Is rooibos an acquired taste?

[Chester Copperpot]

I've loved rooibos tea (both green and red versions) since I first tried it, so I don't know if it's an acquired taste, but it's definitely to my taste! I will say that I'm not really a fan of black teas (I don't mind flavored black tea so much) and I prefer green and herbals in addition to rooibos. Not sure if that has anything to do with it.

[Artemis]

Rooibos has a cardboard-like taste to me. I keep trying it and I keep not liking it. If it is an acquired taste, I have yet to acquire it.

I'm in the same boat and I tried both roobios and honeybush teas. I really want to like it, but somehow, it's just not happening for me.

[Sam.]

I think it really is hit or miss, like so many other teas. I really enjoy it and drink it just once or twice a week when it's late at night but I still want something. I drink both red and green depending on whether I want a fuller, more nutty taste or a thin and lightly sweet taste.

[Artemis]

I tried again and it seems to be growing on me a little bit. Right now, it's my "last resort tea" for when I run out of herbal.

[braven]

Plain rooibos isn't an acquired taste, but rooibos jasmine IS.

[Amaikokonut]

I'm having a hard time getting used to rooibos myself. I have this whole sampler of it (received as a christmas gift) and I really don't want to let it go to waste, but something about it just tastes... very medicinal to me. Like I'm drinking some kind of tribal vision quest serum (which then inspires me to go make a rooibos blend with that name, until I realize I would probably never drink it, hah).

I'll just keep at it. Maybe it'll grow on me eventually. But does anyone else feel that it tastes like cough syrup or something? I've just never seen it described that way by others, so maybe it's just me.

[msurads06]

I dont like plain red rooibos, but some of the flavored rooibos that i have tried are ok. I also tried honey bush and to me it tastes even worse than plain rooibos. I managed to finish off the 1/2 oz sample by adding lots of cinnamon and nutmeg, but dont think i will try either plain again. I kind of liked the vanilla and i have a chocolate right now that is drinkable. I use them as "desert teas" and for late at night. still loking for a rooibos blend that i really like. maybe i will eventually acquire a taste for plain, but it hasnt happened yet.

[LauraW]

I haven't taken a liking to them, but my roomate adores them. Flavored or not, there's a taste to it that I can't get used to - I wouldn't say cough syrup exactly, but certainly not too far off. Next time she has some I'll sneak a bit and try to figure out what aspect it is that I don't like. If I do, I'll post it here.

Maybe it's an acquired taste, not sure. I've tried it close to a dozen times, and it's not getting any better for me.

[chai]

I have always liked rooibos! So for me it's nothing I had to get used to.

[Devoted135]

I haven't taken a liking to them, but my roomate adores them. Flavored or not, there's a taste to it that I can't get used to - I wouldn't say cough syrup exactly, but certainly not too far off. Next time she has some I'll sneak a bit and try to figure out what aspect it is that I don't like. If I do, I'll post it here.

Maybe it's an acquired taste, not sure. I've tried it close to a dozen times, and it's not getting any better for me.

I HATED the rooibos I got at the grocery store many years ago now. Cough syrup wouldn't be a bad description. Fast forward to 2012, I got to have some while in South Africa and discovered what it's *supposed* to taste like. Now I love it during the evening when I'm not willing to risk the caffeine that comes with oolong. So, where does your roommate get hers from?

[GreenwoodStudio]

I have a hard time with caffeine these days so rooibos has been kind of my go to tea. I liked it right off the bat. The flavored ones do not sound appealing to me at all, yuck. I would be interested in hearing about favorite sources for unadulterated rooibos if anyone has any favorite vendors