The recipe for rooibos and apple juice was given to me by Mara. Mara and I clicked instantly when we arrived for the first time in the Aosta Valley. We chose her house among many because it was very close to the center of Aosta and, from the photos, it was clear that it was precise, cared for, and clean. We became friends as guests. Every time Mara accompanies us and opens that door, I feel at home. Mara always leaves us gifts. Last year there was a bottle of this delicious juice she makes herself: sweet, refreshing, thirst-quenching, and spicy. Because there’s cinnamon inside. I put a little this time because I made it for a snack, and not everyone likes cinnamon. If it were just for me, I would have added more. So see how much cinnamon you want to use. Mara gave me the recipe and authorized me to share it with you. This recipe comes from South Africa. It was served at the spa after massage sessions. And Mara came back home with the recipe in her pocket. I find the sharing that happens with cooking wonderful. I think it’s beautiful to think about how far a recipe can travel: it starts and probably never reaches its destination, wherever it stops, it gets enriched, sometimes it changes and renews itself. Try this rooibos and apple juice!
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- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Rest time: 15 Minutes
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 2 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Spring, Summer
Ingredients
- 2 quarts apple juice
- 1 quart water
- to taste cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon wildflower or acacia honey (generous)
- 6 tea bags rooibos tea
Tools
- 1 High-sided saucepan
- 1 Strainer Drink Filter
- 1 Funnel
- 2 Glass Bottles
Steps
In a saucepan, pour the apple juice, water, sugar, honey, and enough cinnamon to coat the surface of the liquid. Bring it to a gentle boil, then turn off the heat and add the six rooibos tea bags. Let it steep for 10/15 minutes. Strain the preparation using a very fine strainer to catch the cinnamon powder: be patient as it will take some time. Once ready, bottle the juice (I filled two bottles like the ones in the photo, from Ikea, each with a capacity of 1.1 liters). Let the juice cool to room temperature, then store it in the refrigerator as it should be served cold.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What is rooibos?
Rooibos is a plant that is part of the legume family and grows in South Africa. It’s a shrub with green leaves, small thin red stems, and yellow flowers. Its name Rooi bos means red bush and even though it’s not part of the tea family, it is simply called red tea. It doesn’t contain caffeine, so it can be consumed safely by everyone. It’s good hot, cold, sweetened, or plain.
What are the properties of rooibos?
It contains flavonoids, thus it is antioxidant and helps fight free radicals. It provides calcium, manganese, and fluoride. It has calming and antispasmodic effects. It can also have deflating, analgesic, relaxing effects and promotes sleep.
