The Rise of Functional Herbs for Daily Wellness in the United States
U.S. sales of functional foods and beverages reached $92.1 billion in 2023 and are projected by Nutrition Business Journal to grow at a 5% compound annual growth rate to $106.9 billion in 2026. Today, herbal supplement use is common in the U.S. But they are not for everyone. They are not subject to close scrutiny by the FDA or other governing agencies. Functional foods are foods that deliver health benefits beyond basic nutrition by incorporating or enhancing specific beneficial ingredients. Food and beverage companies are looking for ingredient options that meet consumers’ growing interest in functional health and wellness benefits.
The use of functional herbs for daily wellness in the United States is experiencing a sustained rise, with roughly 1 in 5 American adults reporting the use of herbal products. Driven by a proactive, prevention-oriented health culture and a desire for natural, side-effect-free alternatives to pharmaceuticals, the U.S. herbal supplement market continues to grow, with sales increasing by 5.4% in 2024 to an estimated $12.551 billion.

Key Market Trends and Drivers
• Preventive Wellness Culture: Consumers are increasingly focusing on long-term health rather than just treating illness.
• Mental Health and Stress Management: Following pandemic-related stress, demand for herbs addressing anxiety, mood, and sleep has surged.
• Adaptogens and Nootropics: There is significant growth in popularity for ingredients like ashwagandha, rhodiola, and lion's mane to aid in stress management and cognitive function.
• Combination Formulas: Consumers are shifting toward products that blend multiple herbs to target broad health functions, such as immunity or sleep, rather than single-herb supplements.
• Convenience and Functional Foods: Functional herbs are increasingly added to daily beverages, snacks, and "Feel Bars," blurring the lines between supplements and food.
To understand how functional beverages are shaping the wellness market:


Popular Functional Herbs in the US
• Turmeric/Curcumin: Popular for anti-inflammatory properties and joint health.
• Ginger: Used for digestive health and to soothe the stomach.
• Chamomile & Valerian: Commonly used for sleep and calming effects.

Demographics and Adoption
• Diverse Users: While historical users were often older, recent trends show broad adoption across demographics seeking better health.
• Education Level: Approximately 37% of people with post-high school education report using herbal medicine.
• Self-Initiated Care: Most users are self-diagnosing and selecting products without practitioner guidance, making reliable information critical.

About Us
At Akshar Herbs and Spices, our family harvests nature's healing gifts to nourish your wellbeing.

Our minority women-owned business ethically sources remarkable quality ingredients from Africa's fertile soils, from antioxidant-rich hibiscus flowers to soothing ayurvedic herbs. We believe optimal health blooms when communities care for one another.

Our New York home infuses this same spirit of nurture as we meticulously cure vanilla beans, hand-pack tropical fruit medleys, and blend fine loose-leaf teas for your brewing pleasure.

In enjoying cup after cup of Akshar's offerings, you savor sustainable change through supporting women thriving in new livelihoods and small farmer prosperity.

We fondly imagine your first sip of our warming sensations of global kinship in one cup. The simple luxury of wholesome snacks and small batch items that uplift spirits while honoring Mother Earth and her abundant mercy.

Join us in this celebration of nourishment for all. And welcome to the Akshar family.

OUR STORY
It began with two women dreaming of positive change over cups of chai...

When retirement knocked on the door, Deviyani, a former NYFD officer, and her niece Nirali, an organic farm auditor, envisioned living their purpose.

They saw a startling contrast malnutrition in wealthy areas while rural farmers struggled with poverty. This led to the creation of Akshar, meaning "imperishable" in Sanskrit; with the goal of connecting these worlds through providing nourishment across regions.

Akshar ethically sources earth's healing gifts, from nutrient-rich moringa to calming ayurvedic herbs. We form lasting partnerships with smallholder farmers in Africa, providing a reliable market so they can transform communities.

We carefully transport the lovingly grown offerings from across oceans to your table. Your first sip of floral hibiscus tea creates a connection to Amahle, a mother able to pay for school thanks to her work. Your bite of sweet, tangy pineapple is a reminder of the restored habitat the fruit came from.

The imperishability of nutrition and nurture flows through Akshar. Two women’s vision now manifest of upholding growers, cultures, ecologies and most importantly, each other.

Join us in savoring the fruits of change; with every cup, recipe, and moment's enjoyment of nature's bounty, you celebrate farmers prospering, soils enriching, and most imperishably hope awakening.



ETHICAL PRODUCT SOURCING
From fertile African soils, Akshar sources soulful foods each bearing a beautiful backstory of people and place.

Our devoted quality team forms relationships with growers across seasons, from first planting rituals through joyful harvest days under sunny skies. Together we honor heirloom wisdom in holistic farming so each herb and fruit brims with vitality.

At its core, Akshar delivers more than exceptional organic produce; we provide emotional nourishment by connecting you to farmers across oceans through our ethically sourced foods and drinks. This fosters a sense of wonder at ancient seeds brought to life again, and wellness through caring for each other and our planet.

PREMIUM, QUALITY INGREDIENTS
Akshar promotes wellness by providing natural, nutritious foods from seed to sale. Our farmers cultivate premium quality produce using environmental practices that sustain ecological balance. Coffee, spices, fruits and more are harvested fresh at optimal vitality and flavor.

We partner with women-led cooperatives in Sub-Saharan Africa to provide economic opportunity while supplying our customers the highest quality ingredients.

Our facility follows FDA standards in processing pure, unadulterated offerings like wellness teas and rich vanilla beans. Every small-batch delight is ethically sourced and organically produced, never chemical-laden or artificially manipulated.

Our ultimate purpose is advancing human prosperity, food sovereignty, and environmental balance together. We link sustainable farmers with mindful consumers, creating a cycle where both groups are uplifted and those benefits spread through communities. Enjoy our wholesome flavors that promote wellness by cultivating a system that cares for both people and the planet.

OUR PLEDGE IS TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY
At Akshar, we believe in the imperishability of hope. Our family started this business not simply to trade goods, but to nurture dignity.

We partner with cooperatives across Africa’s red soils, training local growers in sustainable farming so they can uplift their communities. And it is from their fields we source our exquisite raw ingredients, returning year upon year so these farmers can rely on our market to feed their families.

Back in New York, we join hands with the Maryhaven Center of Hope, whose differently abled trainees carefully, with precision and purpose put their focus and care into transforming our tropical fruit into finished packages. More than a pathway to self-reliance, this work fuels a sense of purpose and belonging.

Ultimately, our partnership model weaves an unbroken thread of upliftment across continents from seed to shelf, field to family. With cooperation, creativity and compassion, we can build a just world where all people have the chance to realize their highest potential.

We thank you for joining us on this journey where quality is not just measured by crop yield or processing standards, but by the fulfillment flowing when given the dignity to contribute one's talents, nurture one's dreams and know that we all rise together.