WELCOME TO THE HERBAL CAFE
We are a small family-run company, 15 years in the making, located in Walnut Creek, California. Our team is made up of: the life-giving earth, the nourishing plants, the caring, dedicated farmers who grow them, the conscientious harvesters who gather them in the wild, our Astute herbalists – who demand the best combinations of herbs – and over 4000 years of herbal wisdom. At your service.

ABOUT OUR HERBS
We take special care in choosing our sources. Almost every herb is grown on small, ORGANIC farms or harvested in the wild with care. The Chinese herbs come directly from carefully selected farms in China, overseen by a highly regarded, traditional Chinese herbalist and acupuncturist. The rare green teas come from China and Japan. The black teas from excellent tea estates.

We look for farmers and tea resources that champion earth-friendly growing practices – planting and harvesting on living, fertile soil without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides.

ABOUT OUR FOUNDER AND PROPRIETOR
Laurie's Story. "After leaving my high-powered position as an art director at a prestigious advertising agency several years ago, I found myself at the Bodhi Tree, a metaphysical bookstore in Los Angeles, California. While there, I discovered an ad for a rustic weekend herbal retreat in Mendocino, California, sponsored by the California School of Herbal Studies. I felt compelled to go. After the retreat I began incorporating herbs into my life. I was so inspired by how much better I felt that three months later I went to live and study at the California School of Herbal Studies. The program delved deeply into plant identification, Western and Chinese herbal medicine, plant pharmacology, cultivation, anatomy, physiology, wild plant identification and clinical case studies. While there, I became certified as an herbalist. Since that time, I have continued to study medicinal plants, to work closely with the medical and alternative medicine communities and to meet with people on an individual basis as a professional clinical herbalist. About two years ago, I realized that the time was right to expand my vision by creating a company dedicated to making the freshest quality herb teas, ORGANIC herbs and very best products available to the rest of us: the herbal cafe."

Laurie Clemans, AHG Professional Clinical Herbalist Memberships: American Herbalist Guild, United Plant Savers, Integrated Health Circles, and the Health Medicine Forum Ms. Clemans has an herbal practice in Walnut Creek, California. She works closely with both the medical and alternative medicine communities. She develops herbal programs for pre- and post- surgical patients.

OUR TEAM
Laurie Clemans, AHG: President, Chief Executive Officer and Professional Clinical Herbalist
John Colbert: Vice President and Chief Operations Officer
Cathy Dalton: Director of Marketing
Laurie Cardillo: Brand Manager
Richard Tarlov: Director of Communications & Training

MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
American Herbalists Guild (Professional Member)
United Plant Savers
San Francisco Professional Food Society
US Tea Association
Specialty Tea Institute

TESTIMONIALS
Rosemary Gladstar
Herbalist and Educator
Owner - Sage Mountain Herbal Retreat Center
Organizer - International Herb Symposiums
Founder - California School of Herbal Studies

"As an avid student, Laurie Clemans has continuously and enthusiastically pursued her herbal interests since I first met her in the early '80s. She attended one of our training programs in 1984 and then, because of her great interest, continued to study with us at the school. Her sincerity and dedication struck me at that time. Since, we've had the opportunity to travel to the Amazon together to study traditional healing amongst the indigenous people of the Rainforest and have made several shorter herbal excursions. Because of her sincere nature, she has the ability to touch many people. I recommend her highly."

Peg Jordan, RN, MA
Editor, American Fitness Magazine
Global Women's Health spokesperson, iVillage

"With the interest in herbs and botanicals at an all-time high, it's important to work with an herbalist who understands not only the wisdom of natural plant remedies, but how to account for the whole person's needs--physical, psycho-emotional and spiritual. Laurie Clemans offers that rare blend of talents, and is the best herbalist I know. I highly recommend her herbal café as a welcome and nourishing respite amidst a noisy market of competing health options. At the herbal cafe you can count on a personalized approach that nourishes the body as well as the soul."

Dr. Craig Weinston
"As a chiropractic doctor, it is very important to me to know many types of complementary approaches to suggest to my patients for many health conditions. I have found that it is very difficult in the world of alternative health care to be able to trust that products like herbs, vitamins and phytonutrients are made with the highest quality ingredients. It is also important to me that such products are designed and made not only with current scientific research in mind, but also that they are prepared in a heartfelt way. Fortunately, I have had the great pleasure of knowing Laurie Clemans for several years. Because I know her extensive herbal background, her commitment to integrity in the making of her teas and the passion and love she exudes in the pursuit of using herbs as teas to promote health and well-being, I am able to highly recommend the herbal cafe as a wonderful source for good tasting and healthful herbal tea preparations."

Tim Blakely
Manager - National Center for the Preservation of Medicinal Herbs

"I strongly recommend Laurie Clemans because she has the traits I believe in and I think we need - a longstanding commitment to utilizing herbs in beneficial and holistic ways, combined with an understanding and commitment to plant conservation and preservation. She is respected in her community and wants the general public to realize the benefits and safety of herbal medicine."