Consumer interest in plant-based foods for health is continuing to grow, and it’s important to note that this includes those plants that have a history of medicinal value. In the form of dietary supplements, such herbals have nearly doubled in sales from 2000 to today, cracking $7 billion in annual retail sales.
Many of these botanicals have crossed over into the world of foods and beverages, driven by a combination of expanding scientific support of ancient medicinal practice, consumers more eager to seek alternatives to pharmaceuticals, and awareness of benefits to be had from specific herbs, spices, roots, and leaves.