Researchers in South Africa brew up a refreshing new feed additive for fish – rooibos tea

What's New21 Aug 2025by Robert Outram

Rooibos tea

Rooibos tea – derived from the rooibos plant (Aspalathus linearis) has long been seen as a healthy alternative to tea and coffee, for humans. Now, scientists at Walter Sisulu University, South Africa, have shown that it can benefit fish, too.

The study involved adding rooibos extracts to feed for larval stage tilapia, resulting in improved feed utilisation and growth. It concluded that while the extracts did not substantially change overall macronutrient and mineral percentages, they likely introduced other beneficial qualities, such as improved digestibility, altered nutrient bioavailability, or the presence of bioactive compounds.

(Okuthe, G. et al. 2025. Functional Feed for Tilapia: Exploring the Benefits of Aspalathus linearis Tea Extract. Biology 2025, 14(7), 778).

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