I Stopped Taking Sugar in My Rooibos – Here’s What Happened

It started as a dare—not the loud kind shouted across a room, but a quiet challenge I made to myself one sleepy morning. The kettle was boiling, and I stood at the counter, rooibos teabag in my cup, hand hovering over the sugar bowl. I’d been adding two teaspoons to every cup of tea for years. And while I’d always brushed it off—“It’s just tea,” I’d say—I was drinking up to five cups a day. That morning, for no dramatic reason, I left the sugar out. I expected nothing to change. But I was wrong.

The first sip was… strange. Not terrible, just unfamiliar. Without the sugar, the taste of rooibos came through more clearly—earthy, warm, slightly nutty. It had a kind of quiet confidence I’d never noticed before. For a moment, I missed the sweetness, like a small comfort I hadn’t realised I depended on. But by the third or fourth sip, something clicked. My taste buds adjusted—and fast.

By the end of the week, I preferred it plain. Not in a “well, I’ll get used to it” kind of way—I genuinely liked it better. It no longer felt like I was drinking sweetened water with a hint of tea. I was actually tasting the rooibos for what it was. Each cup revealed something new: a light floral note here, a soft smokiness there. Turns out, without the sugar, the tea had been hiding in plain sight all along.

Then something unexpected happened: my cravings began to shift. That 3 p.m. biscuit I used to sneak in with my tea? I didn’t want it anymore. My usual urge for a late-night chocolate or sugary snack faded. I wasn’t forcing anything; I just didn’t feel like I needed it. My energy during the day started to feel more balanced—no sugar highs, no foggy crashes. I even noticed I was less irritable in the afternoons.

Sleep got better too. Not dramatically—I wasn’t passing out the second my head hit the pillow—but I was waking up less in the middle of the night. My skin started to look a little clearer. Maybe coincidence, maybe not—but I was happy with it either way.

Of course, there were the curious looks. Friends would offer me tea and instinctively reach for the sugar. “No sugar?” they’d ask, almost concerned. “Are you cutting carbs or something?” I’d laugh it off and explain. A few of them tried it too. And just like me, some of them were surprised to find they didn’t miss the sugar after all.

This isn’t about preaching or shaming sweet tea lovers. Rooibos with sugar is still a classic, and if that’s what makes you happy, go for it. But if you’ve ever wondered what your favourite tea tastes like without all the extras, maybe give it a try. You might be surprised by what you’ve been missing.

Sometimes, one small choice—like skipping the sugar—can wake up your taste buds in more ways than one.