If you're a Rooibos tea lover and haven't tried a Red Cappuccino yet, this is your chance to make one at home, the cheat's way. A cappuccino tea? Yes! Such a thing exists, and it's delicious!
Rooibos is known for it's high antioxidant content and has been linked to improved heart health, digestive health and better skin. Best of all this is a caffeine-free alternative to your normal cappuccino. It's satisfyingly creamy and flavourful. So, read on to find out how to make this delicious hot drink at home. We also list several ways how you can froth milk without an espresso machine or the need for any fancy equipment.
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What's to love about this recipe
- This is an easy, cheat's way to make a Red Cappuccino without an espresso machine or ground Rooibos espresso powder.
- It's a comforting, satisfying drink.
- Caffeine-free.
- Enjoy the many health benefits of Rooibos tea.
Key ingredient notes and substitutions
Rooibos tea - You can use either rooibos teabags or loose-leaf Rooibos. The latter is of higher quality, so let it be your first choice if you have it available.
Here in the UK, we have to make do with just making a super strong 'Rooibos espresso' with teabags, but it works great! Apologies to any Red Cappuccino aficionados reading this post, sometimes needs must.
Milk - Use full fat or semi skimmed milk if using dairy. You can also use soy, almond or oat milk. The ones with the higher fat content work better for frothing.
Sweetener - Use your favourite, whether that be honey (excellent with Rooibos!), sugar, brown sugar or none at all.
Cinnamon - Completely optional, but I can say as someone who doesn't really like cinnamon in hot drinks, it's surprisingly good with rooibos, but just a tiny pinch of it.
How to make Red Cappuccino
- Boil the water for the Red Cappuccino. If using mugs, pour it in.
- Place the teabags in mugs (2 x teabags per mug) or in a teapot and pour in the boiled water. If using loose-leaf, brew the tea in a teapot as you normally would and strain into the mugs when ready.
- Give the tea a stir and let it steep for a good 4 minutes, or until you have a very strong tea.
- Start frothing the milk with your desired method until the milk has doubled in volume.
See blog post further down for ideas on how to froth milk without an espresso machine. - Remove the teabags from the mugs or if using a teapot, pour the tea into the mugs. We are using a 50/50 ratio of tea to milk, so don't go over the halfway line in the mugs to allow enough room for the milk.
- Slowly pour the milk onto the tea and scoop any leftover foam on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon if you wish and serve with your desired sweetener.
How to froth milk
Here are some ways to froth milk without an espresso machine or a speciality milk frother.
Electric hand mixer
Heat the milk in a saucepan and whisk the milk with the whisk attachments until doubled in volume.
A French press
This is a really effective way of frothing milk and provides an excellent froth. Simply pour the hot milk into the French press, put the lid on and pump vigorously for about 15-20 seconds. Careful not to over-fill the container as the milk will double in volume.
A lidded jar
Pour the hot milk in a jar, careful not to overfill, place the lid on tightly and shake like a madman until the milk has doubled in volume. Don't burn your hands, so use oven gloves or a cloth to hold the jar. This doesn't give you the best of froth, so try one of the other methods instead if you have the equipment.
Frothing wand
These are handy little things for all sorts of kitchen jobs. They are battery operated and quite delicate looking, but they are very effective at making a good quality froth (if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's the device shown further up in the ingredients photo).
A pump frother
I have fond memories of using a pump frother for 'making milkshakes' when I was a child, so they've been around for a while! It's very similar to a French press and pretty much does the same job with frothing.
A stick blender
Otherwise known as an immersion blender. Just ensure you use a really deep container for the milk because it does spray the milk around a fair bit. Pump the blender up and down in the milk until the milk has doubled in volume.
A blender
You can use a standard kitchen jug-style blender or anything that will make a smoothie.
Whisking with a hand whisk
This method requires some elbow grease, but you can achieve froth with a hand whisk, the quality is just not as good as the other methods.
Rotating push whisk
A rotating push whisk is a contraption made with strong, thick wire. As you push down on it, the whisk head rotates. It's entirely mechanical and quite an innovative little device, and cheap. Delivers pretty good froth.
The skin benefits of Rooibos tea
Without sounding like a TV ad for a skincare product, here are some excellent reasons why Rooibos is really good for your skin. In South Africa you will find several skin care houses making Rooibos tea products. You can even just rinse your face in it!
- High antioxidant content - Protects skin cells from damage caused by free radicals.
- Rich in alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) - Helps exfoliate and improve your skin's texture.
- Anti-inflammatory properties - Soothes skin irritations such as acne or eczema.
- Naturally caffeine-free - It won't dehydrate your skin like caffeine-containing beverages can.
Other health benefits of Rooibos tea
- Rich in antioxidants - May help protect against chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
- Anti-inflammatory properties - May help reduce inflammation throughout the body and alleviate symptoms of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
- High in vitamin C - May help support the immune system.
- Low in tannins - Tannins can interfere with iron absorption, making it a good choice for people with iron deficiencies.
- Excellent for digestion - Rooibos tea may help improve digestion and relieve digestive issues such as nausea, constipation, and diarrhoea. Good for babies with upset tummies.
- Anti-allergenic properties - May help alleviate symptoms of allergies and asthma.
Other drinks you might enjoy
Treats to enjoy with your Red Cappuccino
Recipes that go with Red Cappuccino
3-Ingredient scones with lemonade
Cornflake tart with a custard layer
Coconut tart with a lemon syrup
Condensed milk choc chip cookies
Recipe
Red Cappuccino - Rooibos tea cappuccino
Equipment you may need
- 1 milk frother of choice see blog post on how to froth milk without an espresso machine
Ingredients
- 4 rooibos teabags - or 4 heaped teaspoons of loose-leaf Rooibos
- 250 millilitre boiling water
- 250 millilitre semi-skimmed or full fat milk
- Optional: Sweetener of choice like honey, sugar etc
- Optional: Ground cinnamon for sprinkling
Instructions
- Place the teabags in mugs (2 x teabags per mug), or in a teapot, and pour in the boiled water. If using loose-leaf, brew the tea in a teapot as you normally would and strain into the mugs when ready. Give the tea a stir and let it steep for a good 4 minutes, or until you have a very strong tea.
- In the meantime, heat the milk. Don't boil it. The ideal temperature would be around 68℃/150℉. This will give you the best froth.
- Start frothing the milk with your desired method until the milk has doubled in volume. See blog post for ideas on how to froth milk without an espresso machine.
- Remove the teabags from the mugs, or if using a teapot, pour the tea into the mugs. We are using a 50/50 ratio of tea to milk, so don't go over the halfway line in the mugs to allow enough room for the milk.
- Slowly pour the milk onto the tea and scoop any leftover foam on top. Sprinkle with cinnamon if you wish and serve with your desired sweetener.
**Nutritional data disclaimer**
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is calculated by a third party and we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We try our best to give you the most accurate information, but we do not take responsibility for errors that may be present. Also, the nutritional value of the recipe may change depending on the exact brands and products used. We recommend that you consult with a qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalised advice on your dietary needs.
Nutrition
For food safety advice, including guidance on food allergies
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