Herbs, History, and the 4th of July

Last week, we gathered around the big table, iced teas in hand, brainstorming what to share for the 4th of July.

We tossed around ideas, fireworks, summer BBQs, cooling herbs; but then Jagatjoti paused and said, “What if we talk about history? About how herbs have always been part of the American story?”

As soon as he said it, Mattee lit up. She remembered reading about Betsy Ross, who stitched the first American flag, and how women in her time kept herb gardens just outside their kitchens. Lavender, rosemary, and sage used for teas, for tending scrapes, for calming a restless mind after a long day of sewing and caring for family.

Then Chantice jumped in, reminding us that Thomas Jefferson wasn’t just a president, but a gardener. At Monticello, he grew thyme, lavender, and dozens of other herbs, carefully noting what thrived and how it was used for health and cooking. “He was basically an herbal nerd,” she laughed, and we all nodded.

Jason remembered reading that Martha Washington kept a bustling herb garden at Mount Vernon, using mint for cooling drinks, rosemary for cooking, and lavender for household remedies. Herbs weren’t a luxury; they were part of daily rhythms, woven into every meal and moment.

Melissa added that even George Washington himself grew hemp and other useful herbs on his land, understanding their role in everything from rope to medicine, practical and forward-thinking, a quiet but essential part of early American farm life.

And Kai, always bringing it back to the why, said: “It’s a reminder that herbs have always been about care, about using what the land gives us, honoring it, and sharing it.”

We sat there, thinking about how these stories connect to what we do today. About how a sprig of mint in a summer drink, or lavender in a blend, or rosemary in a recipe isn’t just flavor, it’s a living tradition, carried quietly from garden rows in early America to the shelves and blends we craft with care today.

At Starwest, we’ve been part of this story for 50 years and counting, making sure the herbs and spices we offer are sourced with care, tested for purity, and handled in ways that respect their history and their power.

So this 4th of July, as fireworks light up the sky and the grill sizzles, we’re grateful for the small, grounding moments, a fresh herbal infusion, the scent of rosemary on your fingers, the gentle calm of lavender in the evening air.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us, and for carrying these traditions forward in your own kitchens, blends, and moments of care.

Wishing you a flavorful, meaningful, and joyful 4th of July.