Dried rose petals have a wide variety of uses in the herbal products industry. The blooms add visual appeal to tea blends, as well as vitamin C, anti-inflammatory compounds, and a class of antioxidants called polyphenols. These chemical contributions make rose petals suitable to produce many kinds of skin care products, including salves, sugar scrubs, lotion bars, soaps, lip balms, massage oils, and more. Old-fashioned rose water makes an excellent astringent and toner.

Rose petals also have many culinary uses. They can be used to decorate cakes, accent custards and puddings, and may be frozen in ice cubes for a splash of color in summer drinks. A simple syrup made from dried rose petals lends color and flavor to cocktails.

Damiana is a low-growing, woody shrub in the passionflower family native to the southern US, Mexico, Central and South Americas and the West Indies. The fragrant leaves contain several active compounds, most notably terpenoids with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. The leaves also contain a variety of volatile oils that impart a slightly sweet, earthy flavor that is comparable to chamomile.

The most common, large-scale use of damiana leaf is in the production of a sweet liqueur that is immensely popular in Mexico, where it is often used in place of orange-flavored triple sec in margaritas. Small batch producers typically infuse damiana leaf in vodka flavored with vanilla and sweetened with honey to yield a liquor with a woody taste. Of course, the leaf is also used in tea blends, usually in combination with other herbs.

Irish moss is a type of red algae grown primarily along the Atlantic coastlines of North America and Europe. It is the source of carrageenan, an extract used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as an emulsifier and thickening agent. As a consumable product, Irish moss is valued for its antioxidant compounds and as a significant source of calcium, potassium and iodine, and vitamins A, D, E, and K. These same attributes also make Irish moss a popular ingredient used in the natural cosmetics industry.

In terms of end-use, Irish moss powder is found in a wide variety of products, including baked goods, snacks, soups, dairy products, frozen foods, tea, beer and other beverages. The herb is also used in the manufacture of personal care products, dietary supplements and pharmaceutical medications.

Elderberry is a flowering shrub that produces clusters of berries rich in antioxidant anthocyanins, plant pigments that lend the fruit their intense dark purple color. Elderberries are also a significant source of vitamin B6 and iron, with a mere 1/2 cup providing 43% of the Daily Value (DV) of vitamin C. The berries also yield a delicious juice that the US Food and Drug Administration considers exempt from certification and may be used as a natural coloring agent in organic foods and beverages.

Extracts are also made from the berries for use in the pharmaceutical industry, either as a stand-alone supplement or it is added to sprays, ointments and salves. Powdered elderberry is also used in the food and beverage industry and may be encapsulated or made into pills or tablets.

Nettle leaf, which has a flavor reminiscent of cucumber, is used to flavor soups, is baked into breads and scones, made into pesto or polenta, and even used to make beer and cheese, such as Cornish Yarg. The leaf is also used to produce teas, either alone or in combination with other herbs with anti-inflammatory properties. There is also an increasing demand for nettle in the cosmetic industry, where it is used to make anti-aging skin creams, as well as hair tonics.

Organically produced nettle is not only valued in the food and pharmaceutical markets, but also in the textile industry. Because the plant produces a natural fiber with a shiny appearance that wicks moisture, it is referred to as “Nordic silk.”

Despite the name, juniper berry is not a berry but a seed cone with scales arranged in whorls of three that gives it a berry-like appearance. It is a spice that lends a tart, mildly resinous flavor with citrusy notes to many foods and beverages. Whole juniper berry is widely used in German, Polish, Swedish, Norwegian and Hungarian cuisines to flavor meat and game dishes, as well as fermented foods, such as sauerkraut. It is found in Scandinavian soft drinks, liquors and beers, and is the main flavoring agent in gin universally.

Juniper berry is also used to produce extracts for use in the cosmetic, fragrance and aromatherapy industries. It is found in skin care products (especially anti-acne formulations), mascara, lipstick, foundation, and blushers.

