Green/red Rooibos & Evaporated Cane Juice

Rooibos is an herbal tea made from the leaves of the *Aspalathus linearis* plant, native to South Africa. "Red" rooibos is fermented, while "green" rooibos is unfermented, offering different flavor profiles. Evaporated cane juice is a sweetener derived from sugarcane, produced by removing water from the juice to form crystals.

Rooibos is primarily used to make beverages and as a flavoring agent in foods. Evaporated cane juice is widely used as a sweetener in various foods and drinks, including kombucha and other beverages, providing a taste similar to refined sugar.

Rooibos is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for use in beverages, with no specific health concerns associated with its consumption at typical levels. Evaporated cane juice is considered an added sugar by the FDA. The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend no amount of added sugars, and at most 10 grams of added sugars per meal. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises limiting free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake.