ASPALA It should refer to the plant aspalathus linearis, from which rooibos tea is extracted. Rooibos, or 'red bush', often considered a tea, is actually an infusion. Strictly speaking, the only teas are those derived from camellia sinensis, but in Africa rooibos is considered a tea. That said, rooibos has a component called aspalatine, an antioxidant flavonoid that has hypoglycemic effects and can help stabilize blood sugar. Antioxidants can generate a beneficial effect to prevent strokes, arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases, and their anti-inflammatory effect can help decrease pain, as well as improve the condition of the skin.