the visit to the king of Herbs Where is the healthy herbal grow The Puschlav is not only a guiding principle growing in the area of family Raselli, the harvest of which the most famous cough drops in the world. The southernmost of the 150 Grisons valleys also provides for nature lovers and connoisseurs of a lot of things. Silvia Schaub (travel content)0 KommentareDie herbs of the fields of the family Raselli – a treat for the eyes and nose in equal measure.Photo: zVg

Daniele Raselli bends down and plucks a few leaves of peppermint plants, which stand in long rows on the field in Le Prese. He grinds it between his fingers and sniffs at it: “An Apple mint. How gorgeous it smells!” During a visit to the plants due to the cool spring a little behind. “But you will have him soon catching up”, is Raselli convinced.

more than 30 years Ago, he put together with his Cousin Reto in addition to the Livestock industry on herbs. Today, the Erboristeria Biologica Raselli is located in the Poschiavo valley, the largest organic herb companies in the Switzerland. The family-run business with depending on the season, 5 to 10 employees, dealers, supplies in addition to Coop and Small especially Ricola herbal candy manufacturers. Daniele is now no longer in operation, from helping when the boss is out and about, and a journalist wants insight into the aromatic world of herbs. Otherwise, he is dedicated to the donkeys on the Alp Canal above of Le Prese and is as a certifying agent for organic import products on the way.

Here, lemon is harvested lemon balm.Photo: Silvia Schaub

The tall man with the distinctive moustache and the long pigtail is moved further a field. Again and again he looks to the sky, where dark clouds brewing a Thunderstorm together. Now we are standing in front of a grain flowers field with pink flowers. It smells deliciously of summer, and hay. “These are the most valuable plants.” A Kilo of it was several Hundred Swiss francs in value. In addition, plump marigold grow. And a field of Edelweiss are. These are not protected here, of course. “But it’s quite a delicate little plant”, white Raselli. However, on this patch of earth in the southernmost of the 150 Grisons valleys, they grow excellent.

climate that favours the cultivation of Herbs

It almost seems as the Rasellis had found the perfect location for your herbs. The mild, dry climate to nearly 1000 meters above sea level, close to the Lago di Poschiavo can be here virtually all thrive, what the heart desires. Of course, the pioneers took at the beginning, support professionals, and worked closely with two scientific research institutions. Together they worked out what varieties of plants in Bio-quality work at all. Today 30 different types of Aroma on 14 hectares around Le Prese and Medicinal herbs are grown. Lady’s mantle, chamomile, nettles, sage and lemon balm produce the Rasellis in large quantities, but also rarities such as Golden rod or plantain.

they are used for teas, spices and remedies. And, of course, as a raw material for one of the most famous export of the Swiss herbal sweets Ricola. Since 1985, the Rasellis supply to Run the company in the Basel-country. “Today, it is still an important customer for us,” says Daniele Raselli. Up to 15 percent will come from the Valposchiavo. The Rest of the herb farmers from the Emmental, Canton Ticino or Valais deliver now.

costs several hundred francs the Kilo: cornflowers with pink flowers.Photo: Silvia Schaub

Just in time before the next downpour dry master Arthur is a load of lemon balm in the plant where they are dried within 48 hours at 35-40 degrees. To harvest after a Thunderstorm, would not be good, “because then the concentration of essential Oils in plants is very low,” he explains. The best time for harvesting is when the sun stands at noon, just above the peak.

In the system, the employee shovels busily the already dried lemon balm from a drying cell in the other. It smells so intense, as you would be landed in a cloud of perfume. Daniele Raselli makes the sample and takes a handful of the dried leaves. “You need to break up easily, then the drying is perfect.” Satisfied, he nods. In the hall beside the dried leaves are filled cut for the tea, depending on the quality, coarse or fine, and in bags before they come then in the processing plant in the bag.

The colourful harvest.Photo: zVg

All the products are pure biological, stresses Raselli. “Our basic commandment in the valley is that the nature is preserved. So chemicals are taboo.” The Poschiavo have set themselves an ambitious goal: they want to be the first Bio-valley, Switzerland. Already a good 95 percent of the agricultural land in the valley of Poschiavo is built according to biological principles. The southern Grisons brought are particularly proud of.

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