Ricola Mountain Wellness Manual

dolor sit amet

sit amet lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum dolor

DEC – FEB

dolor sit amet

sit amet lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum dolor

SEP – NOV

dolor sit amet

sit amet lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum dolor

JUN – AUG

dolor sit amet

sit amet lorem ipsum

Lorem ipsum dolor

MAR – MAY

Step

See how Ricola’s production puts the health of the Earth first

Wellness Done Responsibly

Explore Switzerland and get to know Ricola’s five growing regions, where its 10 most-used herbs grow

PRESENTS

Healthy living as seen in the Swiss Alps

The

Hit the Trails

Mountain Wellness Manual

The Tour du Mont Blanc, one of Europe’s most popular long-distance treks, runs 105 miles through Valais and gives you the full regional experience. Tackle the stages day by day or take a page out of the UTMB book (an ultra-race along the same route kicks off just over the border in Chamonix, France every August) and run all or part of the trail in one go.

Tour De Mont Blanc >

105 miles

< the perfectly timed Ricola supplement

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus sed posuere quam. Sed feugiat odio non neque viverra auctor. Sed enim urna, cursus at sapien ut, congue sollicitudin dolor. Praesent venenatis dolor vel arcu bibendum, eu euismod augue commodo.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vivamus sed posuere quam. Sed feugiat odio non neque viverra auctor. Sed enim urna, cursus at sapien ut, congue sollicitudin dolor.

LOOK OUT FOR

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and it's even more resilient cousin horehound (Marrubium vulgare) both used in Ricola cool relief drops thrive in the Valais region.

Wavy, circular leaves with long stems

Malva sylvestris

Mallow

Pink or mauve flowers from June to October

Flowers have five distinct petals and wavy edges

Alpine Herbs in the Wild

Use these identifiers to recognize native plants along the trail

The Valais region is home to one of the most iconic peaks in all of Switzerland—the Matterhorn, as well as the tallest peak in the country—the 15,203-foot Dufourspitze. See both peaks and some of the most breathtaking views of the Valais Alps on a 10.8-mile roundtrip hike to Gemmi Pass. If you need to maximize your time, there’s a cable car that takes passengers to the top of the pass.

Gemmi Pass >

10.8 miles

Explore the Berina Pass on foot on the Via Albula/Bernina—a hiking trail that runs semi-parallel to the section of the Rhaetian Railway that traverses the Alps at over 7,390 feet. The railway is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, so you can truly appreciate both the natural and engineering wonders tucked among the towering peaks as you hike. The 80-mile trail is broken into 10 stages, so you have the option to hike the full distance, staying at inns along the way, or hop on the train at any of the stations along the route. The last few stages of the hike descend into Val Poschiavo and continue through the valley onto the final stop in Tirano, Italy.

LOOK OUT FOR

From late spring to summer, keep an eye out for sage (Salvia officinalis), which thrives in Val Poschiavo’s warm, dry climate and light, stony soil.

Via Albula/Bernina >

80 miles

Dedicated plant nerds will enjoy a visit to the Ricola Herb Garden in nearby Pontresina, which is open to visitors year-round but is especially lovely when the herbs are in bloom from May to September. From there, continue on to explore hikes below glaciated peaks in Val Roseg.

Ricola Herb Garden >

One of the best ways to explore Emmental is on two wheels. Because of the hilly terrain, e-bikes are a popular choice. You can rent e-bikes at bike shops throughout the region, and they are allowed on nearly 280 miles of designated bike trails.

LOOK OUT FOR

The Emmental region’s acidic soil and relatively high rainfall also create ideal growing conditions for lemon balm (Melissa officinalis).

Biking Trails in Emmental >

280 miles to choose from

The Emmental region is straight out of a storybook. Think: rolling hills and idyllic farmland dotted with grazing cows in the foreground and jagged snowy mountains as a backdrop. For stunning views of the region, hike up to the Lueg—one of the most famous viewpoints in Affoltern im Emmental. From the village center, the route is about four miles roundtrip, but you can hop on the path from multiple points along the way for a shorter trip.

Top of the Lueg >

4 miles

One of Switzerland’s newest long-distance trails, the Tell Trail, runs through the heart of Central Switzerland. The 130-mile route, which links to six of the most prominent peaks in the region— Stoos, Rigi, Pilatus, Stanserhorn, Titlis, and Brienzer Rothorn—was completed at the end of 2020. Hike all eight stages of the trail or explore sections as day hikes. And don’t miss out on experiencing feats of Swiss mountain engineering, including the steepest cog railway in the world on Mt. Pilatus and the oldest cog railway in Europe on Mt. Rigi.

LOOK OUT FOR

Central Switzerland’s water-rich alpine foothills are home to bright green mountain sides in the summer and extensive lake basins fed by snowmelt. Elder (Sambucus nigra) trees thrive here, in wet forest clearings and on the banks of rivers and streams. Linden (Tilia platyphyllos) trees also appreciate the region’s chalky soil and humidity.

Tell Trail >

130 miles

The Swiss Alps garner a lot of attention from travelers. But the lesser-known but equally stunning Jura Mountains provide a completely different experience. The subalpine range tops out at just over 5,600 feet, which means the ecosystems here are lush compared to the rugged alpine landscapes in the southern part of the country. Head out on the oldest long-distance trail in Switzerland—the Jura Crest Trail—established as early as 1905. This nearly 200-mile route begins in Zurich and traces the ridge to Geneva, with panoramic views, verdant meadows, and inviting inns to end each day along the way. Tackle the whole route in about two weeks, or choose a shorter section of the trail.

