the company started packaging their products in small boxes. The company is now managed by Thomas P. Meier as CEO and Felix Richterich as President of the Board. Today, Ricola exports to over 50 countries in Asia, North America and Europe. Herbs While the active ingredient in most Ricola products is menthol, an important part of Ricola products is the herb mixture. The following herbs are noted as being part of Ricola's classic blend of 13 herbs: Elder (Sambucus nigra) Horehound (Marrubium vulgare) Mallow (Malva silvestris) Peppermint (Mentha × piperita) Sage (Salvia officinalis) Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) Cowslip (Primula veris) Burnet (Pimpinella saxifraga) Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) Marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis) Lady's mantle (Alchemilla vulgaris) Speedwell, aka veronica (Veronica officinalis) Ripwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata) In the United States, ten herbs make up the herbal mixture, three of which are not in the list above. These are linden flowers (Tilia platyphyllos), wild thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis). Ricola herb gardens Ricola has six show gardens in Switzerland. Visitors to the herb gardens can learn about the original herbal blend in their natural environment and learn all about the cultivation and power of herbs. The gardens can be visited as tourist attractions and are located at the following locations: Nenzlingen, near the company headquarters Trogberg, a mountain in the canton of Solothurn Klewenalp above Beckenried Kandersteg in the Berner Oberland Zermatt in the Valais Pontresina in the southern part of Grisons The herbs used to produce Ricola's cough drops are not cultivated in these gardens, but in natural plantations in the Swiss mountains in accordance with strict organic or BioSuisse guidelines. Ricola ensures that its cultivation areas are not situated near industrial sites or the road networks to avoid contact with harmful pollutants. Over 100 self-managed farms are under contract to Ricola in the Valais, Emmental, Puschlav and the Jura Mountains, in Central Switzerland and Ticino. No pesticides, insecticides or herbicides are used in herb cultivation. References External links Official website Throat lozenges Breath mints Swiss confectionery Food and drink companies of Switzerland Food and drink companies established in 1930 Swiss companies established in 1930 Swiss brands