AS we celebrate Agriculture Month 2024 with the theme “Transforming Tomorrow: Championing Food Security through Innovation and Technology”, we will be featuring some of our locals who have made significant contributions to our local sector and farther afield.

This week, we are featuring Princess Cosbert with her brand “The Essence of Herbs”, which she started in 2015. As a cancer survivor, she had a vision to craft naturally delicious and ethically sourced herbs and spices into teas and other products to satisfy the Guyana market.

The small company has grown over the years and has expanded its product line to include dietary supplements, skincare, haircare, hygiene and facial products, among other items. The Essence of Herbs products have received enthusiastic reviews and are on sale across Guyana.

Cosbert did not know that her life-threatening illness would have empowered her to become an agro-processor of all-natural products in the form of tea drops/gummies and organic hair and skin care products, which have significant nutritional and health benefits.

The 38-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is a cancer survivor and credits her survival to herbal treatments which were administered by her own father, who has since passed away.
Cosbert lost her mother to cancer, and, on her deathbed, she asked Princess to have herself checked out since she felt that something was wrong with her health. She had been ill, and her mother was her caregiver. On the brink of death, 10 years ago, after she was diagnosed with cancer, Cosbert opted to utilise herbal medicine, which significantly improved her health and gave her a new lease on life.

Having made a full recovery, she wanted to undertake an agro-processing venture in natural, herbal products. After surviving cancer with the help of herbal treatments, Cosbert wanted to promote organic, herbal products which can be beneficial for people instead of expensive medical care. She is a testimony of the power of natural products and what they can do for the body to promote health.

She started a small agro-processing business via a mini factory in front of her house at Farm, East Bank Demerara, eight years ago, producing organic tea pods in six flavours but quit making it.
Cosbert has embarked on a new venture, which is producing tea drops in a gummy form that can be used in hot water as tea without milk or sugar and is suitable for diabetes.
She reported that the herbal tea drops come in six flavours and will be packaged in clear (see-through) reusable tins.

The product will be at Massy, Turkeyen, East Coast Demerara, the Guyana Shop, Robb and Alexander Streets, and Georgetown, following its launch later this month.
Before she was diagnosed with cancer, Cosbert was a hairdresser and a nail technician who quit that job to pursue becoming an agro-processor via her own line of products under the moniker, “Essence of Herbs”.

“Medical treatments were expensive, and when I was not getting better, I opted to listen to my father, who gave me herbal medicines which improved my health over time, and I overcame cancer and became healthy again,” she said.

Cosbert related that the life-changing experience opened her eyes to the multi-faceted benefits of herbs and organic products, and she wanted to produce products that would have a positive impact on health.

Today, she is cancer-free and is using her knowledge and talent to produce local products such as herbal tea drops, shampoo and conditioner, facial scrub, lip balm, toning serum, deodorant and bar soaps.

Cosbert reported that her tea drops are potent and ideal for people who are health conscious and also for diabetics.

Her facial scrub and facial toning serum can be used together to brighten the skin to a natural glow and eliminate blemishes and sunburn discolouration for a more dewy, natural appearance.
Cosbert stated that her deodorant is aluminium-free and safe to use, while her bar soaps are lye-free and do not dry out the skin as some soaps do; instead, it retains the moisture for a healthier look.