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
Always good to explore your heritage.