LOOK OUT FOR

Mallow (Malva sylvestris)—sometimes called “cheese weed” because of the fruit’s cheese-like flavor—thrives in these lower elevations, and native herb hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) is a favorite among hikers because of its sweet aroma.

Jura Crest Trail >

200 miles

The water-rich alpine foothills of Central Switzerland are home to bright green mountain sides in the summer and extensive lake basins fed by snowmelt. These peaks have a storied past—from legends of dragons living atop Mt. Pilatus to the origin of the nation itself. For a taste of Central Swiss mountains, hike the popular but worthwhile Rigi Panorama Trail. On this 5-mile trail, not only can you enjoy stunning views of Lake Lucerne below, but from this vantage point you can also see how the mountains created a natural shelter for the people who in 1291 formed the mountain-guarded confederation of states that later became modern-day Switzerland in 1848.

Rigi Panorama Trail >

5 miles

Fruit is round and shaped like a wheel of cheese

Red stem and branches

Small clusters of lavender flowers from July to September

Recognizable mint scent

Bright green heart-shaped leaves with jagged edges and a fuzzy texture

Mentha piperita

Peppermint

Hyssopus officinalis

Hyssop

Found in dry, sunny areas with chalky soil

Small, narrow leaves

Grows as a spike

Flowers bloom at the tip of the spike from June to September and can be a variety of colors

Salvia officinalis

Sage

Found on sunny mountain slopes, usually in chalky soil

Blooms with small white, blue, and purple flowers in summer months

2-to 3-inch broad, oblong leaves with pronounced grey-green veins and a fuzzy texture

Strong, identifiable aroma

Thymus vulgaris

Thyme

Small, round green or grey-green leaves that grow in clusters

Woody stems

Found in sunny locations at the edge of a forest or field

Blooms with small white flowers from May to October

Tilia platyphyllos

Linden

Marrubium vulgare

Horehound

Thymus serpyllum

Wild Thyme

Melissa officinalis

Lemon Balm

Sambucus nigra

Elder

Grows in thick mats with flowering stalks

Can grow up to 15,000 ft. above sea level

Small slender leaves that are typically brighter green than common thyme

Delicate purple flowers bloom from June to October

Found in sunny, humid areas with chalky soil

Trees with large dark green, heart-shaped leaves

Sweet floral aroma when in bloom

Underside of leaves can be light green or white with a fuzzy texture

Blooms with white, starburst-shaped flowers from June to July

Found in grasslands

Fuzzy white on the underside of leaves

Broad pale green crinkled leaves with round serrated edges

Sharp smell when leaves are handled

Blooms with clusters of small white flowers, usually in early fall

Found in sparse forests or shrub areas

Heart-shaped leaves, similar to mint but with slightly less jagged edges

Blooms with small white flowers in late summer

Light lemony scent

Trees with long pointed, serrated leaves that grow in clusters of five to seven

Branches and trunk have grey-brown bark while the berry stems are red

Berries form in large clusters and ripen from green to deep purple-black and are about 5 mm in diameter when ripe

Blooms in early summer with puffs of small white flowers

Step

Preparing the Fields

Ricola farmers rely on crop rotation to naturally fertilize the soil and prepare the fields for a new season of herb cultivation

Step 1 >

February to mid-April

Cultivation

The herb farmers start to plant the seeds at lower altitudes mid-April. At high altitudes, farmers may wait until mid-May to sow seed to avoid frost damage.

Step 2 >

mid-April to mid-May

Harvest

Each herb is harvested at its peak to ensure every plant that makes it to production is at its best.

Step 3 >

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Sage Thyme Elder flowers Linden flowers Peppermint Lemon Balm Hyssop Mallow flowers Mallow leaves Wild Thyme Horehound

Transport

After the herbs are harvested, Ricola prioritizes fast transportation to the drying facility in Laufen to ensure herbs are fresh and retain as much flavor as possible.

Step 4 >

Processing

After drying, the herbs are transferred to a processing facility via an underground route. There the herbs are assessed for freshness, color, aroma, purity, and flavor. Only once herbs pass the assessment are they processed using a proprietary extraction method.

Step 5 >

Production

The 10-herb blend is the base of every product, with other high-quality, natural ingredients and sweeteners added to create different products in the Ricola lineup. To reduce environmental impact, every Ricola drop is produced in the brand’s Laufen facility, minimizing transportation until the product is ready to be sent to distributors.

Step 6 >

At the end of the growing season, Ricola farmers plant cover crops to rejuvenate the soil in preparation for next year.

Step 7 >

Reseeding the Fields

(during warm weather)

(while flowering)

(with bracts)

(before flower buds form)

(before flowering)

(while flowering)

From Seed to Shelf

It all starts before the seeds are even planted

Here's what it takes bring herbs from the Swiss Alps to your home.

Grows on sunny slopes up to 5,000 ft. above sea level

LEARN MORE

Here's what it takes bring herbs from the Swiss Alps to your home.

Tour De Mont Blanc >