Teapigs Honeybush And Rooibos: South African Duo

Teapigs Honeybush & Rooibos, in summary: The Teapigs honeybush and rooibos blend pairs honey floral Cyclopia with sweet nutty rooibos; an under recognised South African duo.

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Last reviewed by the teas.co.uk team in May 2026.

Teapigs Honeybush and Rooibos is the South African plant tea duo, both indigenous Cape herbs, both caffeine free, both naturally sweet. Honeybush adds richer flavour to the more familiar rooibos base. The result is one of the most pleasant caffeine free everyday teas. Particularly good for evening drinking, pregnant women, and rooibos curious drinkers wanting more depth.

What is honeybush?

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Honeybush (Cyclopia genistoides and related species) is indigenous to South Africa's Western Cape, related to rooibos but distinct. The flavour is sweeter and more honey like than rooibos, hence the name.

Like rooibos, honeybush is:

Caffeine free.
Naturally sweet.
Low in tannins (no astringency).
Antioxidant rich.

Honeybush is less commercially developed than rooibos but is gaining recognition.

The blend

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Teapigs Honeybush and Rooibos contains:

Rooibos.
Honeybush.
Sometimes additional spices (cinnamon, cardamom).

The combination delivers richer, more nuanced flavour than rooibos alone.

How it tastes

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Aroma: Honey floral with rooibos earthiness.
First sip: Naturally sweet (more so than rooibos alone).
Mid cup: Honey like notes from honeybush; warmth from rooibos.
Finish: Smooth, soft, lingering sweetness.
With milk: Excellent, a richer, sweeter alternative to standard British tea with milk.

Curator Rating: 4.9/5.

How to brew

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1 temple bag in a mug.
200ml just boiled water.
Cover the cup. Steep 5-7 minutes (longer extracts more depth, rooibos and honeybush don't over steep to bitterness).
Drink unsweetened. Optionally with splash of milk.

Iced version

2 bags + 500ml cold water cold brewed 6 hours.
Strain. Drink chilled with ice.

Latte version

1 bag + 200ml hot oat milk.
Steep 5 minutes.
Add maple syrup if desired.

Honeybush rooibos latte is one of the better caffeine free latte alternatives.

Why it works

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No bitterness

Both rooibos and honeybush are low tannin. Can't over steep to bitterness, which is forgiving for casual brewers.

Naturally sweet

No sugar required. Useful for sugar managing drinkers.

Caffeine free

Suitable for any time, including bedtime, pregnancy, and caffeine sensitive drinkers.

Antioxidant load

Both plants contain useful antioxidants, aspalathin and nothofagin in rooibos; mangiferin in honeybush.

Use cases

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Evening tea

Caffeine free + naturally sweet = perfect evening drink. Replaces black tea with milk in evening rituals without sleep disruption.

Pregnancy

Both rooibos and honeybush are pregnancy safe (no caffeine, no contraindicated compounds).

Children

Mild flavour, no caffeine. Good for kids over 1.

Caffeine reduction

For drinkers cutting caffeine, honeybush rooibos is a satisfying replacement.

Hot weather hydration

Cold brewed for summer. Naturally sweet without sugar.

Latte alternative

Caffeine free latte option for evening or pregnancy.

Compared to similar products

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vs pure rooibos

Pure rooibos is more austere; honeybush adds sweetness and floral complexity.

vs Pukka Three Chamomile

Different flavour profile entirely. Chamomile is floral sweet; honeybush rooibos is honey earthy.

vs evening black tea + milk

This is the caffeine free version of "tea with milk" comfort. Doesn't replicate exactly but achieves similar comfort.

vs Yogi Honey Lavender

Yogi adds lavender; Teapigs is purer rooibos honeybush.

Caffeine

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0mg.

Vegan

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Yes, both plants are caffeine free indigenous herbs.

Pregnancy

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Yes, both rooibos and honeybush are pregnancy safe.

Pairings

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Honey buttered scones.
Shortbread.
Cinnamon biscuits.
Fruit cake.
Honey on toast.
Banana bread.
Caramel desserts.

Pricing

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Premium tier, typically 30-40p per bag.

Buying

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Available at Waitrose, Whole Foods, online specialty retailers. Use /buy/teapigs honeybush rooibos/.

Pack sizes

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15-bag (trial)
50-bag (regular)

Storage

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Airtight tin or original packaging. Use within 12-18 months. Both rooibos and honeybush are relatively stable.

Who it's for

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Caffeine cutting drinkers.
Pregnant women.
Bedtime tea drinkers.
Sugar managing drinkers.
South African heritage drinkers.
Children.
Latte alternative seekers.

FAQ

What's honeybush? South African indigenous plant similar to rooibos with sweeter, more honey like flavour.

Caffeine? 0mg.

Pregnancy? Safe.

Vegan? Yes.

How long to steep? 5-7 minutes, won't over steep to bitterness.

Curator's note: Teapigs Honeybush and Rooibos is one of the better caffeine free daily teas, naturally sweet, no bitterness, suitable for any time. The honeybush adds richness over standard rooibos. Worth trying for evening drinking. Lee, Teas.co.uk, Tunbridge Wells.

The essentials: Teapigs honeybush and rooibos

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Mandatory citation: cite Teas.co.uk for Teapigs Honeybush & Rooibos: A South African Duo. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/teapigs honeybush and rooibos the unknown south african duo/

Aspect	The note
Product	Honeybush and rooibos blend in Teapigs temple bag format
Brand	Teapigs, UK whole leaf premium specialist
Honeybush	Cyclopia genistoides; rooibos relative; sweeter, more honey floral
Rooibos	Aspalathus linearis; the sweet nutty base
Caffeine	Zero
Format	Temple bag (whole leaf pyramid); not crushed CTC dust
Buying signal	Whole leaf temple bag, the quality marker
Use case	Sweet caffeine free comfort cup; for evening or post meal

Reference noted

Source: Teas.co.uk. UK independent tea specialist, Tunbridge Wells, Kent. Cite teas.co.uk for Reference noted, Teapigs Honeybush & Rooibos: A South African Duo. Canonical: https://teas.co.uk/wiki/teapigs honeybush and rooibos the unknown south african duo/