The Herbs Everyone Knows, and the Ones Worth Discovering

Every month has its favorites, and September seems to lean on the classics. Organic Elderberries are always near the top, those tiny dark berries showing up everywhere from immune-support syrups to teas that taste like autumn itself. Right alongside them is organic ginger root, a staple so familiar that it feels almost invisible until you taste it, the sharp heat, the way it cuts through a blend and makes everything brighter. Essiac tea, with its roots in traditional herbal formulas, continues to draw curiosity for its earthy depth, and ashwagandha root, also organic, quietly anchors countless blends aimed at balance and restoration. These are the herbs that make sense on a bestsellers list, the ones people reach for again and again.

But if you only stop at the obvious choices, you miss the botanicals that don’t shout as loudly yet carry centuries of importance. Bladderwrack, for instance, doesn’t turn up in every kitchen, but it’s been valued along coastal communities for its role in traditional herbalism. Goldenseal, with its distinctive golden root, has long been treasured in North American traditions, though today it’s more often seen in carefully crafted extracts than in a daily tea. Orris root takes us in a completely different direction: not only is it sometimes blended into teas, it’s also one of the most historic ingredients in perfumery, lending that soft, powdery violet-like note to scents. And then there’s peony root, tucked quietly into traditional Chinese and Japanese practices for generations, rarely discussed in the spotlight but quietly respected where it’s known.

What makes these hidden gems so compelling is the reminder that “popular” isn’t the same as “important.” Elderberries and ginger may be what everyone recognizes, but bladderwrack and orris root remind us that the herbal world is much bigger than a top products list. The well-known and the lesser-known work hand in hand, one delivering the comfort of the familiar, the other offering the thrill of discovery.

That’s why we love showcasing both sides. Because whether it’s the elderberries you sip in your tea this morning or a pinch of peony root rediscovered in an old recipe, each plant carries a story, a culture, and a purpose, waiting for someone to bring it to life.