Inspiring Conversations with Tarion Young of Salt Apothecary and Wellness, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tarion Young.

Hi Tarion, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been a Master Herbalist and Tea Blender since 2019 but decided to create a business around it in 2020 right before the pandemic happened. I’ve always been interested in herbs and the healing properties that come from nature since I was a child. Growing up playing in the woods and in fields, plants and nature were such a big part of my childhood. I grew up in Northeastern Ohio in a rural area and always watched my grandmother use folk remedies when we were sick or hurt. Tea when we were sick, tobacco for bee stings, and oatmeal baths for skin issues were some of her go-tos among other things. She was an avid gardener so we were always surrounded by the most beautiful plants and flowers. As I got older I gravitated more and more to herbs and plant medicine and realized the many amazing properties they hold. I started reading and studying and eventually began working on certifications to become a Master Herbalist. I began sharing my herbal creations with friends and family after my first certification. I created tea blends for friends when they got sick and lactation blends to help friends who had newly become mothers. When the pandemic happened I jumped fully in to my business and created an entire apothecary line that included tea blends, tinctures, glycerites, salves and even herbal pain glycerites for dogs. As my business evolved I realized how much I loved tea blending and that’s what the focus of my business has become these last few years.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to get here definitely hasn’t been smooth but it’s felt natural and it’s made me feel like this is exactly what I need to be doing. It’s taken a lot of studying, a lot of trial and error and a lot of juggling of time between my business and my former career. After things began to reopen after the pandemic I had to briefly pause my business because my schedule didn’t allow me to be as present as it required. I was working in entertainment but I always felt the pull to be working as an herbalist and tea blender. I continued to work as much as I could on my recipes and formulas and in 2024 the costume shop I was working at closed. It was at that moment I realized I needed to focus on building my business. After I secured a new job I spent my weekends and days off blending tea, creating new formulas and recipes, building an online presence and doing farmer’s markets whenever I could. I was able to grow my brand enough that during the spring of this year I made the decision to step away from entertainment and focus full time on my business. It was the scariest and bravest decision I’ve ever made and every moment since has been incredible.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Salt Apothecary and Wellness, LLC?
At Salt Apothecary and Wellness I focus on Premium Handcrafted Looseleaf Herbal Tea. My product line of herbal tea blends are adaptogenic so they help the body adapt to stressors both emotionally and physiologically. My company focuses on a product line that provides stress relief and helps with mental health. My tea blends help relieve stress by lowering cortisol levels, inducing relaxation and boosting mood. My mission is creating products that bring people calm, peace and comfort. I simply want to help people make it from one day to the next and sometimes a cup of tea can help.

All of my herbs and spices are organic and I don’t use any natural or artificial flavorings. After my formulations are done I approach each blend as if I’m creating a recipe for cooking. I layer culinary spices and non gmo freeze dried fruits to enhance flavors. My flavor profiles are delicious and extremely unique.

I also like showing people the versatility of tea by creating Mocktail recipes that play on traditional cocktails like Bellinis, Moscow Mules, and Old Fashioneds. There is a lot more that can be done with tea other than just adding hot water.

What makes you happy?
Currently, what makes me happy is knowing that I’ve created a line of tea blends that are genuinely helping people. A lot of patrons who purchase from me send me messages or come back to visit me at markets to tell me how much they’re enjoying my tea blends and how much they’re helping them. It makes me realize I’ve stepped into my purpose. I absolutely love when it’s time to blend batches of tea. The feeling of the herbs and the aromas are truly meditative. It brings me so much peace and joy. Also, creating new tea blends is so creative and requires a level of artistry that taps into who I am as a person who made a career as an artisan. I truly love what I’m doing.

Pricing:

• $16
• $17
• $22

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.saltapothecaryteas.com
• Instagram: @Salt.Apothecary
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/saltapothecarylv