All herbs, with the exception of a few, need to be fresh. A good general rule is that with the new harvest, the old belongs to the compost heap. People who wish to have good results need to know when the herbs were harvested. Roots and barks generally have a longer shelf life. Other important factors to be considered are the time of harvest and how they have been dried and stored.
Some herbs require harvesting in the morning dew and others in the afternoon sun.
Most roots should be harvested during rest periods of the plants, others however, when the plant is in blossom. The drying process has to be done quickly to avoid mould growing, which in turn could harm the Kombucha fungus at a later stage. Herbs should not be dried in high temperatures. Direct sunlight should also be avoided during the drying process. People who have compromised the manufacture of a health remedy should not automatically say that natural medicine is ineffective.