Durban - A rooibos cocktail movement has taken over bars across the world’s capitals.
Popular rooibos-inspired cocktails on drinks menus include gin and rooibos, bush tea and tequila and a muddle of berries, vermouth, rooibos and crushed ice, which makes for the perfect summer cooler.
According to experts, bartenders are moving away from overly complex mixes and are creating interesting flavours with a few key ingredients, such as rooibos.
Iced rooibos tea cocktail
(above left)
60ml Rooibos espresso tea
30ml cherry vodka
15 ml milk
½ cup of ice
Cherries to garnish
In a glass add rooibos espresso, cherry vodka, and ice. Stir mixture then add milk. Garnish with cherries.
Strawberry punch
750ml strong, cold rooibos
1 litre apple juice
1 litre granadilla or passion fruit juice
1 litre strawberry juice
2 bottles (750ml each) of sparkling red grape juice
1 punnet of strawberries, sliced
1 orange, sliced
Fresh mint leaves
Mix rooibos, apple, granadilla and strawberry juices and chill. Add chilled sparkling grape juice. Garnish with strawberries, orange and mint.
Rooibos sparkling cocktail
1 litre strong rooibos tea
160g white sugar (200ml)
1 litre orange juice
1 litre pineapple juice
1 bottle (750ml) sparkling wine
Crushed ice
1 orange, thinly sliced
Dissolve sugar in rooibos tea. Allow to cool. Add orange and pineapple juices and chill. Add chilled sparkling wine and crushed ice. Garnish with orange slices.
Ride the high country cocktail
45ml The Black Grouse (or other) Whiskey
30ml rooibos tea concentrate
150ml Cream Sherry
Orange Bitters
Combine all ingredients (except bitters) and shake over ice. Double strain and garnish with a dash of Orange Bitters.
Alyssia Birjalal, Sunday Tribune