Annie Nyu

The HITAR Institute Canada, British Columbia, Canada
Author    Correspondence author
Journal of Tea Science Research, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 3   doi: 10.5376/jtsr.2024.14.0014
Received: 02 Apr., 2024    Accepted: 10 May, 2024    Published: 25 May, 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Nyu A., 2024, Rooibos tea: a systematic review of its antioxidant properties, health implications, and economic impact in the global market, Journal of Tea Science Research, 14(3): 148-159 (doi: 10.5376/jtsr.2024.14.0014)

South African rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis), commonly known as rooibos tea, is a unique tea beverage native to South Africa. Its remarkable antioxidant properties and various health benefits have garnered widespread attention and consumption globally. This study explores the antioxidant properties, health impacts, and economic influence of rooibos tea in the global market. It primarily summarizes the major phytochemicals of rooibos tea and their antioxidant mechanisms, compares it with other antioxidant-rich teas, and analyzes the potential benefits of rooibos tea on cardiovascular health, anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting properties, as well as metabolic health and diabetes management. The study also explores the production and export situation, market demand, and consumption trends of rooibos tea in the global market, along with its economic benefits for producing regions. Furthermore, the study delves into the genetic and environmental factors affecting rooibos tea quality, through case studies on the antioxidant properties of fermented rooibos tea, the health benefits of unfermented rooibos tea, and the economic impact on South Africa. It also proposes potential health applications, industrial uses, and future research directions for rooibos tea. This study provides a systematic review of the various characteristics of rooibos tea, offering scientific evidence and references to support the sustainable development of the rooibos tea industry.

Rooibos tea; Antioxidant properties; Health impact; Global market; Economic benefits