The dehydrated rind of orange is highly aromatic with concentrated citrus flavor and is used to flavor baked goods, confections, mulled wines, iced teas and other hot and cold beverages. Orange peel also lends scent and visual appeal to tea blends, and to simmering and dried potpourri. Because the dried peel is so fragrant, it is commonly used in perfumery and aromatherapy products.

Due to the presence of anti-inflammatory flavonoids and natural antioxidants like vitamins C and A, dried orange peel is used in the cosmetics industry in the manufacture of various skin and hair products, such as moisturizing creams, shampoos, conditioners, soaps and body scrubs. Infused in carrier oil, dried orange peel produces fragrant massage and bath oils.

Peppermint represents one of the largest segments of the commercial herb industry in the US, where it is widely used by tea and beverage manufacturers. In fact, the peppermint tea market is projected to reach $330M USD by 2030.* Elsewhere, most notably in Japan, China and India, where tea-drinking is a tradition associated with strong cultural and ceremonial customs, the increasing demand for peppermint tea blended with spices and fruits is driving the global market.

Organically produced nettle is not only valued in the food and pharmaceutical markets, but also in the textile industry. Because the plant produces a natural fiber with a shiny appearance that wicks moisture, it is referred to as “Nordic silk.”

Jasmine is a climbing vine native to the Himalayas of western China and cultivated in Spain, Italy, France, and India. The white, star-shaped flowers of this plant are highly prized for their intoxicating fragrance. The flowers are widely used in the perfume and cosmetic industries to produce fragrances, skin creams, lotions, soaps and hair care products. The global demand for jasmine flower remains strong due to the preference of naturally occurring aroma compounds over synthetic agents such as paraben or phthalate.

The flower is also used to infuse flavor and scent into green, white and black tea blends. Jasmine flower tea is particularly popular in China, where the blossom has important cultural and ceremonial significance in tea drinking rituals, marriages and other community celebrations.

Chamomile organically cultivated in Egypt tends to have a smoother, sweeter flavor than chamomile grown elsewhere. Egyptian chamomile is not a different species but refers to Roman or German chamomile grown in the Nile River Valley region that occupies 11 countries, including Egypt. Food and beverage manufacturers buy Egyptian chamomile in bulk to meet the demand for herbal teas, organic salad dressings, vinegars, baked goods, syrups and herb-and-fruit-infused beverages.

Egyptian chamomile is also used extensively in the cosmetics, aromatherapy, fragrance and pharmaceutical industries. The herb is used to make products for skin and hair, perfumes, hydrosols, lip balms, salves and ointments. Globally, the chamomile market across all segments is expected to reach $412B USD over the next five years.*

Hibiscus flower refers to the dried, bright red calyces of the plant commonly known as roselle. Dried hibiscus lends a tart, cranberry-like flavor and bright, red color to various hot and cold beverages and food items. An infusion known as sorrel that combines hibiscus flowers with crystalized ginger, orange peel and cinnamon is immensely popular throughout the Caribbean Islands, especially in Trinidad and Jamaica.

Roselle is also used in the cosmetic industry. The largest market of hibiscus flower is the Asia Pacific region due to increased demand for organic and natural ingredients for hair and skin formulations, while the North American market is expected to grow over the next decade due to an increase of use in the food and beverage industries in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Our cinnamon chips are made from the aromatic bark of Cinnamomum cassia, commonly known as Chinese cinnamon, and we serve both the organic and conventional markets. Cinnamon has numerous applications as a flavoring agent in the food and beverage industries, from prepared chocolate drinks, fruit desserts, spice blends and baked goods to blended coffees, teas, liqueurs and prepared cocktails and mocktails. In contrast to whole cinnamon sticks, chips offer a convenient and economical way to add spicy, warm flavor and fragrance to a variety of culinary and fragrance products.

Cinnamon is also utilized by the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. In addition to wide use in TCM and Ayurveda, cinnamon is used to produce aromatherapy products and topical formulations for therapeutic use throughout the globe.