The more important factor is the herbs’ purity, quality, and potency. Often, wild crafted herbs or those that are pesticide free may have as high as or higher nutrient value as “certified organic.” It is common knowledge in the herbal industry that wild crafted herbs are often superior to the same herbs "grown organically." It is also very important to distinguish between “certified organic,” 'organic,' and 'pesticide free.' Again, unless the herbs used in Flor-Essence can be certified by a recognized third party such as QAI, those herbs will not be listed as "organic" on the company's label.

Herbs may be certified organic sometimes during a year but are not available yet in sufficient quantities from all suppliers to provide a year-round supply. In such a case the herbs will not be labeled as “certified organic” even though in some batches they may be. (It is impractical to create new labels for every batch.) In any case, be assured the herbs used are always free from harmful heavy metals, pesticides, and herbicides.

Due to various market considerations, Flora does not disclose the identity of its suppliers. They are however subject to

inspection at any time by QAI to meet the certified organic standards. In fact, Flora is one of the leading proponents of certified organic and sustainable agriculture, including a major commitment to the reduction or removal of plastics from its supply line and manufacturing procedures. When there is a way to provide a sufficient supply of all certified organic herbs without compromising the purity and potency of the Flor Essence Tea formula, Flora will do so. In fact, Flora is now growing some of the herbs used in its products on farms in the United States, Canada, Chile, and Europe.

What the Label Says:
According to the current label, burdock, sheep sorrel, kelp, blessed thistle, and red clover are “certified organic.” Slippery elm, watercress, and Turkish rhubarb are pesticide free.

Considerations When Selecting a Therapeutic Detoxification Tea:
1) Is the correct species of each herb being used?
2) Are the proper parts of the plants used in the tea blend?
3) Were the herbs harvested at the correct time and in the correct manner?
4) A formula developed and researched by a nationally recognized Medical Doctor in clinical practice?
5) Does the formula have a history of effective results for over 120 years?
6) Was the formula tested by several Major Universities on three different continents?

Flora has researched all these and other factors that contribute to producing the most efficacious tea. Moreover, to determine the safety and quality of all the herbs used in Flor Essence tea, Flora uses its own extensive testing laboratories in addition to the tests done by QAI and/or other certification agencies.

The Best Manufacturing Procedures:
Specialized Equipment:
Flora is the exclusive manufacturer of Flor Essence Tea and utilizes specially designed equipment, developed to extract the

most nutrients possible from the selected herbs, thus insuring the highest potency, purity, and safety of the final product. This innovative technology combined with the time tested true perfected formula creates a product that far exceeds the effectiveness of all variations and previous extraction methods. For example, the current pre-brewed liquid is about 25% higher in key constituents than the Flor Essence Tea of a decade ago.

Certified Organic Farms and Complete Manufacturing Procedures:
With farms on three continents, Flora grows many of the herbs used in its formulas, including some of those in Flor-Essence Tea. Therefore Flora is one of the only companies that control the standards and quality of its herbs from seedling to farm through manufacturing to finished product.If the source herbs in Flor Essence Tea are not from a Flora farm, then the remaining testing and manufacturing is still done by Flora.The efficacy of each herb in the Flor Essence Tea formula is tested to make sure that marker and other ingredients meet purity and potency standards. In addition, Flora uses whole herbs with the full spectrum of nutrients, not just ‘standardized,’ isolated components. Such practices go above and beyond “certified organic.”

To further insure the safety and potency of the source herbs, Flora uses whole, fresh, non-powdered herbs which are inspected and tested for heavy metals, microbial and other contamination, before they are ground into a ‘tea cut’ under Flora's supervision. This procedure keeps the important therapeutic essential oils and nutrients intact in the final tea blend for, at minimum, the shelf life stated on the finished product.

Think You Can Find a Better Deal Elsewhere?

Other companies may use pre-powdered, bulk herbs, which although tested by a supplier to meet minimal standards, can still contain small impurities and will lose their valuable essential oils more quickly, thereby providing less therapeutic value. Many similar, ‘knock-off’ versions of Flor-Essence Tea are on the market but what is their source of herbs? How were the herbs grown? Did the company use pre-powdered herbs? Are there other ingredients like alcohol in the blend? Who did the third party certification? Were all the herbs in the formula tested for purity, potency, heavy metals, and pesticides or for other contaminants? Who manufactured the product for the company that appears on the label? And how is the product packaged? Improper packaging will leave even a good finished product subject to quick deterioration. Therefore Flora avoids such procedures used by others and avoids questionable herbs because they will create variable quality in the final product.
As another example, irradiated herbs such as those commonly used in commercial spices may test for low microbial contaminants but have little or no potency remaining. The value of the herbs’ purity and potency has been compromised to settle for a controllable end product.

Best Value for Herbal Detoxification:
When someone acquires an herbal product, they expect a beneficial result. In this case a recreational tea or a substitution for the real formula will not do. The highest quality standards that Flora Inc. uses for its raw material, manufacturing, and packaging practices, the better the finished product is, and the best opportunity is offered for a customer to achieve their desired result.

Using guidelines experienced by Nurse Rene Caisse, Dr. Charles Brusch, M.D., and Elaine Alexander, the three individuals

most knowledgeable about this herbal tea formula and its variations, Flora Inc. has developed a proprietary procedure that yields a tea that is free from all additives, excipients, extracting agents, and preservatives, such as alcohol. This is true of both the prepared liquid and dry herbal formula. Nurse Rene Caisse herself said from her experience that alcohol should not be used in or with the tea. While the quality of the source herbs is essential, the production process is equally if not more important.

The important question to ask is not just where the herbs come from, but what have the herbs been subjected to before and after manufacturing. After addressing all the issues above, Flora's Flor Essence pre-brewed liquid tea meets and exceeds the best standards in the nutritional industry and is packaged in “amber glass bottles”, to provide the most effective pure product available today. The boxed tea is very economically priced for those who desire to make the tea themselves. The sealed pouches in each box insure purity, potency, and effectiveness.

The Original Flor-Essence Tea Herbal Formula Blend is the only version of the competing variations that Dr. Charles A. Brusch, M.D. endorsed. He invested decades testing, perfecting and using the formula with Nurse Rene Caisse as his partner. With their combined eighty-plus years of research and knowledge, and the Ojibwa Indian's ancient tradition, Flora does its best to source, grow, test, produce, and deliver this exclusive perfected 8-herb formula blend to give you the highest quality detoxification tea available anywhere worldwide.