An Ecuadorian company annually offers 15,000 kilograms of lemon verbena in the form of tea bags: this is how it is produced

The scent of lemon verbena is unique. It undoubtedly reminds us of our childhood when we saw our grandparents preparing it for breakfast or a snack or simply taking it to alleviate some muscle problems.

This plant, with oblong leaves, which usually measure up to 30 centimeters, is a source of food especially in the rural area of ​​the country’s Sierra region, it said. Fernando Castillo, president of the Ecuadorian Tea Company – Cetcaa company that was born in 1964.

Castillo assures that the company procures the raw material through manufacturers so that it can then reach supermarkets across the country and then homes.

“We have an alliance with farmers, especially in the province of Chimborazo and we work hand in hand with them. So, practically, they are the ones who produce, sow, harvest, process, and we buy the raw materials and pack them in a box and distribute them as a packaged product to the consumer,” says Castillo.

Cetca procures bags of 30 to 40 kilograms of lemon verbena. The plant arrives at the company already processed, i.e. cut into pieces. At the factory, the product is bagged, sealed and stored in boxes that come in 20 units. This product is placed in a cup with hot or cold water, depending on the taste.

Infusions of black tea, chamomile, lemon verbena and horchata, among the best sellers in Ecuador due to the pandemic

15,000 kilograms of lemon verbena are purchased annually., this figure is higher in chamomile. And among those top 3 is the hibiscus flower, which has become very attractive to consumers.

“We have machines here in the factory, which put them in that little box, which is placed inside the cup. The process is completely natural, it is not manipulated, except in the case that you have to add, for example, another herb for mixing, but no preservatives of any kind are added. It is practically a product that we send to the laboratory to guarantee that there is no harmful bacteria or any contaminant that will harm the consumer,” explains the CEO.

Lemon verbena is one of the best-selling infusions, says Castillo, and in addition to that, chamomile is added, which is purchased more than a ton per month, also from farmers. “They are the most popular, the ones that consumers are looking for,” he points out.

Cetca under the Sangay Foods brand also has aromatic herbs such as verbena, mint, anise, lavender, valerian and others. And in tea like black, green, yellow, white like Hornimans. In total, they have a portfolio of more than 30 products, and their market share is 30% to 40%.

“Tea comes from Camellia sinensis That’s where black tea, green tea, yellow tea, white tea come from, they all come from this small plant native to Asia. The tea is obviously rich in antioxidants, which has been scientifically proven,” says Castillo, adding that this raw material comes from a 900-hectare farm in Palora, Morona Santiago province.

The factory has an ISO 22000 certificate, which is a very strict food safety management system, which guarantees that the product will reach the consumer.

Aromatic herbs were exported, in small quantities, to Colombia and Venezuela. While black tea goes to Costa Rica, USA, Uruguay and Malaysia, approximately 300 tons. The product goes in bulk.

“We are dedicated to innovation, we were one of the first to introduce the hibiscus flower. Now we have Relax, which is a stress management formula with lavender, chamomile and valerian. We will soon launch another product with CBD (cannabidiol). People get tired of things quickly, they want different things, and we have to move quickly,” says Castillo.