Bärg & Chrüter - Swiss Mountain Herbs: The Story Behind the Blend

For Markus Zbinden, tea has never been just about what is in the cup. It is also about what a cup can reveal: a new flavour, an unexpected combination, or a different understanding of an ingredient he thought he already knew.

His own passion for tea began with a Pu erh shared by a friend. It was a vintage from around 1993, and the experience changed his perception of what tea could be.

“I couldn't believe that is actually tea what I drank there,” he recalls. “This is what opened my eyes completely about tea.”

Markus’s appreciation for tea has continued to evolve since that first encounter. His openness to different tea styles and flavours also informs his approach to blending.

There is always another flavour to discover, another style to explore, another way to experience an ingredient. It was this same spirit of experimentation that eventually found its way into AVANTCHA Swiss Mountain Herbs, a herbal infusion inspired by Switzerland and the character of its botanicals.

How Swiss Mountain Herbs Was Created

The story began in Markus’s garden, where he planted around 13 varieties of mint, alongside lemon verbena and lemon balm. He experimented with the herbs fresh and dried, tasting them individually before exploring different combinations.

“I kind of got inspired by what you can achieve.”

The aim was to create an aromatic herbal infusion in which no single ingredient dominated. Peppermint proved particularly challenging. Its intensity can easily take over a blend, so Markus spent considerable time adjusting its proportion until it added freshness without overwhelming the other botanicals.

“We wanted a little bit of peppermint, but just a touch,” he explains. “It gives a very little freshness to the drink, but not overpowering.”

To understand how the ingredients worked together, Markus brewed them separately before combining their infusions. He could then compare their individual characteristics, adjust the proportions and try again. The process took around two to three months.

What might seem like a small adjustment was central to the blend's development. The intention was not simply to include a variety of herbs, but to understand what each one brought to the cup.

What Herbs Are in Swiss Mountain Herbs?

AVANTCHA Swiss Mountain Herbs brings together seven herbs and two flowers. Markus wanted the blend to offer more than a straightforward mint infusion, with different botanicals contributing to its aroma, freshness and overall character.
The idea was also shaped by the experience he wanted the blend to offer.

“We wanted a calming blend because everybody's life is too stressful these days.”

Lemon balm contributes a gentle character, different varieties of mint bring aromatic freshness, and lemon verbena introduces a lively citrus note. Nettle is also part of the botanical composition. Each ingredient has a role to play. The challenge was to bring them together in a way that felt cohesive, without allowing any one herb to dominate.

The result is a light, smooth and softly citrusy infusion, with subtle sweetness, gentle mint and fresh herbaceous notes. Reflects a balanced approach to herbal tea blending: starting with an idea of the experience the infusion should offer, then working through the ingredients to find the right balance. 

Swiss Mountain Herbs: A Blend Rooted in Switzerland

Swiss Mountain Herbs has a personal connection to Markus and AVANTCHA’s Swiss heritage. Creating a product inspired by Switzerland felt like a natural extension of the brand’s roots.

“This tea is very important because it just cements our heritage and our roots in Switzerland.” 

The herbs and flowers are sourced from Switzerland, giving the blend a tangible connection to the country. For Markus, that connection also reflects qualities he associates with AVANTCHA itself, including its aesthetics, precision and attention to detail.

The blend can be enjoyed beyond the traditional hot infusion, too. Markus sees it working particularly well served iced alongside a cheese platter, especially with soft goat’s cheese, or paired with a citrus dessert. Its fresh and citrus notes offer an interesting contrast to both.

It is a simple way to explore the blend from a different perspective, with its character lending itself to different occasions depending on how it is prepared and what it is served with.

Swiss-Sourced Herbs and AVANTCHA’s Natural Farming Approach

The story of Swiss Mountain Herbs extends beyond the finished blend to the herbs and flowers grown in Switzerland and the producers who cultivate them.

The farms hold organic certification under Swiss standards. As Markus explains, the distinction between Swiss and EU certification is important: “But because they are certified according to Swiss standards and we have certification under EU standards, we cannot say it as organic; so, we still  test that the herbs are free of pesticides, and we use our own Natual Farming label because we guarantee it.”

Ultimately, Swiss Mountain Herbs brings together two elements that have shaped its development from the beginning: a connection to Switzerland and the curiosity to discover what different botanicals can create when carefully combined.