Tisane

A tisane is a drink made of an infusion or decoction of spices, flowers or other plant material in hot water. Such drinks are also referred to as herbal teas. The plants, flowers or spices could be of various species except for the tea plant, Camellia sinensis, in which case the drink would be referred more simply as tea. Tisanes, unlike teas, typically do not contain caffeine.

A tisane is one of Poirot's favourite drinks and in Christie's stories, he might have a tisane at any time of the day. He believes they have medicinal benefits. The exact type of flower or leaf he prefers is not always stated but in The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb he is served a tisane of camomile. But this may not be his usual as Hastings often describes his tisanes as "noxious".

Tisanes also feature prominently in adaptations as a way of depicting the Poirot's peculiarities.

Tisanes in the works of Christie

 * The Plymouth Express - Poirot believes in the medicinal qualities of a tisane. He makes one because he got his feet damp and has been sneezing.
 * The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge - Recovering from flu, Poirot sips a tisane which Hastings calls "particularly noxious".
 * The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb - the tisane in this case is made of camomile.
 * The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding - after Bridget helps Poirot by lying in the snow, he sends a tisane to her.
 * The Under Dog - Poirot calls for a tisane because his "nerves are much disturbed". Again there is a mention of "noxious fumes" which he inhales with pleasure.
 * Third Girl - Ariadne Oliver offers a tisane as an option among a choice of drinks for Poirot.
 * The Clocks - Colin Lamb notes that Poirot's tisanes were "nauseating to taste and pungent to smell".
 * Peril at End House - it's chilly outside and Poirot laments there is no possibility of a tisane.
 * Elephants Can Remember - Poirot says a tisane is good for reducing fevers.
 * The Mystery of the Blue Train - Poirot take a tisane because "the expected has happened, and when the expected happens, it always causes me emotion."

Tisanes in adaptations

 * The Dream (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode) - Poirot asks Miss Lemon for a second tisane. Miss Lemon exclaims, "Oh dear!" because he's already had his standard 9 a.m. cup. "Serious measures are called for," Poirot explains.
 * Double Sin (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode) - Poirot wants tisane but Hastings does not bother to ask if the pub at Red Burn in the lake district has any.
 * Evil Under the Sun (1982 film) - Poirot tells Daphne Castle his requirements are simple and one of them is a tisane de menthe (mint tea) at eight in the morning.
 * The Mystery of the Spanish Chest (Agatha Christie's Poirot episode) - Poirot tells Hastings there must not be more than 3 spoons of sugar in his tisane. When Hastings says he did put three spoons, Poirot says that in that case Miss Lemon must have used a smaller spoon.