Spring is upon us here in Western Oregon, and that means it’s time to head up into the Cascades to see how our treasured stands of Oregon grape and pipsissewa fared after a long, cold winter. The only problem at this time of year is the clouds of mosquitoes and other biting insects that stand between us and our treasured plants. Luckily, we have a new certified organic Bug Spray to help keep these buggers at bay.

Here at Mountain Rose Herbs, we do everything we can to reduce our energy consumption. From powering our facilities with a 100-panel solar array to supporting our local utility’s Greenpower program. However, despite our hard work, we still end up releasing some greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Our friends at Urban Moonshine have become well-known for their bitters. Their exceptional blends, crafted from certified organic roots and herbs, revive the tradition of dazzling your palate while priming digestion. Never ones to rest on their laurels, these herbalists are constantly experimenting and devising new concoctions to satisfy your bitter tooth. We are pleased to offer two new variations.

Though we have been spending some time prepping our garden beds, the reality is that it will still be fairly cold at night for the next few weeks. And what better way to pass the cold early spring nights than reading one of the new herbal books that we’ve added to our botanical library?

We are pleased to introduce a certified organic, fair trade Garcinia Fruit Powder to our expansive roster of herbs and spices.

Garcinia comes from a fruit-bearing tree that also is the source of kokum butter. Native to India and parts of Asia, garcinia fruit has been used for thousands of years for the distinct sour taste that it lends to foods.

It’s been only a few months since Urban Moonshine’s Guido Masé gave a riveting presentation at our Free Herbalism Project event here in Eugene. Guido and crew have been busy concocting, decocting, and infusing roots, berries, and herbs into exciting new formulations, and we are happy to now offer two new Urban Moonshine tonics: Hit the Hay and Simmer Down.

As someone who has needed to navigate the world of challenging and limited diets, I often depend on bitters to encourage the healthy digestion my body so regularly denies me. When I "oops" on something that doesn’t settle well with my tummy, I reach for one of my favorite bitters. If there isn’t a bottle of Urban Moonshine’s Original formula around, I make my own!

 We’ve got a great new way that you can literally wear your love for plants on your sleeve -- our lovely and whimsical Botanical button and magnet sets. Featuring some of our favorite inflorescences including: bee balm, borage, chamomile, comfrey, echinacea, lavender, mullein, plantain, rosemary, and sage, these buttons are lovingly made by local Oregon artist Sarah Bast. 

It’s chai time, and I’m about to make some of my favorite tea.

Would you like some?

With half of my family from North India, I’m fairly accustomed to the ritual of drinking chai. Not the frothy, ultra-sweet, flavored-milk drink you get from national coffee chains. I mean real chai, made from raw ingredients, and crafted to suit the individual’s preference. And it never fails to surprise me how varied people’s tastes can be.

There is a cause for celebration amongst the crew here at Mountain Rose Herbs — it’s finally still light out at the end of our work days! Though spring is still a ways away, one of our favorite activities this time of year is to invoke the season of new growth with a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. We have a brand new Matcha Set in our online shop that has made these ceremonies so much more enjoyable!

Growing up in the Midwest in the 1980s, my family was the rarity – eating organic salads made with real (not iceberg) lettuce every evening. My trendsetting mom’s insistence on organic leafy greens at the dinner table instilled in me a lifelong love of veggies.