Articles
CHAMOMILE DEMAND, CULTIVATION & USE IN AUSTRALIA
Article number
749_4
Pages
65 – 70
Language
English
Abstract
Chamomile is a valuable dried herb, extract and essential oil.
There is potential for Australia to benefit directly through import replacement, since the consumption of + 50 tonnes are not presently satisfied by less than 5 tonnes grown and dried locally.
In addition, there is the immediate prospect of capturing at least 1% of the world market, which comprises some several thousand tonnes of dried flowers per year.
Most of the worlds production is supplied by large-scale cultivation.
In Australia, however, growers deal (labour intensively), with small areas of genetically inferior stock to supply a small, over-valued organic niche market.
In order for the new industry to be competitive, the flowers must be grown in a broad acre situation and mechanically harvested.
What is believed to be the first successful commercial cultivation was carried out by Solar Distributors Pty Ltd (Solar D Herbs) from 1995 to 2000. MediHerb Pty Ltd is a leading Australian herbal medicine company and manufactures finished products using three types of chamomile raw materials, each of which are important ingredients in finished products: chamomile dried flowers, essential oil and dry powder extract.
Chamomile is a very versatile and useable herb for herbalists, with a very wide range of applications and as such it is considered an essential critical herb for any professional practitioner setting up their herbal dispensary.
The Australian market with this herb is growing year after year.
There is potential for Australia to benefit directly through import replacement, since the consumption of + 50 tonnes are not presently satisfied by less than 5 tonnes grown and dried locally.
In addition, there is the immediate prospect of capturing at least 1% of the world market, which comprises some several thousand tonnes of dried flowers per year.
Most of the worlds production is supplied by large-scale cultivation.
In Australia, however, growers deal (labour intensively), with small areas of genetically inferior stock to supply a small, over-valued organic niche market.
In order for the new industry to be competitive, the flowers must be grown in a broad acre situation and mechanically harvested.
What is believed to be the first successful commercial cultivation was carried out by Solar Distributors Pty Ltd (Solar D Herbs) from 1995 to 2000. MediHerb Pty Ltd is a leading Australian herbal medicine company and manufactures finished products using three types of chamomile raw materials, each of which are important ingredients in finished products: chamomile dried flowers, essential oil and dry powder extract.
Chamomile is a very versatile and useable herb for herbalists, with a very wide range of applications and as such it is considered an essential critical herb for any professional practitioner setting up their herbal dispensary.
The Australian market with this herb is growing year after year.
Authors
P. Purbrick, P. Blessing
Keywords
benefit, extract, herbal practitioners, new crop, tea grade
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