Earlier this summer, The Future of Ginseng and Forest Botanicals Symposium was held on the beautiful Monongahela River in Morgantown, West Virginia. This critical event was organized by Dr. Susan Leopold, Executive Director of the nonprofit United Plant Savers, and we were pleased to be in attendance.

Ginger has been valued as a fresh and zesty spice for centuries as well as a key herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine and many other herbal traditions. Its first recorded uses were discovered in ancient Sanskrit and Chinese texts, and it can now be found in homes across the globe. Not only is ginger renowned for supporting healthy digestion, but it’s also known for its unique flavor that adds a spicy kick to a variety of dishes.

In early August, we had the pleasure of visiting with herbalist Richo Cech from Strictly Medicinal Seeds at his ranch in southern Oregon. We were greeted not only by Richo’s friendly smile, but also by his beautiful garden full of thriving herbs and happy pollinators.

Amyris is a subtle beauty in the world of essential oils. Distilled from the wood of Amyris balsamifera, it imparts a lovely woody scent that may surprise you. It is commonly used as a fixative or base note in blends, and it is sometimes incorporated into sandalwood-like aromas.

Caffeine is a way of life in modern western culture. The philosopher Terence McKenna once jokingly quipped that if caffeine were to disappear from the western diet the economy might collapse due to no one getting any work done! Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we certainly enjoy our organic black and green teas, organic yerba mate, and even organic, fairly traded coffee. Some of us like to get creative with our caffeine intake, and guarana seed offers an excellent alternative.

It’s that time of year when the days get a bit shorter and the nights a little cooler. One of our favorite things to do at this time of year is to sip on a nice steaming cup of Earl Grey Tea.

Since our beginnings in 1987, Mountain Rose Herbs has been committed to supporting farmers who cultivate herbs without the use of synthetic chemicals. We seek out and foster relationships with farmers who operate in an ethically and environmentally responsible manner. In particular, our farmers support organic and sustainable agriculture, just like us! All of our crops are cultivated organically, without chemicals, and/or are consciously wildharvested. One of the most critically important components is ... soil!

With the nights getting a bit cooler, many of our friends and colleagues are starting to turn their attention towards growing luxurious beards for the autumn and winter seasons. Maintaining a beard using only natural ingredients can be daunting, but we’ve found that keeping your beard clean is a great first step towards maintaining a soft, healthy feeling beard.

Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we put a lot of thought into sourcing, crafting, and delivering our customers the finest organic, non-GMO, and fair trade botanicals from across the globe. What good are consciously sourced products if they're not packaged in equally sustainable materials? We make sure we are using the best available sustainable packaging materials in order to reduce our environmental impact and leave a smaller carbon footprint.

While we’re passionate about organic agriculture for many reasons, did you know growing organically can reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? Food production accounts for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions,* so supporting organic agriculture is more important now than ever.