EXPERIENCE OUR TEA

ROOIBOS
Rooibos, Afrikaans for "red bush", unlike green, white, black and oolong teas, is brewed from a member of the legume family of plants. Also referred to as red tea, rooibos has been popular in South Africa for generations and is now enjoyed in many countries. The flavour of rooibos tea is often described as being naturally sweet and slightly nutty. Rooibos can be prepared in the same manner as black tea, and this is the most common method of preparation.

Rooibos is becoming more popular in Western countries particularly among health-conscious consumers, due to its high level of antioxidants, its lack of caffeine and its low tannin levels. Rooibos is purported to assist with nervous tension, allergies and digestive problems. Traditional medicinal uses of rooibos in South Africa include alleviating infantile colic, allergies, asthma and dermatological problems.

BLACK TEA
Black tea is a variety of tea that is more oxidized than its oolong, green and white counterparts. Like oolong, green and white tea, black tea is made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis. Black tea is generally stronger in flavour and contains more caffeine than the less oxidized teas.

Black tea retains its flavour for several years. For this reason, it has long been an article of trade, and compressed bricks of black tea even served as a form of de facto currency in Mongolia, Tibet and Siberia into the 19th century. Black tea still accounts for over ninety percent of all tea sold in the West.

Try one of our many flavoured or estate black teas today.

GREEN TEA
Green tea is a type of tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originates from China and is now associated with many cultures in Asia, from Japan to the Middle East. Recently, green tea has become more widespread in the West, where black tea has traditionally been the tea of choice.

Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits. Evidence suggests that regular green tea drinkers may have lower chances of heart disease and of developing certain types of cancer. It is also often used in weight loss regimens.

WHITE TEA
White tea is so named because of the silvery white down that covers the unopened tea buds. It is made with leaves which are processed in a manner that allows them wilt slightly and lose the "grassy" taste of green tea, while undergoing minimal oxidation. Like green, oolong and black tea, white tea comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.

White tea is a specialty of the Chinese province Fujian. The leaves come from varieties of tea cultivars. Popular are Da Bai (Large White), Xiao Bai (Small White), Narcissus and Chaicha bushes.

In 2009, a Kingston University study showed that white tea has high anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-collagenase, and anti-elastase properties which could potentially reduce the risks of developing rheumatoid arthritis, some cancers, heart disease and the skin wrinkles which accompany aging.

HERBAL TEA
Herbal Tea is an infusion made from the fresh or dried leaves, roots, flowers or seeds of any number of plants. Sandalwood Tea Company carries over twenty blends of herbal tea, each with their own unique qualities and health benefits. Our blends are created with ingredients that are reported to sooth or revitalize, relieve stress and even aid in weight loss.

We also carry several types of drinkable herbs, including lavender, jasmine, fennel, red clover and more.

FRUIT TEA
Sandalwood Tea Company's fruit tisanes are delicious blends of real dried fruit and natural flavouring. Sweet and aromatic, each of our fruit blends makes a wonderful summertime iced tea.