Anthony's Organic Red Rooibos Loose Leaf Tea

Rooibos is one of the most forgiving teas to brew. Use boiling water and steep for 5-7 minutes — unlike green or white tea, you really can't oversteep it into bitterness. Reviewers find the flavor enhanced with a squeeze of lemon and a touch of sweetener. For a stronger cup, just add more leaves rather than steeping longer, though longer steeps work fine too. And don't toss those leaves after one cup — they'll give you 2-3 good rounds.

Reviewers mention summer drinking as one of the best uses for this rooibos. The smooth, naturally sweet flavor profile works well chilled, and since you can brew it strong without bitterness, it holds up to ice dilution. The vanilla and earthy notes come through nicely cold, and you can add lemon for a refreshing twist.

As a loose leaf tea, Anthony's gives you more control over strength and flavor compared to pre-portioned tea bags. The leaves are higher quality — reviewers note the flavor is rich and not powdery, which can be an issue with finely ground rooibos dust in some tea bags. You'll need an infuser or strainer, but the tradeoff is better flavor, resteepability, and significantly better value per cup.

It's actually a great starter rooibos. The brewing process is very forgiving — since it's caffeine-free, you don't have to worry about steeping too long and getting a bitter cup like you would with green or black tea. First-time rooibos drinkers in the reviews say they found the flavor smooth and enjoyable. If the earthy taste feels unfamiliar at first, adding a bit of lemon or sweetener helps ease you in.

This tea hits a sweet spot for several groups: people looking to cut back on caffeine without giving up a warm daily drink, evening tea drinkers who want something they can sip before bed, coffee lovers searching for an afternoon alternative, and anyone on a keto or gluten-free diet. It also works well for rooibos beginners thanks to its smooth, approachable flavor, while experienced tea drinkers appreciate the complex vanilla-tobacco notes and resteepability. The 1-pound bag is sized for daily drinkers, not occasional sippers.

The main thing to know is that rooibos has a distinctive earthy, slightly tobacco-like flavor that's quite different from traditional teas. It can be an acquired taste if you're coming from black or green tea. That said, Anthony's version is described as smooth and not harsh, and reviewers find it very approachable — especially with a squeeze of lemon or a bit of sweetener to round out the flavor. Most people who try it end up enjoying it, but don't expect it to taste like a conventional tea.

Red rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, which makes it a great option for winding down in the evening or replacing afternoon coffee without disrupting your sleep. Anthony's Organic Rooibos specifically gets praised by reviewers as an everyday caffeine-free alternative — people use it as a daily routine replacement for coffee and caffeinated teas. It's also popular as an iced tea in summer months. Because it's organic, gluten-free, and non-irradiated, it fits well into clean-eating and keto lifestyles.

Yes, Anthony's Organic Red Rooibos is certified gluten-free. It's also non-GMO, non-irradiated, and keto-friendly, so it checks a lot of boxes if you're managing dietary restrictions.

Yes, it's labeled keto-friendly. Rooibos tea is naturally zero-calorie and zero-carb when brewed plain, so it fits comfortably into a ketogenic diet. Just watch what you add — if you sweeten it, opt for a keto-compatible sweetener rather than sugar or honey.

Since Anthony's rooibos is completely caffeine-free, you can drink it any time — but reviewers especially love it as an evening or before-bed tea. It's a warm, smooth cup that won't keep you up. That said, plenty of people also use it as an afternoon coffee replacement when they want something cozy without the caffeine jolt. There's really no wrong time to drink it.