Cistus Rock Rose Tea: Cistus incanus from Crete

Is our Cistus Rock Rose tea the same as our competitors’? No. (Hint: That’s a good thing.)

Some of our customers know little about Cistus incanus tea when they decide to buy it. Others are highly educated about this marvelous herb and the many health benefits it may provide. The two most common questions we get from our Cistus-loving customers: Where does your Cistus come from, and is it the same as the Cistus sold at [name of company]?

Is our tea the same as that sold by our competitors? Almost certainly not. Is ours the highest quality Cistus incanus Rock Rose tea available in the marketplace? Yes, it is. Below, we’ll do our best to explain why.

Why Choose Mediterranean Cistus Rock Rose?

Wild-flowering Cistus incanus Rock Rose plants should grow in their native Mediterranean soil and climate. Terroir – land, sun, and rain – is critically important. Cretan Cistus incanus (Cistus from Crete) and Sardinian Cistus incanus are two examples of Mediterranean Cistus incanus.

Plants growing in arid Mediterranean ecosystems endure multiple stressors and harsh conditions, such as drought, high temperatures, and high sun exposure. Mediterranean plants produce high levels of polyphenols to protect against these stressors. Cistus incanus has very high polyphenol content.

Cistus incanus has also developed a symbiotic relationship with a root fungi. The fungi helps the root system absorb water and minerals from poor soils so the host plant can thrive.

Why Choose Cistus Rock Rose Tea from Crete?

Linden Botanicals sources Cistus incanus from Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. Crete is the ancestral home of Cistus. The first recorded use of Cistus as a healing plant reaches back to the Minoan civilization. Our Cistus is wild grown and responsibly collected from the mountainous regions of the island. The sun, soil, and weather of Crete produce a premium-quality Cistus that is naturally harvested from the buds, flowers, leaves, and stems. There are no chemicals used in its production — no pesticides, heavy metals, fertilizers, or herbicides.

Grown in its natural Mediterranean habitat and collected at the height of potency, our Cistus incanus has the full spectrum of bioactives one can expect from high-quality Cistus.

Is Sardinian Cistus incanus a Different Plant?

We’re often asked if we sell Cistus sardinia or Sardinian Cistus incanus. The Family Cistaceae (Genus Cistus) has about 25 species, along with another 25 hybrid varieties. To the best of our knowledge, there is no botanically recognized species or hybrid species named Cistus sardinia or Sardinian Cistus incanus. The Cistus plant that grows in Sardinia is called Cistus incanus.

When looking at the quality of Cistus incanus on the world market, key factors come into play. Cistus incanus from Crete and Cistus incanus from Sardinia are both popular options for healthy Mediterranean Cistus tea.

Cistus Rock Rose plants grown in other geographic areas and climes probably are not Cistus incanus. What is marketed in Spain as Cistus incanus is actually Cistus populifolius. In Morocco, the souks often offer Cistus ladanifer. Some companies create a blend of Cistus incanus and Cistus albidus. Sometimes the companies selling Cistus know the difference. In many cases, they don’t.

For optimal health benefits, we recommend drinking the single-herb tea.

Should Cistus Be Cultivated or Wild Grown?

Some production of Cistus, particularly greenhouse-grown Cistus and field-cultivated Cistus, lacks certain flavonoids and phenolic acids. Our Cistus incanus from Crete is wild grown and responsibly collected from the island’s mountainous regions. It has a full and potent phytochemical profile. It’s also pesticide and heavy metal free.

Does It Matter When Cistus Rock Rose Is Harvested?

Yes. Our Cistus is spring harvested, so the plants are collected when they are in bud. Spring is the best time to collect the leaves and aerial parts of the plant for maximum potency. Winter-harvested Cistus, even from the exact same fields, often tests lower in bioactives than spring-harvested Cistus.

How Can I Know I’m Buying Quality Cistus?

Make sure you can find the answers to your questions on the company’s website or in their printed materials. If you can’t find the answers you seek, reach out and ask your questions directly.

The truth is that high-quality Mediterranean Cistus Rock Rose is in high demand and short supply. It can be difficult to identify a reputable, reliable source of Cistus tea. Our Mediterranean Cistus incanus tea from Crete is cut and prepared to ensure the highest quality, most available polyphenol content. Our tea offers better availability of phytonutrients and higher potency than the whole-leaf cuts many other suppliers sell. We also pay a premium for the raw material to secure a high-quality product and support a non-violent economy.

For each of the products we sell, our team does substantial research and then meets with the collectors and the processor. Our Cistus incanus processor is a third-generation family company. They appreciate the difference between wild grown herbs and greenhouse cultivated crops. We are confident in the quality of our product, and we back up this faith with testing.

Do You Have More Information?

Yes! Loads more. Start with our Cistus incanus FAQ. We stand behind our Cistus — so much so that we’ve included it as one of six botanicals in our ShieldsUp Immune Support Kits. Let’s just say we’re serious about our Cistus incanus tea!

Read the Cistus FAQ  Buy Cistus Tea Now