People who have smelled the bouquet of the herbal gardens in the high altitudes of the South Tyrolean Alps, or have tasted these herbs in a tea, realise right away the difference when compared to standard kinds of organic herbs and will notice their unrivalled quality.
Merano and environs, like everywhere else in the land of the Alps, has a long tradition of herb and root collecting. Only in the last 20 years, this almost forgotten culture has experienced an upswing in developing a structured herb cultivation. The climate in this country allows the growing of more then 120 types of spices and healing plants.

The Rediscovery of Herbal Culture

In the process of revaluating the Herbal Culture, it is important to present traditional and often rare knowledge to the general public, who have had no possibility to collect, dry and process their own herbs, teas and natural cosmetics. When buying these types of all-natural products, it is recommended to look for the seal of the South Tyrolean Certificate of Quality.
The first Association of South Tyrolean Herb Cultivators was founded in November 1996. Their main goal is to offer high quality products by gently hand picking the herbs and naturally drying them. When the herbs are carefully dried in special fast drying machines, they keep their valuable ingredients and their bright colours. With great care, high quality products are produced from the herbs and blossoms. At this stage, 23 mountain farmers are cultivating healing herbs and spices on 4.5 hectares of land by following strict ecological guidelines.

Kinds of Herbs

The herb cultivators in Merano and environs offer a large range of: mixed herbs, single herbs, spice herbs and herb salts. Natural cosmetics are made out of well proven gentle substances like hop blossoms, apple, apricot, arnica montana, edelweiss, elderflower, mallow, comfrey, grape and english marigold.

Herb cultivators in Merano and environs:

Zum Oberen Hof
Kuppelwies 17
39016 Ulten (Tel. 0473 799058)

Schwienbacher Traudi
Wegleit 315
39016 St. Walburg/Ulten (Tel. 0473 795386)

Gamper Johann Georg
Ludlhof 117
39016 St. Walburg/St. Ulten (Tel. 0473 795134)

Berger Anna
Unterschweighof
39010 St. Nikolaus/Ulten (Tel. 0473 790252)

Lösch Laura
Obertal 35
39017 Schenna (Tel. 0473 949470)

Zuegg Melanie
Kräutergarten Millefolium
St. Agathaweg 40
39011 Lana (Tel.: +39/333/6713308)

Südtiroler Kräuter Gold
Schanzenstraße 50
39020 Latsch (Tel. 0472 765809)