County Apothecary
|Beauty & Culinary based on the plant powerhouse: Purslane
"Ongoing research is consistently showing this plant has remarkable benefits for the skin and body."
County Apothecary is a plant science based skincare brand for people who are tired of hyped up products that don’t deliver and are filled with chemicals and preservatives.
While looking for relief from skin irritations we discovered a plant that claimed relief – and a lot more.
This humble yet mighty plant is called purslane (portulaca oleracea). It is a prolific, drought resistant plant, which despite being classified as a weed is in fact, one of the most nutrient rich plants on earth.
“Two of the most nutritious plants in the world —lamb’s quarters and purslane—are weeds, and some of the healthiest traditional diets, like the Mediterranean, make frequent use of wild greens. The fields and forests are crowded with plants containing higher levels of various phytochemicals than their domesticated cousins. Why? Because these plants have to defend themselves against pests and diseases without any help from us,”
― Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual
Purslane has been cultivated for over 4000 years, used both medicinally and nutritionally. Although it is a common ingredient for dishes in some parts of the world, it seems to be relatively unknown here in Canada.
Yet, research consistently shows this plant has remarkable benefits for the skin and body, showing clearly that this miracle plant should be a part of our everyday lives.
Purslane is low in calories and fats. It is rich in dietary fibres, vitamins, minerals, magnesium, calcium, potassium, folate, lithium, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, carotenoid and iron. It has vitamins A, B, C, six times more E than spinach, seven times more beta carotene than carrot, 10 times more melatonin than any other fruit or vegetable tested, more omega-3 fatty acids than any other leafy plant known on earth and probably more than most fish oils.
When we considered how outstanding this plant is – we wondered how on earth it has been overlooked?
We researched and created skin care product formulations with high nutritional and healing profiles that are safe for all ages and skin types. Our products are concise – yet simple. It’s a supercharged skin care line that can soothe, nourish, hydrate and protect skin.
Our products contribute to better skin health by providing extraordinary ingredients that perform with maximum efficiency and safety.
We offer two cultivated varieties of purslane seeds that will thrive in summer gardens. Purslane is easy to grow and thrives in summers heat.
Delicious fresh, the leaves, stems, seeds and flowers are all edible and pack a huge nutritional punch to salads. It can be cooked like other vegetables and adds a tart, almost lemony crunch. As it is only available in summer here, we also sources dried purslane, which makes a delicate and delicious tea and can also be added to soups or stews. Lastly, we sourced purslane extract powder, which makes a fabulous natural supplement, which can be added to any food or drink-, perfect in a smoothie!
Purslane is proving to be a wonderful and surprising addition to our culinary adventures.
Come and discover Purslane with us! Use promo code LIFEAULAIT for 15% off of all items!
