Aromatic Wonders

Direct impact

• Promotion of biodiversity: in the last 20 years, Cantinho das Aromáticas has cultivated using organic farming 2,5 hectares, with more than 30 species, thus contributing to the preservation of the environment, soil quality ,and the promotion of biodiversity. 
• Promotion of organic agriculture: Cantinho das Aromáticas has been warded the ECOCERT PORTUGAL certificate since 2005. This certification covers their production of fresh and dried aromatic, medicinal, and condimental plants, as well as the nursery (seeds), potted, and containerized plants.
• Creation of decent work: the funds acquired through this financing contributed to the hiring of one more full-time employee, adding to the 5 already on staff. The Cantinho was the first Portuguese company, producer of infusions and condiments to obtain GLOBALG.A.P certification. This formal recognition implies compliance with measures at the level of farm management, health, safety and welfare of workers, waste management and pollutants, environment and conservation, management of complaints, traceability, and food safety and hygiene.

Indirect impact

• Promotion of healthy diets: besides the recognized properties of infusions and tisanes, the use of aromatic herbs as condiments, promoted by this company, can help prevent the excessive consumption of salt and its associated diseases;
• Promotion of conscious consumption: Cantinho das Aromáticas has a physical store and an online store with thousands of products that promote a healthy, sustainable and zero-waste lifestyle. The financing foresees an increase in the sales of bulk products.

Luís Alves, 49 years old, is an agronomist from Porto. He was in charge of Serralves Park, one of the largest and most impressive gardens in Porto, between 1997 and 2002. In 2002 he founded Cantinho das Aromáticas, an organic urban agriculture project, unique in Western Europe. 

Cantinho das Aromáticas was the first nursery in Portugal exclusively dedicated to the production of over 150 species of aromatic plants. In 2007 it began producing and regularly exporting several tons of aromatic plants in bulk, mainly for the cosmetics and pharmaceutical organic industries. Since 2014 it has had its own brand, with a range of over 60 products, including infusions, tisanes, teas, and condiments, packaged and in bulk.

The Cantinho das Aromáticas is the most awarded Portuguese company in the "Oscars" of the food industry, the Great Taste Awards, in London, having won over the past 8 years many awards with several of its products.

Those who visit the project can find:

• The productive garden, full of biodiversity;

• The nursery 

• A shop and teashop 

• A research and development center 

It is also important to highlight some of the certifications awarded to the project:

• Organic Certification - certificate of organic production, supervised by ECOCERT PORTUGAL for the production of fresh and dried aromatic, medicinal, and condiment plants, as well as for all the production of nursery plants (seeds), potted and packaged.
• GLOBALG.A.P. Certification - formal recognition of compliance with measures at the level of exploitation management, health, safety, and well-being of workers, management of waste and pollutants, environment and conservation, management of complaints, traceability, food safety, and hygiene.
• Kosher Certification - the products at Cantinho das Aromáticas are also under the supervision of the Rabbi of Porto, being certified as Kosher, thus conferring one more quality seal.
• FDA Certification - required to export food products to the USA.

Nowadays, Cantinho das Aromáticas has a large surrounding community, visible in the more than 94.000 followers on Facebook, more than 24.000 followers on Instagram, and approximately 10.000 subscribers to its email. It also has a channel on Youtube, with more than 2,5 million views.

In the last 20 years Luis Alves has been a farmer and nurseryman, producing aromatic, medicinal and condiment plants organically. He produces, from the seed to the final product, infusions, tisanes, and condiments for the national market and for export. He has won several awards, including 1st Prize for Innovation for Sustainability (EBAEpis) - European Business Awards for the Environment 2011, in the category Process; Honored by the Presidency of the Republic, as a young personality who has distinguished himself in Portugal, within the scope of his professional activities, on June 9, 2012, at the Champalimaud Foundation; and Vida Rural Award - Agricultural Company of the year 2013, agricultural marketing category. Among several distinctions, he received the municipal Gold medal of Professional Merit, for the relevance and quality of the activity developed in the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia in 2016. He is also co-author of the book Erva uma Vez.