Tanja Schmeißer// Herb hikes

I am a certified herbal teacher (Gundermann School) and consultant for wild herbs, medicinal plants and natural cosmetics.

My passion for plants and their use began as a child. I accompanied women with medical expertise in collecting and had my own experiences through intensive observation, smelling and tasting. This passion has led me to my job - pharmaceutical-technical assistant. It was there that I expertly learned how to use and process medicinal plants. Since I am also a passionate cook, it was time to explore the culinary benefits of wild herbs as well.

After more than 20 years of professional experience in pharmacies, I completed further training as a herbal teacher. There was also a lot of new “wild herb” for me to discover. I enjoyed diving even deeper into the world of wild herbs that I focused on self-employment and have been working as a freelancer since 2022. I was able to gain a lot of experience conducting workshops and herb hikes for the Gut Leidenhausen Environmental Education Center or taking guided tours for NABU in their garden laboratory.

My passion is to reconnect people with nature and to pass on old knowledge. My herb hikes are not just about identifying plants. It's about slowing down, seeing nature with all your senses and regaining access to original knowledge. Together, we collect wild herbs and get suggestions on how they can be processed into valuable products for the kitchen, medicine cabinet or body care.

My herb hikes take place in Cologne, the Bergisches Land and around Königsforst. In the middle of beautiful nature with meadows, forest trails and wild herb areas. The groups are deliberately kept manageable so that a personal atmosphere is created and there is enough space for questions and exchange.

I am also happy to offer private herbal hikes as well as individual group and team events. Whether groups of friends, families, companies or educational institutions — together we create a special time in nature.

The joint herb hike creates connection, deceleration and new experiences away from everyday life. Combinations of a wild herb tour followed by the joint production of natural products and small herbal dishes are particularly popular.