Herbarium

Herbarium is based at Aarshalayam in Thazhathala, Kochi. It’s a bit of a quieter spot, which suits the kind of work we do. We mostly deal with plants and herbal materials. The building, Aarshalayam, is where we keep our supplies and do our preparation. It isn't a modern office building with lots of glass; it feels more like a home that’s been turned into a workplace. We have shelves filled with jars and bags of dried herbs. Most of the people who work here have a good understanding of what each plant is for. We spend a lot of time sorting through materials and making sure everything is stored properly so it doesn't spoil in the Kochi humidity. The rain can be a real problem sometimes, so we have to be careful with the roof. We don’t do any big advertising. People mostly find us through word of mouth or because they live in the neighborhood. It’s a slow and steady kind of pace here. We start the day by checking the stock and seeing what needs to be processed. It’s a bit messy sometimes with leaves and stems on the floor, but we clean up before we head home. We aren't trying to be a giant company, just a reliable place for the things we produce. It’s just a regular local business doing what we know best. We sit on the porch sometimes when the work is slow.