HERBOFLORA

Herboflora is one of the Brazilian leaders in the production and sale of tea, herbs, aromatic and medicinal plants since 1984. Herboflora is a major player both as a supplier of bulk raw materials as well as packaged teas, Herboflora, has among its clients the owners of the best positioned and most regarded tea and infusion brands in Brazil.

Herboflora is also positioned as a leading exporter of Brazilian herbs to Europe, Asia and North America.

Reaching such a distinctive position, both in the local as well as international markets is the result of a constant focus on the quality of the products Herboflora produces and sells.

Assuring quality in natural products requires investments in technology and capabilities oriented towards the execution of product analysis, which include microscopic, physical, chemical and microbiologic analysis. It also demands intense work in the auditing of suppliers and management of the production process.  Herboflora has been proudly and consistently making these investments since its foundation.

Herboflora´s plant in located in Machado, MG. Every product sold by Herboflora has government approval (Agricultural, Health and Environment Agencies), relative to sourcing as well as manufacturing processes, as well as the required licenses for exporting.

The best-known history about the birth of tea, relates that in 2737 B.C. Shennong, a Chinese emperor, discovered the tea.  It happened in the Chinese province of Sichuan.  Since its invention, tea has been associated with its stimulating characteristic.  A Chinese doctor from century III B.C., instructed his patient, “drink bitter tea constantly, it makes one think better”, Hua Tao.

In the beginning of the IX century, Japanese monks took tea seeds to Japan, thus tea was introduced to Japan.  In Japan, it reached extraordinary consumption and became part of its culture - a leading role in cultural ceremonies.

Tea became even more popular when it arrived in the UK during the XIX century.  Tea is now, after water, the most drunk beverage all around the world.

Consumption of tea in Brazil grows at higher rates that consumption of beverages as a whole.  This growth is triggered mostly by the quality of the supply, in terms of flavor variety as well as better knowledge of its functional benefits, which are increasingly backed by technical evidence.

A relevant characteristic of tea is the variety of occasions in which it is consumed, which, like coffee, is consumed during all meals of the day as well as mid-morning and afternoon breaks.  Tea consumption also creates an occasion that motivates conversations and introspection, since it involves a process in which the consumer waits for its preparation thus allowing him or her to enjoy a conversation with another or a personal moment.

The increase in the quality of the supply of teas and customer knowledge about its benefits brings additional opportunities for companies looking to innovate in terms of flavors and bringing its customers to the tea market.

TEAS

Herboflora serves its clients by both developing customized flavors as well as producing and selling traditionally accepted flavors.

Herboflora has a team dedicated to understanding market trends and raw materials, which guide its innovation pipeline.  This team can support current and new clients in the development of tea products, which have market appeal and are economically feasible.

Heboflora´s development team creates value for retailers that manage their private labels and want to bring to the market a differentiated range of products, as well as companies that have strong brands for which an extension to other teas can create additional opportunities.

Traditional Flavors

Traditional flavors are the most representative of the market in terms of consumption and in many cases associated with benefits, the flavors include: chamomile, mint, fennel, lemongrass, green tea, black tea and boldo.  These flavors usually captivate a group of loyal consumers.

CUSTOMIZED FLAVORS

Customized flavors bring innovation to a traditional product.  With the functional benefits represented by the substitution of higher calorie drinks, new tea flavors bring new consumers to the market.  Flavor options are infinate, always using herbs approved by the National Food Quality Control Agency (ANVISA).

Some examples include: strawberry pepper, chcocalte mint, guaraná and açaí, quentão (regional brazilian wine based drink), flavored black and green teas among others.

Herbs and Plants

Herboflora has a network, permanently audited and controlled, of suppliers from whom it acquired its raw material. It also has a manufacturing facility specifically designed for the production of teas and herbs, thus guaranteeing the quality of the products it commercializes. Herboflora also has laboratories for physical and chemical analysis, microscopy, microbiology, sensorial analysis and research and development of new products.

Among the most relevant herbs and plants commercialized there is a full range of teas, black, green, white, pu erh, green and roasted, yerba mate, all herbal infusions, guarana, suma (pfaffia), ipe (lapacho), cat´s claw, avocado leaves, passiflora, abutua and many others imported or of Brazilian origin.

Manufacturing Facilities

Herboflora´s plant and laboratories are located in Machado, MG. The plant was specifically designed for the production of tea and cleaning and cutting of herbs and plants. The customized design optimizes flows and processes.  Herboflora, has, among its equipment:

Grinding mills for seeds, flowers, leafs, producing powder, cut and tea bags;

Homogenizing mixers for cut products and tea bags;

Cleaning and selecting sieves for cut products and tea bags;

Cleaning blowers;

Tea bag filling machines;

Packaging machines.