Exhale: A Small Batch, Grown by Hand
Good herbs take time. That's the story behind Exhale, our limited-run herbal blend of holy basil & lemon balm, grown by two farms we trust just outside Austin.
Before we dive in, shout-out to Purist, founded by Agata, a lab-tested pure honey from the Piney Woods of Texas. They asked us to join them in a tasting pop-up at Radius, their honey & our tea. Well, because they offer such a beautiful, traceable Texas product, we wanted to offer something just as intentional to pair. Thank you for the invite, because of you we have Exhale.
This blog is a quick brief about who grew these plants, and why that work is worth paying for.
Where It's Grown
Exhale starts in the heavy clay soil of the Central Texas Blackland Prairie.
At Mud Nap Farms, Noam grows holy basil (tulsi) the "slow way" building healthy soil first, and letting the plants do the rest. Tulsi is just one piece of what she's growing. Noam follows the seasons instead of forcing them, and never sprays. She also hosts events on the farm and runs her own CSA program, with spots still open if you want fresh out the farm veggies.
A few miles down the road at Ringtail Regenerative Farm, Louis grows lemon balm with regenerative practices like companion planting, letting certain plants protect and support each other instead of reaching for pesticides. Louis is also just one of the good ones, he volunteers with local food initiatives, grows food for food-access programs in the area, and teaches workshops on healthy soil practices for anyone who wants to learn.
No machines here. Just two farmers who check on their plants every day.
Why It Costs What It Costs
People sometimes ask why small-batch, local herbs cost more than international commercial brands. The honest answer: you're paying for time.
Hand-harvested, at the right moment. Commercial herbs are usually machine-harvested in bulk, often before they're fully ready. Noam and Louis harvest by hand, at the point in the day when the plants' oils — the compounds that actually help you relax — are strongest.
Fair pay for real labor. Weeding without chemicals, managing cover crops, hand-selecting only the best leaves — this work takes people, not machines. Paying farmers fairly for it is part of what you're buying.
