Cistus Tea (Rock Rose)

Cistus tea, also called rock rose, comes from Cistus incanus, a low Mediterranean shrub whose leaves are coated in fragrant resin. It brews a warm amber cup, lightly spicy and a little resinous, with no caffeine at all. It is closer to a proper herbal infusion than a fruit tea, and it takes honey and lemon well. Key Benefits Naturally caffeine free: fine at any hour, including late in the evening. Certified organic: grown without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. High in polyphenols: the leaves are one of the richer plant sources of ellagitannins, which is where the astringent edge comes from. Distinctive flavour: resinous and lightly spicy rather than floral, and it holds up well to a long steep. Long Mediterranean tradition: an everyday herbal drink around the Mediterranean for a very long time. Doubles as a rinse: the cooled tea has traditionally been used as a skin wash and a gargle. How to Use Use one to two teaspoons per cup, pour over boiling water and steep for 5 to 7 minutes. A longer steep makes it fuller and more astringent rather than bitter, so 10 minutes is fine if you like it strong. Some people go further and steep a whole pot for 20 minutes or more. It blends nicely. Peppermint lifts the resinous note, Lemon Balm softens it, and a few Rose Hips add fruit and colour. Let a cooled cup double as a skin rinse or a gargle if you like. Good to Know The same shrub gives us labdanum, the sticky resin used in perfumery for its warm amber note. It was traditionally collected by combing it out of the coats of goats that had browsed through the bushes. Greek and Roman writers valued that resin highly, and it still stands in for ambergris in modern perfume. Rock rose is not a rose. The flowers are papery and crumpled and last a single morning, which is why you never see it sold as a cut flower. Cistus is high in tannins, so it is best taken away from iron supplements and iron rich meals. A very strong brew can be hard on an empty stomach. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use, especially if pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medication.