From a score of Catalan parks dedicated to the organic cultivation of aromatic, culinary and medicinal plants. Of the network Parc de les Smells infusions arise Tegust, like that of ratafía. Each park has specialized in the ecological cultivation of certain plants according to the weather conditions of each area.
Thus, the Maria Luisa, a shrub from South America, has found its place in the microclimate of Palamos. There it finds mild temperatures throughout the year, the ideal place for its cultivation.
La mint, instead, it grows in Vilaller, in l'Alta Ribagorça. The parks, distributed in 16 regions of CataloniaThey can be visited in sensory and educational visits. These conclude with workshops and in summer they teach how to do mojitos.
The creator of the Parc de les Smells is geographer Pilar Comas. I had a garden of pages in the ros valley, in the Valles Oriental. He made it the first park in the network with 70 aromatic plants.
“There we found the paradise where we wanted to live. In 1994 there was a devastating fire that destroyed the landscape and we had to start over. But we realized that the thyme, lavender, rosemary and other Mediterranean plants were reconquering the charred spaces. The strength and stubbornness of these plants brought us closer to their knowledge and we discovered a whole world: that of smells. The kitchen flavored with plants and their medicinal properties, mainly disinfectants and antioxidants »
The network represents 80% of the market for the production of indigenous organic aromatic and medicinal plant.
One of the paradoxes of the sector is that organic seeds come from abroad. They are not found here despite the botanical wealth. The thyme and lavender come from France and the orange blossom, of Switzerland.
Tegust is born from the Parc de Les Olors
The parks have three types of products: fresh plant, the dried one and others to make infusions. Also products made in laboratories such as extracts, essential oils and cosmetics. Each park grows a plant exclusively and distributes the products of all the parks.
From the parks emerged in 2014 the infusion company Tegust. This has the exclusivity in the supply of herbs for infusions of the Park of the Smells, which already exports to Japan. Its latest products have been the infusion of ratafia.
It is made from the original formula created in 1842 by Francesc Rosquellas, although without a drop of alcohol. Also that of aromas of Montserrat, Inspired by the liquor of the same name but without alcohol. This is made in exclusive collaboration with the monastery.
Also with the herbs of the Parc de les Smells Soups, such as that of thyme. A new product has been created, the French fries with aromatic herbs that it makes Frit ravich.
