86
drank Cistus Black by Verdant Tea (Special)
2171 tasting notes

It’s been a while since I’ve had this one, but I’ve got to say . . . WOW. Glancing briefly at past notes – I was put off by the pungent smell, I thought it was very pretty (still do), and I rated the flavor as good but not great. This is the oldest black tea in my cabinet, dating back to my very first tea subscription box. Verdant was partnering with an essential oil company at the time (which sadly no longer exists according to their defunct website) and included in this blend an oil derived from the cistus plant. I do remember always having to look this one up because I can never remember what cistus is (forever thinking it’s a type of citrus) – it’s part of the rock rose family.

Funnily enough, I was just reading about rock rose in an article about native plants of North Lebanon. My great-grandparents came to the US from Lebanon in the early 1900s, and I’ve been trying to learn more about the region where they lived. Since starting my herbalism courses, I’ve been especially interested in learning about the plants in that area. I’m really intrigued by ancestral herbalism at the moment. So, what a fun coincidence that I would stumble across this tea years later and find that maybe I have some ancestral connection to this plant that grows throughout the Mediterranean. I guess I’m feeling nostalgic as I’m studying and learning this morning, though it’s nostalgia for a place I’ve never been.

Back to that WOW. The flavor definitely wowed me at that first sip. It was quite a surprise. I’m guessing the difference lies in my steeping method. The first notes I wrote about this tea followed the directions given by Verdant, but today I made it as I would any other black tea. I’m sure it’s a matter of preference, but I’m glad I tried this again and followed my gut instead of following the package. It’s been a really great experience.

Flavors: Floral

Preparation
195 °F / 90 °C 5 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
mrmopar

Always good to explore your heritage.

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mrmopar

Always good to explore your heritage.

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Bio

Lifetime student. Lover of books and paper and ink. Kitchen dweller. Aspiring herbalist, excessively proud cat lady, and tea fanatic. Thirty-something elder millennial. She/her.

I love flavored black teas most of all, always with cream and honey. I enjoy floral and fruity teas, as well as flavored or scented ones. I’m not overly fond of green or white teas, but I’ve found a few that I enjoy.

I’m open to tea swaps and/or just sharing what’s in my tea cabinet! Please reach out if you see something I have that you’d like to try. I do my best to update my cupboard regularly.

Favorites
Any and all black teas, smoky teas, raspberry, strawberry, red fruits, bergamot, chai spices, floral teas, caramel/toffee, jasmine, rose, vanilla, peaches, plums, valerian root, cinnamon, cardamom

Not a huge fan
White teas, green teas, artificial sweeteners, sarsaparilla, licorice, lemongrass, lavender, hot hibiscus, hibiscus in black tea blends

Rating Scale

1-20: By far, one of the worst teas I’ve tasted. I most certainly will not finish my cup and will likely “gift” the rest to my sweet husband, James, who almost always enjoys the teas I dislike (and vice versa).

21-49: This tea is not good, but if I mix it with another tea or find another steeping method I might be able to finish it.

50-69: This one is just okay. I might drink it again if someone were to give it to me, but I probably won’t be buying more for myself.

70-79: This is a consistently good tea. It’s reliable but not necessarily special.

80-90: This one is a notch above the rest and I would gladly enjoy a cup of it any day of the week. I’ll likely be keeping this in my cupboard, but it isn’t one of my all-time favorites.

91-95: One small change and this tea would be perfect. I’ll definitely have a stash of this in my kitchen if you come over for tea.

96-100: No words can describe this tea. It’s an experience, an aha moment. Closed eyes, wide smile, encompassing warmth. Absolutely incredible. Perfect.

Updated May 2022.

Location

Alabaster, Alabama

Website

https://www.goodreads.com/sha...

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