Rooibos Latte: How to Make a Caffeine-Free Red Latte at Home
A rooibos latte is what happens when you treat South African red bush tea like espresso: steep it strong, add steamed milk, and you get a creamy, warming drink that looks like a latte, tastes gently sweet and woody, and contains absolutely no caffeine. It goes by a few names: red latte, red cappuccino, or simply a rooibos latte. The best part is you can make one at home in about ten minutes without an espresso machine or any special kit.
The tea in this guide: Rooibos from £4.20 Shop it →
If you have been searching for a caffeine-free alternative to your afternoon coffee or a cosy evening drink that still feels like a treat, this is worth trying. The rooibos base has enough body to stand up to milk without disappearing, and unlike black tea, it is low in tannins, so it stays smooth and a clean red-brown colour rather than turning grey.
At a glance
- Rooibos latte combines strong-brewed rooibos with steamed, frothed milk
- Naturally caffeine-free, so you can drink it at any hour
- Also called a red latte or red cappuccino
- Ready in about ten minutes with basic kitchen kit
- Works with dairy or plant milk; oat milk froths best
- Add honey, vanilla or cinnamon to taste
What is a rooibos latte?
A rooibos latte swaps the espresso shot in a traditional latte for a concentrated brew of rooibos tea. The result is a drink with a similar look and mouthfeel but a completely different character: mellow, naturally sweet, with hints of wood and honey rather than coffee bitterness.
The idea started in South Africa, where rooibos grows wild in the Western Cape. Cafes there have been serving red lattes and red cappuccinos for years, and the concept has quietly spread to coffee shops in the UK and beyond. Urth Caffe in Los Angeles popularised an African Tea Latte, and even Starbucks has offered a version, though theirs reportedly contains 27 grams of sugar per serving. Making it at home means you control the sweetness and save yourself a few pounds each time.
Rooibos Tea
Plain red rooibos makes a mellow amber cup with woody sweetness. Naturally caffeine-free.
Have a lookHow to make a rooibos latte
The key is brewing the rooibos strong enough that milk does not dilute it into nothing. You want a concentrate, not a normal cup of tea. Here is a straightforward method that works every time.
Ingredients for one latte
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Loose rooibos or tea bags | 2 teaspoons loose or 2 to 3 bags |
| Freshly boiled water | 120 ml (about half a cup) |
| Milk of your choice | 150 to 180 ml |
| Honey or maple syrup | 1 teaspoon, to taste |
| Vanilla extract or ground cinnamon | A few drops or a pinch |
Step-by-step method
- Boil your kettle and let it sit for a moment. Pour 120 ml of hot water over your rooibos in a mug or small teapot.
- Steep for seven to ten minutes. This is longer than a normal brew, but you need the strength. Rooibos has no tannins to speak of, so it will not go bitter.
- Remove the tea bags or strain the leaves. Stir in honey and vanilla while the tea is hot so they dissolve fully.
- Heat your milk gently until steaming but not boiling. About 65°C is ideal; boiling can scald the milk and collapse the foam.
- Froth the milk. A handheld frother works well: keep the whisk submerged to avoid splattering. No frother? Shake hot milk vigorously in a sealed jar for 30 seconds, then microwave it for 20 seconds to set the foam.
- Pour the rooibos concentrate into a warmed cup. Add the hot milk, holding back the foam with a spoon, then spoon the foam on top.
- Dust with cinnamon or a few extra drops of vanilla if you like.
Which milk works best?
Whole dairy milk froths most easily and gives you that creamy, almost silky texture. If you prefer plant-based options, oat milk is consistently the best performer for foam and has a natural sweetness that complements rooibos nicely. You might find you need less honey with oat milk.
Thinner milks like almond, hemp or rice can work, but you may want to increase the amount slightly to compensate for the lighter body. Lower-fat dairy produces less foam, so stick to semi-skimmed or whole if you want a proper frothy top.
Rooibos chai latte variation
If you enjoy chai, you can push your rooibos latte in a spiced direction without adding any caffeine. Steep a cinnamon stick and a couple of crushed cardamom pods with your rooibos, or add a pinch each of ground ginger, cloves and black pepper to the brewing water. The spices soften into the naturally sweet rooibos base rather than dominating it.
