Lemon Balm, Melissa, and Fennel: Teas and Phytotherapeutics with Growing Demand in Brazil

Melissa (Lippia alba), lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), and fennel (Pimpinella anisum) are three of the most consumed medicinal plants in teas and herbal remedies in Brazil. Melissa is the most cultivated medicinal plant in the country, found in almost all northeastern cities as a backyard plant. Lemon balm is the sedative herb most prescribed by integrative medicine doctors. Fennel has a growing demand from the food and pharmaceutical industry.

The herbal remedies market is growing 20% per year in Brazil — driven by the Herbal Remedies Law (Resolution ANVISA RDC 26/2014) which facilitates the registration of medicinal plant products for sale in pharmacies. Producers who supply quality biomass to herbal medicine laboratories have long-term contracts with ongoing demand.

When Melissa, lemon balm, and fennel are cultivated with certified quality and processed for tea and herbal remedies, this segment can greatly contribute to job creation and income generation in Brazil.

Join our strategic actions for the implementation of the best solutions in the Brazilian agricultural sector. Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover 20 chains and 255 segments of the national agri-food sector — from the grain chain to sustainable extractivism, including horticulture, fruit growing, livestock, and much more.

The series Innovation for Brazil to Produce More was developed precisely to identify and implement the best available solutions in Brazil and around the world, across the 255 segments of the agri-food sector — with accessible technical language, updated data, and a focus on practical results for producers, suppliers, governors, and marketers.

1.  Opportunities for Small Rural Producers

How to produce medicinal herbs with quality for teas and herbal remedies

The quality of medicinal herbs starts with correct botanical identification — there are many plants commonly called "Melissa" with different species. Harvesting at the right developmental stage (before flowering, when essential oils are concentrated) is the most critical quality factor.

✔    Confirmed botanical identification — fundamental for herbal use

✔    Harvesting before flowering — maximum concentration of active ingredients

✔    Shadow drying at 40°C — preserves essential oils and phenols

✔    Analysis of citral (Melissa) and linalool (lemon balm)

✔    PRONAF for medicinal plants and RENISUS

The E-Book 01 — Strategic Manual for Small Rural Producers presents, in detail, the best solutions for this segment and 254 others in the Brazilian agri-food sector — focusing on method, cost reduction, and progressive growth from Agro 1.0 to Agro 6.0.   Access now for BRL 99.00 →

2.  Opportunities for Local Micro and Small Suppliers

What equipment the medicinal herb chain demands

Medicinal herbs demand controlled dryers, mills, and packagers for the tea and herbal remedies market.

Solutions by area of engineering applied to the segment

Our activities, studies, and advanced research cover six major areas of engineering — and the chain demands solutions in all of them:

Electrical Engineering and Computing — dryers with temperature control;

Electronic Engineering and IoT — humidity and temperature sensors;

Control Engineering and Automation — herb mills; vibrating sieves;

Mechatronic Engineering and Robotics — sachet and bulk packagers;

Renewable Energy Engineering — solar for herb dryers;

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence — batch traceability for herbal remedies.

✔    Herb dryers with temperature control

✔    Medicinal herb mills

✔    Sachet tea packagers

✔    Phytochemical analysis for herbal remedies

✔    ANVISA certification for herbal remedies

The E-Book 02 — Strategic Guide for the Local Micro and Small Supplier maps, segment by segment, the business opportunities — focusing on IoT, energy, automation, and specialized technical services.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

3.  Opportunities for Municipal Governments

How the municipality can support medicinal herbs and create a municipal live pharmacy

The Live Pharmacy Program of the Ministry of Health is the public policy with the greatest impact for medicinal plants — and the municipality that implements the Live Pharmacy creates a low-cost health product with local identity.

✔    Municipal Live Pharmacy Program with herbs from RENISUS

✔    Municipal medicinal garden for the production of certified herbs

✔    Municipal IDM: medicinal herbs in the PNPMF as an indicator

✔    Partnership with UBS for local herbal remedies

✔    Medicinal Plants Festival — identity and public health

The E-Book 03 — Reference Guide for Municipal Governments presents a step-by-step guide for secretaries and municipal managers to implement effective public policies for the 255 segments of agriculture.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

4.  Opportunities for Small Agro-Products Merchants

How Melissa, lemon balm, and fennel generate business for pharmacies and the industry

The dry extract of lemon balm in capsules is one of the most prescribed herbal remedies in Brazil — with herbal laboratories paying R$ 15 to R$ 30/kg for quality certified dry lemon balm. Certified organic producers have an additional 30% to 50% premium.

Dried fennel for the food industry has a growing demand in artisanal breads, liqueurs, cookies, and digestive beverages — with the market for natural artisanal foods paying a premium for products of identified origin.

Products with high commercial potential

The main products derived from this segment for local retail and food service:

Dry Melissa for pharmaceutical extract — high-value herbal remedy;

Organic lemon balm for tea — pharmacies and emporiums;

Fennel for food — confectionery and beverages;

Essential oil of lemon balm — premium aromatherapy;

Lemon balm tincture for pharmacies — magistral product;

Artisanal composed tea — identity product.

Merchant profiles and their specific opportunities

✔    Herbal laboratories: Melissa and lemon balm for capsules

✔    Manipulative pharmacies: extract and tincture of local herbs

✔    Emporiums: artisanal teas with regional identity

✔    Food industry: fennel for bread and liqueurs

✔    Digital platforms: artisanal medicinal tea kits

✔    PNPMF: live pharmacy with herbs from RENISUS

Growth strategies for local merchants

The producer of lemon balm who certifies organically and sells dry biomass to herbal laboratories has the most stable contract in the medicinal plants market — as the laboratory that approves a quality supplier rarely switches.

The PRONAF and the BNB/FNE cover planting. Pronampe finances laboratories. SEBRAE subsidizes ANVISA certification.

The E-Book 04 — Strategic Guide for Small Agro-products Merchants maps 30 merchant profiles and details growth opportunities across all 255 segments of agriculture.  Access now for BRL 99.00 →

Innovation and Technology Network

By purchasing any e-book from the series, you become a member of our Innovation and Technology Network. Groups with 30 members can organize and fund face-to-face strategic planning events to identify and implement the best available solutions in Brazil and around the world.

✔    Small Rural Producers

✔    Micro and Small Supplier Companies

✔    Municipal Governments

✔    Small Agro-products Merchants

⭐  Special offer: I will provide 100% discount on the value of my working hours for the 10 pioneer events organized by 11/30/26 and held in December 2026. Therefore, the 10 pioneer groups will only cover the general expenses.

Sincerely,

Ivo Alves

CEO · Master in Electrical Engineering and Computing · Specialist in Project Management for Innovation and Technology

Lecturer: IFPB and UFRN  ·  38 years of experience in Engineering