HARVEST
The Tundra
Like the Nunavimmiut (the Inuit name for the inhabitants of Nunavik) the plants of Nunavik are adapted to survive long and bitter winters. Fortunately, they also experience a three-month summer when tundra plants spring to life. But even in the long days of summer, high winds, relatively low temperatures and meagre rainfall mean that the tundra is a dry and fragile place; it must be carefully protected in order to ensure that the plant life renews itself and continues to provide important resources for the people.
The harvest
In our efforts to respect the environment and Inuit traditions, all the Arctic plants used in our herbal teas are harvested carefully by hand, leaving the root structure intact. This way, the plants quickly regenerate.
The harvesting period extends from July through September, and we are careful to harvest only when conditions are perfect and the plants are at their peak.
Traditional preparation
The preparation of our herbal teas is inspired by ancestral Inuit fabrication methods.The blossoms, leaves and stems that go into our teas are dried in open-air dryers, and meticulously sorted by hand. No mechanical equipment is employed at any phase of production.
Once the plants have been dried and sorted, they are transported to Saint-Bruno, where they are custom blended before packaging in individual sachets.
© 2010 Avataq Cultural Institute