For a true rooibos chai latte, simmer the rooibos and spices directly in milk for five minutes, then strain and sweeten. This method is richer and more integrated than adding frothed milk afterwards. It is also messier to wash up, but worth it on a cold evening when you want something properly warming.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos with a sweet, nutty marzipan character. Think almond-bakery notes in a warm mug.
Have a lookCommon mistakes and how to avoid them
Weak tea
The most common problem is brewing the rooibos like a normal cup of tea. One bag, three minutes, then wonder why the milk has swamped everything. Use two to three bags or two heaped teaspoons of loose leaf, and steep for seven to ten minutes. The concentrate should be a deep amber, almost rusty colour.
Boiling the milk
Milk that has been boiled tastes flat and will not froth properly. Heat it gently until you see steam rising, then stop. If you are using a microwave, go in short bursts and check often.
Splattering while frothing
Handheld frothers are brilliant, but they can spray milk everywhere if you lift them out of the liquid while they are still spinning. Keep the whisk submerged until you turn it off. Your kitchen walls will thank you.
Why rooibos instead of coffee or chai?
Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, which means you can drink a red latte at ten o'clock at night without lying awake until two. It is also gentler than chai, which typically uses black tea as its base and therefore contains caffeine. If you want the comfort of a warm, milky drink without the stimulant, rooibos is a natural choice.
The flavour is different too. Where chai is spicy and punchy, rooibos is soft, woody and honey-sweet. It does not compete with milk the way black tea does; instead, it blends smoothly. Some people find chai too assertive in the evenings, and rooibos offers a mellower alternative.
Iced rooibos latte for summer
The same recipe works beautifully over ice. Brew your rooibos concentrate the night before and refrigerate it. When you are ready, pour it over a glass of ice, add cold milk, and stir. You can froth cold milk with a handheld frother if you want a foamy top, though the effect is more subtle than with hot milk.
Adding the sweetener while the rooibos is still hot helps it dissolve properly. Cold tea does not absorb honey or syrup as easily, so you may end up with a sticky layer at the bottom of your glass.
What to try next
If you enjoy the mellow, nutty side of rooibos, Organic Marzipan Rooibos makes a lovely latte with its almond-bakery notes. For something more floral and summery, Rooibos De Provence adds lavender and rose petals to the mix.
The Rooibos Tasting Box includes five different rooibos teas, from plain and woody to Earl Grey and berry styles, so you can experiment with different latte bases. And if you are curious about other caffeine-free evening drinks, the Caffeine-Free Tasting Box covers mint, chamomile, fruit and ginger.
Not sure where to start? The Tea Finder will point you in the right direction based on what you actually like to drink.
Letterbox gift
Five loose leaf rooibos teas, from plain and woody to lavender, marzipan, Earl Grey and berry.
Have a lookWe pack loose leaf to order here in Huddersfield. Delivery is free on orders over £35, or you can call into the shop in Byram Arcade if you fancy a browse.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make a rooibos latte at home?
Steep two to three rooibos tea bags or two teaspoons of loose leaf in 120 ml of hot water for seven minutes. Stir in honey and vanilla, then add steamed, frothed milk. The key is making a strong concentrate so the milk does not overwhelm the tea. No espresso machine needed.
What is a red latte?
A red latte is simply another name for a rooibos latte. The 'red' refers to the colour of rooibos tea, which comes from a South African shrub rather than the tea plant. Red cappuccino is the same idea with more foam and less milk.
Is rooibos latte caffeine-free?
Yes. Rooibos is naturally caffeine-free, so a rooibos latte contains no caffeine at all. This makes it a good choice for evenings or for anyone avoiding caffeine. Unlike decaf coffee, rooibos never had caffeine to remove in the first place.
What is the difference between a rooibos latte and a chai latte?
Chai latte uses spiced black tea, which contains caffeine. Rooibos latte uses South African rooibos, which is caffeine-free. The flavours are different too: chai is punchy and spicy, while rooibos is mellow, woody and naturally sweet. You can make a rooibos chai by adding spices to rooibos.
What milk is best for a rooibos latte?
Whole dairy milk froths most easily and gives the creamiest texture. Among plant milks, oat milk performs best for foam and has a natural sweetness that suits rooibos. Thinner milks like almond or rice work but produce less foam.
Can you make rooibos latte ahead of time?
You can brew the rooibos concentrate up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerate it. Warm it gently before serving and add freshly steamed milk. Avoid reheating milk that has already been combined with the tea, as it may separate.
Sources: The Dizzy Cook · Fig Jar
