! sweet and a little earthy, I love it!
5
An excellent reddish tea
Posted by Tom, Celeste and Carmen on 5th May 2012
I ordered the honeybush tea on a whim - I was looking for a good mint tea (which I also ordered), and saw the honeybush. It looked interesting, so I decided to try it. It did not disappoint. When I opened the bag, the smell of honey wafted out. My 6 year old had her nose planted into the bag, smelling the scent - I had to pry it out of her hands. After brewed, I had it plain, my girls had it with a little honey (redundant, I know). Both ways were very good. I saved some for iced tea, which was also refreshing and tasty. Just one other note - I was very impressed with the prompt delivery of the order, and the fact that the owners had included a hand written comment thanking me for the order. Very nice touch. Highly recommend
5
Wow
Posted by Georgina R on 12th Jan 2012
Both dry and steeped, it smells like honey. It makes a beautiful reddish brown tea that tastes very smooth and sweet. I like my tea sweetened with stevia, but I did not add any to this tea. We got 3 cups out of a serving, and my husband is steeping another one as I type.
5
Honeybush Tea
Posted by JoAnne Klingerman on 3rd Jan 2009
This tea is so flavorful and needs little or no sweetening. I've tried it on family and friends and have yet to find someone who didn't rave about it. I can't decide if I like it more for its flavor or for it's superior antioxidant level.