Alattar

This tea is so … weird. but I couldn’t stop drinking it? Found this tea sitting unloved in a cupboard in a conference room and thought to myself, “why shouldn’t I try it?” Cumin is my favorite spice, and I’m one of those freaks who loves a savory tea. The teabag smelled exactly as it tastes, incredibly cumin-y and tart lemon. Every sip made me pull a face, but then I’d take another sip. Unhinged behavior right there.

Smells like dried thyme or zataar. Brewed tea tastes exactly like how it smells. Initially herbaceous, then roasted sesame seed flavor intensifies. Slightly bitter thyme finish. Tastes like I’m drinking zataar. I love zataar with olive oil on pita and in labneh, but it feels odd to have it in liquid form.

The packaging mentions this is used as a natural cough remedy. I can see how this might be soothing if you’re sick. My family hated this tea but I don’t think it’s totally irredeemable. A little honey or maybe lemon would be nice and take the edge off the bitterness.