Tea, herb shops becoming wellness hot spots
Loose leaf tea and herbal companies are becoming prevalent, especially in the Atlanta Metropolitan area, due to customer consumption for practicing meditation and procuring health benefits.
“Consumer awareness about the health benefits of herbal and green tea may further drive the growth of the tea market,” according to the 2022 Tea Market Report. “The rise in disposable income of consumers, changes in taste and preferences, and the introduction of additional healthy ingredients in tea by different market players are the other factors that fuel the market growth.”
Local, Centralized Aspect
Sydney Kincherlow, 36, owner of the Oatstraw Tea Company, is an entrepreneur who enjoys both informing people through what she creates and the sense of community embedded in providing a product that brings wellness to everyday life.
“I think people are surprised to find out how many microplastics are in the tea they consume from the bagged tea found in any grocery store,” said Kincherlow. “Once a person gets past the convenience and instant gratification of that product, and discover the health benefits (physically & environmentally) of loose leaf tea (weight loss, sleeping aid, etc) it is like a light bulb turns on.”
The most compelling results Kincherlow has seen is within those looking to alleviate their anxiety (students), cloudy mind (authors and professionals in work settings with high stress levels) and people with high blood pressure and cholesterol.
Kristina Van Buskirk, 33, is an herbal apprentice who has used herbs to help with her mental illness.
“The diagnosis was sever high-functioning clinical anxiety and depression along with minor post-traumatic stress disorder,” said Van Buskirk. “What resulted in being the best for me was a combination of a supercritical Holy Basil, Saffron and 5-Hydroxytryptophan (HTP).”
Similarly, “Besides the mental aspect, I know that being consistent with the intake of herbs can reduce symptoms of certain physical ailments,” said Kincherlow.
Consistency, however, can be threatened by trends and what is seen as popular or in season.
Renee Lowe, owner of Herbal Intentions, pointed out there has been an ongoing herb renaissance for as long as she can remember.
“I’ve been doing this for 18 years, and it is interesting because herbs do have trends behind them,” Lowe said. “This time of year a lot of people go in, especially the January crowd, for cleanses and detoxes and certain herbs can help with that.”
Specific herbs are bound to trends that are cyclical rather than linear in the way they appear and reappear in society.
“Ashwagandha was super popular for a while, Saffron was another one of those big ones for some time, all these supplements are still out there, they just wax and wane in terms of popularity,” said Lowe. “Usually that is based on the information given from whichever talking head people subscribe to, like Dr. Oz or Dr. Ash.”
Although purchases are exclusive to each person, the overall outreach for organic herbal teas show signs of growth.
“From what I have seen, in general, any mindful practice for alternative modalities has definitely increased, definitely definitely,” said Lowe.
Opposition Connected to this Health Practice
“There are many people who do not take it seriously in Western civilization; It stems back to the principals of Christianity and what was deemed as ‘witch-craft,” said Kincherlow. “In our current society, people have more faith in taking a pill with horrible side effects than they do in plants that have grown from the land God gave them.”
Running a tea company that is committed to wellness and balance has its setbacks and obstacles as any other holistic practice usually does.
“The only issue I have run into is the simple disbelief that herbal wellness is a concrete form of health care,” said Kincherlow. “Even if you google health benefits of…” the information you find will always have a disclaimer that it may not work and is not certified by a board that many Americans have come to know and trust, even after the pandemic.”
International Scope
“Loose leaf tea in itself is something that is picking up in the states, but internationally it has always been a cultural practice,” said Kincherlow.
Matthew Blouin, 25, is a management consultant from Montreal, Quebec who has been on his loose leaf journey ever since a molecular biologist coworker introduced him to this practice by making him herbal teas.
“I drink black teas mostly for the antioxidants, digestive benefits and focused wakeful energy plus it is less irritating than coffee,” said Blouin. Down below are specific Canadian locations Blouin frequents:
Allon Verts
Les Marchés TAU
DAVIDsTEA
In addition to loose leaf tea, Blouin is a fan of Yerba Mate, a South American herbal tea known for its high caffeine levels, (less compared to regular coffee) stimulants and does not require the consumer to strain the tea.
“I enjoy the full bodies taste with the texture,” said Blouin. “I used to drink Turkish coffee for this reason, but have lately made the transition towards more tea consumption.”
The tea community is ever-growing, specifically an international one visibly seen during the World Tea Conference and Exposition that meets in Las Vegas every March.
