Product Information

WILD CRAFTED / WILDCRAFTING / WILD HARVESTING DESIGNATION: Wild crafting (also called wild harvesting) is the practice of harvesting plants from their natural habitats, while taking care to leave enough of the mother plant(s) to ensure sustainability and to protect endangered species. In essence, these non-cultivated plants are naturally organic, but cannot be certified as such because they are not under the control of growers and processors. However, harvesters must provide a three-year history of the areas harvested to demonstrate non-interference with wild crops in accordance with The Organic Food Production Act of 1990.

Black Tea: Black tea is the most oxidized of all the teas, providing its deep color, rich flavor and high caffeine content.

Oolong Tea: A traditional Chinese tea with medium oxidation, Oolong’s color and flavor fall between those of black and green tea.

Green Tea: Green tea is processed just after plucking, which minimizes oxidation and delivers a pale green color and distinct earthy flavor.

White Tea: Derived from the young tea plant buds, white tea is the least processed giving it light color, sweet flavor and plenty of antioxidants.

Herbals: These soothing caffeine-free teas are made from various blends of flowers, roots, fruits, leaves or seeds, and are often used for wellness purposes.

Decaffeinated Tea Processes: Our decaffeinated teas are processed using a hot water method. This initial soak allows the some of the water-soluable caffeine molecules to be drawn out of the tea before the tea is again dried and packaged for sale.

Please note that there is no type of decaffeination that removes ALL of the caffeine in tea. Additionally decaffeination processes also remove some of the antioxidants and other benefits of the tea along with the its caffeine. If you require a fully caffeine free beverage, it is our recommendation you switch to a rooibos or an herbal “tea,” more accurately called a “tisane” since herbals contain none of the Camellia sinensis tea plant. If however you enjoy the full-bodied flavor of Camellia sinensis tea but want less of a stimulant, our decaffeinated teas will have the reduced amount of caffeine that might serve your purpose.

Read more about tea types and caffeine in our newsletter archive article Caffeine in Tea: A Tale of More or Less

common descriptive terms

Cut & Sifted (c/s): Cut and sifted means that the herb has been chopped up and the very small particles are sifted out. The end result is a product that is approximately ¼ to ½ inch in size with little to no powder. This process retains only the desired part of the plant and produces a relatively fine consistency that is ready for use.

Wild Crafted: Wild crafted herbs are collected in their wild habitat, while leaving enough plant material so as to not compromise the abundance of the mother plant. See our Wild Crafted overview in this product info section.

Organically Grown: Organic is the method of growing and processing that helps protect—not deplete—our natural resources. Organic foods are grown on land that has been free from the use of synthetic fertilizers, growth regulators, insecticides or herbicides for at least three years. By composting, crop rotation, and interplanting to control weeds and pests, organic farming replenishes the soil, and sustains the health of our planet.

Please be sure to browse all of Monterey Bay Herb Company's Organic Herbs & Spices.

Kosher: Kosher Certification is when approval has been given by a Rabbi that an item has conformed to the requirements of Jewish law thus making it "fit” for consumption. The symbol used designating the item as Kosher usually indicates the Rabbinical court that has issued the certification.

Monterey Bay Herb Company's Kosher products are so indicated with a small Kosher symbol.

Irradiation: is the process by which a product is exposed to radiation for sterilization purposes.

The majority of our products don’t contain gluten.

However, our facility is not certified as a gluten-free facility. We don't make gluten-free claims for any of our products because even tiny amounts of gluten can be a problem for some people, and these may be present in the facilities of our suppliers of ingredients.

If you have further questions, or want to inquire about a specific product please contact us, but please remember, we will not be able to guarantee any of our products as gluten-free.

Product Guarantee: All products sold by Herbco are intended for further processing and are not ‘ready to eat’.

All product sold by Herbco will not be adulterated, misbranded or unsafe within the meaning of the FDA Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 CFR 109). They will comply with all applicable regulations and good manufacturing practices. Further regulations set forth by the FDA under the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (21 CFR 101), Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA), and FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (21 CFR 117) will be verified as part of our robust supplier approval system.

California Propostion 65: Please refer to the information provided in the navigation at the left of this page, the section is called "Proposition 65".

Herbs, Spices & Teas: A cool, dry, dark place is the best way to store herbs, spices and teas. A well sealed glass jar in your kitchen cabinet will work fine.

We follow the American Herbal Products Association Guidelines (excerpt below)

It is natural for herbal raw materials to contain some foreign matter which may consist of any or all of the following:

• Plant parts of the herbal raw material other than those named in its specification and description
• Any organism, part or product of an organism, other than those named in the specification and description of the herbal raw material, for example grass clippings in mint leaves;
• Mineral admixtures present in the herbal raw material, for example soil, stones, metal, sand and dust.

Official pharmacopeias worldwide recognize quantitative limits of foreign matter as part of monograph specifications for herbal raw materials. Limits of foreign matter for the same herbal material may differ in various pharmacopeias. Although not specific to foreign matter as defined here, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes maximum levels of natural or unavoidable defects in foods that present no health hazards for humans. Based on review of various pharmacopeial standards, the tolerance range for foreign matter can be up to 10% (by weight) of plant parts of the herbal material other than those named in its specification. A range of 2% to 5% (by weight) of other plant parts of the same herbal material accommodates most pharmacopeial standards. In the case of other foreign matter not consisting of plant parts of the same herbal material, a limit of not more than 2% is commonly listed in pharmacopeial standards.