The Apothecary

Ever wondered why some of our supplements live in the fridge at The Apothecary? ❄️🌿

We keep many of our supplements chilled, and it's all about keeping them fresh and working as they should.

For instance, some probiotics contain live bacteria that are sensitive to heat. Keeping them cold helps them stay alive and active until they reach you and your gut.

Fish oils can oxidise and go rancid over time. The fridge helps slow this process down so your fish oil stays fresher for longer - meaning fewer fishy burps!

When you buy from us, you're getting products that have been stored with care from the moment they arrive.

Our tip: Once you get them home, check the label. If it says refrigerate, or you bought it from our fridge, keep it cold. If you're not sure, just ask us 💚

Feeling sluggish, tired or a bit run-down post winter? 🌿

Meet our Detox Tea.

In herbal medicine, spring is the traditional time for a clear-out, and this great-tasting blend supports your kidneys, liver, blood, and lymphatic system, all in one cup. We designed it to help your body gently and effectively clear out waste and it works.

Horsetail and Nettle leaf are naturally rich in minerals like silica and iron, so you're getting a little mineral boost too. That's the beauty of herbs, one blend and plenty of benefits.

How to use it:
~ For a proper clear-out, drink it daily for a month, once a year
~ It's a gentle diuretic, so enjoy it during the day and you won't be up at night
~ As things clear out, some people feel a bit worse before they feel better. It's normal and passes quickly, or you may not notice it at all.

Like all our blends, it's made by us using quality herbs, sourced locally and organically where possible.

📦 30g lasts just over a week | 80g lasts about a month (drunk daily)
♻️ Reuse your leaves 2–3 times until spent

Ready for a reset? Pop in to the store and grab yours or buy some online 💚

Remember these? Foraged in Tekapo by Simone and Valmai from Phytofarm and now instore ready for you!

Californian Poppy has been used for generations to calm a busy mind and support restful sleep. It's gentle enough that herbalists often reach for it for restless little ones too.

It's related to the o***m poppy but contains no opiates and isn't habit-forming. It's simply a soft, soothing ally for unsettled nights and frazzled days.

Pop in and have a chat with one of our practitioners about whether California poppy is right for you.

Phytofarm Herbal Learning Garden

We made our own prebiotic powder. Because, after years of looking, we couldn't find one that ticked all the boxes — easy to take, tasteless, effective, and affordable.

Prebiotics are one of the most powerful things you can do for your gut. They feed your beneficial bacteria as they pass through, increasing diversity and supporting everything from bloating and IBS to post-antibiotic recovery.

We've also added collagen — because gut health starts with the lining and it's a nice way to keep up a maintenance dose without needing a separate supplement.

No fillers or flavours. Dissolves easily. Does a lot quietly. Available instore and online now.

Somebody said this to me today and it made me think, why don't we say this sort of thing to people more? I once had a total stranger come up to me in the supermarket to tell me how much she loved my dress and how good I looked in it - it was so unexpected and honestly made my day.

So, here you go - you are so great! - thank you for being you and for being here.

Please pass this on to someone you think is great.

Simone x

We're still deep in cold and flu season here in Ōtautahi, and this year has felt particularly relentless. So I want to talk about Elderberry - one of the most well-researched immune herbs we stock.

Elderberry has been trialled against multiple strains of cold and flu with incredible results. A meta-analysis found it substantially reduces upper respiratory symptoms, and one study showed it can cut the time you spend unwell by up to four days when taken within 48 hours of symptoms appearing. It also appears to inhibit viral replication.

You'll find Elderberry in our Immunity Tea and our Gone Viral tonic. We also stock Elderberries in our Refillery, they can be made into a syrup and kept in the fridge for easy daily use. Worth having on hand right now.

Pop in and see us or order online.

This message from Hans after visiting our store. We get this a lot. Our store is nearly its own person at this point - so much personality, so calming and full of unique finds. We're all in love with it too!

We've been reminiscing this week as The Tannery turns 13. This beautiful place always felt like the perfect fit for The Apothecary. A beautiful building, sensitively restored and made better, that's full of independent stores and characters. We feel incredibly lucky to have been here, on this journey with them, since nearly the beginning.

If you haven't visited yet, then this is the week. The Tannery Boutique Shopping, Dining & Arts Emporium are running a giveaway that's worth entering over on their page...

Yes, even herbalists and founders of herbal apothecaries sometimes get sick. Here's what I'm doing and taking to make sure this illness doesn't drag on into next week...