Step behind the counter at Lhasa Karnak Apothecary, and you’ll find a rhythm that hasn’t changed much since 1970. The soft shuffle of scoops, the scent of fresh herbs, and the sound of scales balancing perfectly — it’s an everyday ritual built on patience and care.
Every order begins with hand-measured precision. Herbs are weighed by scale right in the shop, portioned into plastic bags or biodegradable bags upon request. Each one is sealed and topped with a handwritten label, noting both the name and the small details that keep everything organized. It’s slow work, but it’s the good kind of slow — the kind that keeps things personal.
Before any herb makes it to the shelf, it’s checked for quality twice — once when it’s sourced, and again before it’s sold. The result is freshness you can see and smell in every ounce. Whether you’re buying a handful of chamomile flowers or a bag of palo azul bark, you’re getting a plant that’s been treated like something special.
The house tea blends — from No Pressure Tea to Lung Refresh — are crafted in small batches using a rotating drum, ensuring consistency and flavor without industrial processing. Each batch is mixed, tasted, and tested by our small, knowledgeable team before being bagged and placed on the shelf.
Over at the oils counter, the process is just as thoughtful. Every oil is poured from glass containers into glass bottles to preserve purity and prevent leaching — no plastic funnels, no shortcuts. From Sweet Almond Oil to Blue Chamomile, each bottle reflects the same steady hands that have been part of Berkeley’s herbal history for decades.
Lhasa Karnak remains a small business run by people who love what they do — herbalists, students, and long-time staff who still get excited when a new shipment of herbs arrives. Every package sent out the door carries that energy: handwritten, freshly measured, and handled with genuine care.
It’s not about chasing speed or scale — it’s about keeping a human touch in a world that’s gone digital. From Berkeley to your home, every ounce still carries the same promise: knowledge, freshness, and love in every package.
