What Is Rooibos Orange Citrus? A Refreshing Caffeine-Free Tea with Bright Citrus Aroma

A bright orange aroma rises gently from the cup. Fresh notes of lemon and lemongrass follow, before giving way to the soft, mellow character of rooibos.

If you enjoy fresh citrus aromas, Tea Total’s Rooibos Orange Citrus is a blend well worth discovering.

It offers a generous orange aroma with a clean, refreshing finish. Enjoy it hot when you want to take your time with the fragrance, or pour it over plenty of ice for a bright and refreshing iced tea.

Rooibos is also naturally caffeine-free, making this blend easy to enjoy at different times of the day — from breakfast and afternoon tea to a relaxed cup after dinner.

In this guide, we’ll explore what Rooibos Orange Citrus is, how it differs from orange tea and fruit tea, its flavour and aroma, caffeine, and some delicious ways to enjoy it hot, iced, with honey and more.

What Is Rooibos Orange Citrus?

Rooibos Orange Citrus is a flavoured rooibos tea that combines a rooibos base with the fresh aromas of orange and lemon.

Tea Total’s “Rooibos Orange Citrus Organic” is created by New Zealand tea brand Tea Total and combines South African rooibos with lemongrass, orange peel, lemon peel and natural flavouring.

Tea Total describes the blend as using organic ingredients including rooibos, lemongrass, orange peel and lemon peel.

The star of this tea is undoubtedly its bright, orange-led citrus aroma.

The lively fragrance of orange is balanced by fresh lemon and the light herbal character of lemongrass, creating a refreshing and easy-drinking cup.

What Is Rooibos?

Rooibos is a drink made from Aspalathus linearis, a leguminous plant native to South Africa.

It comes from a different plant from Camellia sinensis, which is used to make black tea, green tea and oolong tea, and is commonly enjoyed as a herbal infusion.

One of the distinctive features of rooibos is that the plant is naturally caffeine-free.

Where Does Rooibos Get Its Reddish-Brown Colour?

When many people think of rooibos tea, they picture its beautiful reddish-brown infusion.

The rooibos leaves are not naturally red from the beginning.

During processing, oxidation helps create the familiar reddish-brown colour and the mellow flavour associated with traditional rooibos.

Green rooibos is also made from the same plant, but oxidation is kept to a minimum, resulting in differences in colour and flavour.

The soft character of rooibos also pairs well with a wide variety of flavours, including vanilla, spices, bergamot and fruit.

How Is It Different from Orange Tea or Fruit Tea?

When you hear “orange tea,” you may picture black tea flavoured with orange.

Rooibos Orange Citrus is a rooibos-based tea designed to highlight fresh citrus aromas.

The soft character of rooibos combines with orange and lemon aromas to create a light and refreshing flavour profile.

It is a particularly appealing choice when you feel like something fresh, citrusy and easy to drink.

How Orange, Lemon and Lemongrass Create a Refreshing Flavour

One of the interesting things about this blend is that its “citrus” character comes from several different aromatic ingredients rather than a single flavour.

Orange Peel | Bright and Lively Aroma

Orange peel is the outer peel of the orange fruit.

It offers a fragrant character that differs from orange juice, helping create the bright and inviting orange aroma you notice as you bring the cup closer.

Lemon Peel | Fresh Citrus Definition

Lemon peel adds a crisp, refreshing edge to the fuller aroma of orange.

It brings a lighter quality to the blend and helps create its clean citrus character.

Lemongrass | Light Herbal Freshness

Lemongrass is a member of the grass family and is known for its fresh, lemon-like aroma.

It adds a light herbal note to the orange and lemon aromas.

Bright orange, refreshing lemon and clean, aromatic lemongrass.

Together, these three elements sit beautifully over the mellow rooibos base, creating a refreshing and approachable orange-led blend.

A Citrus Tea That Focuses on Aroma

The words “orange” and “lemon” may make you imagine a strongly tart drink.

What stands out most in this blend is the fresh aroma of orange and lemon rather than a juice-like sharpness.

The first impression is bright orange, followed by lighter notes of lemon and lemongrass, with the mellow character of rooibos lingering at the finish.

It offers a different way to enjoy rooibos, with aroma taking centre stage.

Naturally Caffeine-Free and Easy to Enjoy Throughout the Day

Tea Total Rooibos Orange Citrus is a caffeine-free blend.

Rooibos comes from a different plant from black or green tea and naturally contains no caffeine.

Enjoy a fresh cup with breakfast, serve it during afternoon tea, or take your time with its citrus aroma after dinner.

The ability to choose it according to your mood and the time of day is one of the pleasures of rooibos tea.

Naturally Caffeine-Free Rather Than Decaffeinated

Decaf generally refers to products such as coffee or tea that originally contain caffeine and have had most of it removed.

Rooibos naturally contains no caffeine, so it can be enjoyed as a naturally caffeine-free drink from the start.

How Is It Different from Rooibos Earl Grey?

Although both belong to Tea Total’s rooibos range, Rooibos Earl Grey and Rooibos Orange Citrus have noticeably different aroma profiles.

