Bee Pollen
When bees collect nectar from flowers, their legs become coated with pollen. These yellow granules are gently collected as the bee passes through a screen upon entering the hive. For thousands of years, bee pollen has been used by civilizations worldwide for its beneficial qualities. This precious pollen can be enjoyed sprinkled in smoothies, yogurts, and salads.
Who could know the health benefits of bee pollen better than a bee? Bee pollen has a long and storied past throughout human history. Hippocrates and Pythagoras both prescribed bee pollen for its healing properties. Native Americans wore pouches containing pollen around their necks on long journeys to eat so they could sustain a high level of energy. The Chinese, Romans, and Egyptians all regarded pollen as a panacea. In China, pollen was first described well over 2000 years ago as sweet tasting and neutral. To this day, China is still the world's largest producer of pollen followed by the United States.
Beet Root
5 pounds min
Beta vulgaris is the plump, earthy-yet-sweet root commonly known and enjoyed as a vegetable. For centuries, beet root, which is also commonly spelled as beetroot, has been highly regarded in various cultures for its nutritive and wellness-supporting qualities. Beets are commonly consumed as a vegetable while also providing healthful properties. Our dried organic beet root is delicious in soups, stews, and herbal infusions or simply enjoyed as is.
Beets have been around for thousands of years and beet greens were commonly eaten in ancient Egypt and Rome. Although the leaves were enjoyed for many centuries, the root itself was not widely consumed until French chefs recognized its culinary potential in the early 19th century. However, charred beet roots were found among Neolithic remains at an excavation site in the Netherlands. In ancient times, beets had elongated roots like carrots and the globular red beet we now eat was only hybridized about 300 years ago. Beets have the highest sugar content of all the vegetables and have been popularized as a sweetening substitute, earning it the name of sugar beet. Beet juice and beet powder are used to flavor carrot, celery, and other vegetable juices. Beet juice is also utilized as a natural coloring agent in a variety of foods.
Anise Hyssop
POUND Only
Agastache foeniculum is a member of the mint family but with a distinct flavor and aroma that is reminiscent of anise. Neither the herbs anise or hyssop, anise hyssop is a distinct species of its own. A popular garden cultivar that attracts a variety of pollinators, anise hyssop is also enjoyed for its uplifting and alluring taste. This unique herb can be enjoyed in salad dressings, herbal tea blends, and potpourri.
Anise hyssop (also called blue giant hyssop or licorice mint) is an herbaceous perennial and member of the Lamiaceae or mint family. The plant is native to North America and grows especially well in the Great Plains and prairies of the United States. Anise hyssop was used by indigenous tribes of North America for its healthful, astringent, and aromatic properties. It is a popular garden cultivar, not only because it is tolerant of both deer and drought, but it also attracts a wide array of pollinators.
As suggested by its common name, anise hyssop is reminiscent of the herb anise in flavor and scent. Although it is in the same family as hyssop and has anise in its name, the plant is neither, but instead is a distinct genus and species on its own. The leaves can be used as a seasoning in salad dressings or on top of fruit. It is also delicious infused in herbal tea blends and adds an enchanting scent to potpourri mixes. Some claim that the herb has a calming and grounding spirit.
Anise hyssop typically grows two to four feet tall. As a member of the mint family, it has the characteristic square stem and opposite leaves. The leaves are oval and toothed while its flowers are usually a bright lavender, although at times can range from pink to white. Flowers bloom on average from June to September, or until the first frost. During bloom, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are often seen feeding on the nectar.
The dried leaf and flower can be infused as a warm brew or served as a refreshing iced tea. Anise hyssop can be added to baths, used in skin care recipes, infused into syrups and cordials or incorporated into incense blends for an uplifting fragrance.
Arnica Flowers
PER POUND
Arnica montana, a member of the Asteraceae (or sunflower) family, is known for its characteristically large, yellow flower head. Native to Europe, this perennial herb has naturalized in mountainous regions across North America. Arnica flowers are generally infused as arnica oil and blended into topical formulas.
Arnica is a graceful woodland plant in the same family as the sunflower, native to Central Europe and the western United States. Its yellow flowers are collected at summer's end and dried for traditional use. There are many viable species of arnica flowers found around the globe, some of which are found in North American mountain ranges and woodlands.
The most commercially available species is Arnica montana, which is the species available for purchase from Mountain Rose Herbs. This species of arnica is native to Europe, with a natural range stretching from the southern Iberian Peninsula to Scandinavia. The plant has large flower heads with brilliant yellow coloration. Flowers begin to appear during mid-summer and continue blooming well into autumn. For best results, they should be harvested early in the blooming season. The dried flowers are fluffy and fibrous and can be irritating to the nose if handled improperly. Additional common names include European arnica, leopard’s bane, and mountain tobacco.