Just for Fun: The story of Rooibos starts in South Africa's beautiful Cedarberg region. It was the locals of the area who first discovered that the fine needle like leaves of the wild 'Aspalathus Linearis' plant made a tasty aromatic tea. They harvested the plants, chopped them with axes and bruised them with hammers leaving them to ferment before drying in the sun. Rooibos seeds are planted during February and March. They are tended for 18 months after which they are harvested. Cut Rooibos is bound and milled to a uniform length then bruised between rollers to trigger the fermentation process, which results in the characteristic flavor and sweet aroma. Rooibos is a caffeine free herb that is consumed as an herbal tea by people all around the world. Those that consume Rooibos have claimed that it has a soothing effect on headaches, disturbed sleeping patterns and digestive problems. 200 ml (about 7 ounces) of brewed Rooibos contains the following nutrients: Iron (Fe), Essential for transport of oxygen in the blood, 0.07 mg. Potassium (K), Assists certain metabolic functions, 7.12 mg. Calcium (Ca), Necessary for strong teeth and bones, 1.09 mg. Copper (Cu), Assists certain metabolic processes, 0.07 mg. Zinc (Zn), Necessary for normal growth and development of healthy skin, 0.04 mg. Magnesium (Mg), Assists a healthy nervous system and other metabolic processes, 1.57 mg. Fluoride (F), Necessary for strong teeth and bones, 0.22 mg. Manganese (Mn), Assists metabolic processes and bone growth and development, 0.04 mg. Sodium (Na),Necessary for fluid and acid-base balance, 6.16 mg.