Choose Rooibos Earl Grey when you feel like enjoying the elegant and distinctive aroma of bergamot.

Choose Rooibos Orange Citrus when you want a brighter, more orange-led aroma with a fresh citrus character.

Tasting the two side by side is also a great way to discover just how much the aroma can change the character of the same rooibos base.

How to Brew Tea Total Rooibos Orange Citrus

The basic brewing method is simple.

Use one teaspoon per approximately 250ml of water.
Add freshly boiled water and steep for 3–5 minutes before removing the tea leaves.

For your first cup, try it straight.

Take a moment to enjoy the orange aroma rising from the cup and notice how the lemon, lemongrass and rooibos come together.

A 100g bag makes approximately 40 cups according to Tea Total’s serving guide, giving you plenty of opportunities to enjoy it in different ways throughout the seasons.

3 Ways to Enjoy It, Depending on Your Mood

1. Iced Tea for a Light, Refreshing Cup

If you want to bring out the refreshing character of this blend, iced tea is a wonderful way to enjoy it.

The aromas of orange and lemon combine beautifully with chilled rooibos, creating a lighter and fresher impression than the hot version.

Simply brew the tea slightly stronger than usual and pour it over a glass filled generously with ice.

Add a slice of orange or lemon for an extra touch of colour and aroma. The reddish-brown rooibos and bright citrus slices look especially inviting in a clear glass.

It is especially enjoyable on a warm afternoon or whenever you feel like something light and refreshing rather than a sweet drink.

If preparing iced tea in advance, use a clean container, store it in the refrigerator and enjoy it as soon as reasonably possible.

2. Add Honey for a Gentle Sweetness

When you feel like a little sweetness, honey pairs beautifully with this blend.

Simply brew Rooibos Orange Citrus and stir in your preferred amount of honey.

The gentle sweetness complements the fresh orange and lemon aromas and gives the tea a softer character.

Enjoy it warm in winter, or dissolve the honey first and then pour the tea over ice in summer. It is an easy way to adapt the blend to the season.

※ Honey should not be given to children under 12 months of age.

3. Make It Sparkling with Soda Water

For something a little different, try combining the tea with sparkling water.

Brew Rooibos Orange Citrus slightly stronger than usual, allow it to cool completely, then pour it over ice and top with soda water.

Add orange or lemon for a bright and elegant tea mocktail-style drink.

Enjoy it unsweetened for a crisp finish, or add a little honey if you prefer a softer sweetness.

Tea Total: A New Zealand Tea Brand

Tea Total is a New Zealand tea brand established in 1995.

Today, the brand offers more than 150 teas across a wide range of styles, including black tea, green tea, rooibos, herbal tea and fruit tea.

At the heart of Tea Total is the idea of “everyday luxury.”

Its teas are designed not only for special occasions, but also for the everyday moments that make up our routines — breakfast, a break from work, after a meal or a quiet evening at home.

Rooibos Orange Citrus is one of those Tea Total blends that lets you choose your tea by aroma and mood.

Who Might Enjoy Rooibos Orange Citrus?

• Anyone who enjoys the aroma of orange, lemon and other citrus fruits
• Those who like light and refreshing rooibos teas
• Anyone interested in trying a flavoured alternative to plain rooibos
• Those looking to add a caffeine-free tea to their tea routine
• Anyone who enjoys both hot and iced tea
• Those who like experimenting with different seasonal tea variations

It is particularly worth trying if you are looking for a light rooibos tea with a generous, bright orange aroma.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rooibos Orange Citrus

Q1. What Does Rooibos Orange Citrus Taste Like?

It combines the soft flavour of rooibos with a bright, orange-led citrus aroma.

Lemon and lemongrass add a fresh, clean quality that gives the blend a light and refreshing character.

Q2. Does It Contain Caffeine?

Rooibos is a plant that naturally contains no caffeine. Tea Total Rooibos Orange Citrus is therefore a caffeine-free blend that can be enjoyed at different times of the day.

Q3. Can I Make It as Iced Tea?

Yes. Its fresh orange and lemon aromas work especially well over ice.

Brew it slightly stronger than usual to account for the dilution from melting ice.

Q4. Can I Add Honey?

Yes. Honey adds a gentle sweetness that complements the citrus aroma.

Try the tea straight first, then add sweetness to suit your own preference.

Summary | A Bright, Refreshing Rooibos Tea with Orange Aroma

Rooibos Orange Citrus is a flavoured rooibos tea that combines South African rooibos with orange peel, lemon peel and lemongrass.

What stands out most is its bright and refreshing orange-led citrus aroma.

The mellow flavour of rooibos is lifted by the fresh character of lemon and lemongrass, creating a light and easy-drinking cup.

Enjoy it hot when you want to take your time with the orange aroma.

Serve it over plenty of ice when you feel like something cool and refreshing.

Add honey for a softer sweetness, or top it with sparkling water for a lively tea mocktail-style drink.

“I feel like something fresh and refreshing today.”
Rooibos Orange Citrus is the kind of tea you may find yourself reaching for on exactly those days.

※ This article provides general information about rooibos, orange peel, lemon peel, lemongrass and ways to enjoy tea.