Herbal Co-operative

My daughter-in-law, Jen, and I have attended two meetings recently in which a herbal producers’ co-operative is trying to get off the ground locally. Twenty-seven people met last Wednesday evening to learn how to apply the principles of a co-operative to the concept of producing herbs.

We’re looking at growing herbs as a possible cash crop for our farm as we look to the future. Both Jen and I had independently thought about focusing on herbs for tea, such as the chamomile shown, with the possibility of taking them to the value-added step of packaging the tea.

Some of the most popular tea ‘herbs’ are: Lemon Balm, Lemon Verbena, Catnip, Rosemary, Peppermint, German Chamomile, Fever Few, Lavender, Lemon Grass, Marigold, Lemon Bergamot, Angelica, Anise, Rose Hips, and Fennel.

So here are the questions:

What herbal teas do you enjoy? Do you like simple tried-and-true flavors (such as straight chamomile) or do you like to try complex blends, with maybe some new flavors added in?

Why do you drink herbal tea? (Or why not!) Do you ever purchase tea based on the perceived medicinal qualities of the contents, or only for the flavor?

What have you always wished you could find, and why? What things should we consider as we look at the next steps?