Anyone hiking through the maquis of Fartàritx on a hot afternoon will be enveloped in a sweet, tart, balsamic scent. It comes from an inconspicuous shrub whose leaves glisten in the heat as if they were sweating. This is rockrose (Cistus incanus) – and this "sweat" is pure medicine.
Cistus is a survivor. To prevent itself from drying out in the intense sun and dryness of Mallorca, it produces a resin (ladanum) that protects it. And it is precisely this resin that holds the magic.
Europe's polyphenol powerhouse
Scientific studies have shown that rockrose is the edible plant with the highest polyphenol content in Europe. It even far exceeds red wine or green tea.
- The virus blocker: These polyphenols act like a physical shield in the body. You can think of it like this: they wrap themselves around viruses and bacteria like chewing gum, sticking them together and preventing them from entering our body's cells. That's why cistus tea is probably the most powerful ally you can have during the cold season.
- Radical scavengers: Their antioxidant power is enormous. They protect our cells from "oxidative stress" and strengthen the immune system from the ground up.
The secret of goat beards
The history of rockrose is legendary. In ancient times, the resin of the plant (ladanum) was as precious as gold. But how was this sticky gold harvested? Goats were driven through the dense rockrose fields. The resin stuck to the animals' beards and fur, where it was then combed out by the shepherds. It was used as a wound remedy, for incense, and as a beauty product by Egyptian women.
A balm for the skin
What protects the plant from the sun also protects our skin.
- Anti-aging: The concentrated dose of antioxidants slows down skin aging.
- Problem solver: For neurodermatitis, acne, or minor wounds, washing with cistus decoction has a strong soothing, anti-itching, and anti-inflammatory effect. It helps the skin to regain its natural balance.
Wild harvesting on Fartàritx
Our rockrose grows wild. It is not fertilized or watered. It has to fight. That is precisely why its active ingredient content is so much higher than that of plantation-grown varieties. When you use our rockrose extract or tea, you are absorbing the pure, condensed resilience of the Tramuntana mountains.
