Rooibos, the tea of champions.

Following last nights club run I was so full of good vibes that I could not sleep. I eventually gave up trying at 3:30 am and went downstairs for a mug of Rooibos tea. 

I guess like many regular runners I have experimented with various sports drinks and beverages over the years before settling on what I feel works for me.

Rooibos has become one of my staples and I've even carried it on long, cold night runs.

Rooibos (redbush) is a herbal tea which is grown in the Cape heartland of South Africa and was used first by the Khoisan bushmen as an herbal remedy for a range of ailments.

It was "discovered"  in 1772 by botanist Carl Humberg who first used it as a beverage and was marketed as "mountain" tea by a Russian, Benjamin Ginsberg in 1904.

Amongst the many benefits of Rooibos it has been proven to contain many flavinoids, free-radical fighting antioxidants. Rooibos tea is naturally caffeine free and has also been shown to soothe the body's reaction to rashes - perfect when you've been running through stinging nettles and brambles out on the trails.

Rooibos contains the following:

Antioxidants
Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Calcium
Fluoride
Copper
Iron
Potassium
Zinc
Manganese
Potassium

It has become one of my favourite brews both as a re hydrating drink after a run and as a relaxing beverage.