Michael Isted from the Herball
Michael Isted from The Herball · September 16, 2024 · 3 min read
As with all of our concepts, the authentic integration of nature, plants, people, and the culture of this beautiful country is central to everything we do.
We are proud to share our first journey into Jordan in partnership with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. Together with The Herball, we set out to design something never experienced before in Amman: a circular, holistic, and sustainable drinks programme that supports the local community.
The Vision: A Drinks Concept Not Yet Experienced in Amman
The goal was to create a beverage experience that was entirely alcohol-free, yet sophisticated, complex, and deeply rooted in Jordanian terroir. This meant moving away from imported, mass-produced mixers and toward local, foraged, and distilled botanicals.
The programme was built on four key pillars:
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Sustainability – A circular system that minimises waste and maximises local resources.
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Community Support – Partnering with local producers, farmers, and artisans.
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Authenticity – Using indigenous Jordanian plants and traditional preservation methods.
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Innovation – Introducing house carbonation, bespoke bottled serves, and a detailed staff training programme.
Our Role: Jordan's Only Certified Plant Distillery
At Green Fields Oils, we are proud to be the country's only certified plant distillery. For this project, we distilled a range of non-alcoholic local plants using our steam-distillation process, transforming native botanicals into pure, aromatic hydrosols and flavour essences.
Why hydrosols?
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They capture the true essence of the plant without alcohol.
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They are naturally subtle and complex, perfect for layering flavours.
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They are allergen-free and suitable for all dietary preferences.
Our steam-distilled hydrosols (such as rose, mint, and olive leaf) served as the flavour backbone for many of the signature non-alcoholic serves.
“Using hydrosols is an easy way to introduce subtle or bold flavours into your cocktails. By their nature, the flavour components dissolved in the hydrosol will easily mix into the water portion of your drink.” — Tiffany Jones, Cheryl’s Herbs
The Partners: A Shared Philosophy
This programme would not have been possible without a shared commitment to quality, sustainability, and local authenticity.
| Partner | Contribution |
|---|---|
| The Herball (led by Michael Isted) | Concept design, holistic drinks architecture, and on-the-ground coordination. |
| The Ritz-Carlton, Amman | World-class hospitality platform, bar team, and guest experience. |
| Green Fields Oils | Steam distillation of local botanicals into pure hydrosols and flavour extracts. |
| Bunni Coffee Roastery + Academy | Locally roasted coffee for coffee-based non-alcoholic serves. |
| Maxim Schulte | Detailed training programme for the bar team, ensuring consistency and excellence. |
Traditional Methods Meet Modern Mixology
The programme integrated traditional fermentation and preservation methods alongside house carbonation and bespoke bottled serves.
Examples of local plants used:
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Rose petals – distilled into a delicate, floral hydrosol.
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Mint – captured as a fresh, cooling essence.
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Olive leaf – transformed into a savoury, herbaceous base.
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Other indigenous Jordanian herbs and botanicals – foraged and distilled in small batches.
Each hydrosol was crafted in our facility, using only pure, local spring water and the plant material itself – no alcohol, no artificial flavours, no preservatives.
The Training Programme: Empowering the Bar Team
A drinks concept is only as good as the people who execute it. That is why we partnered with Maxim Schulte to deliver a comprehensive training programme for the bar team at The Ritz-Carlton, Amman.
What the training covered:
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Understanding the flavour profiles of each distilled botanical.
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Techniques for using hydrosols in both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails.
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House carbonation methods and bespoke bottled serve preparation.
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Consistency in presentation and guest experience.
The result is a drinks programme that is not only unique but also repeatable and scalable – a true first for Amman.
A Circular, Holistic Approach
One of the most exciting aspects of this collaboration was the circular system we built together.
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Leftover plant material from distillation was returned to local farms for composting or animal feed.
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Glass bottles were sourced from local suppliers and designed for return and reuse.
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The programme supported local farmers and foragers, ensuring that the economic benefit stayed within the community.
This is not just a drinks programme; it is a model for sustainable hospitality that can be replicated elsewhere.
A New Standard for Non-Alcoholic Beverages
The global non-alcoholic cocktail market is booming, expected to grow from $1.59 trillion in 2024 to $2.59 trillion by 2032. Consumers are seeking sophisticated, flavorful alternatives to traditional alcoholic beverages, driven by health trends, moderation lifestyles, and social inclusivity.
This collaboration positions The Ritz-Carlton, Amman and Green Fields Oils at the forefront of this movement in the Middle East.
What’s Next?
We are proud of what we built together, and we believe this is just the beginning. The same model – using locally distilled hydrosols and traditional methods – can be applied to hotels, restaurants, and bars across the region.
If you are a hospitality professional interested in creating a signature non-alcoholic drinks programme, we would love to hear from you.
Contact our B2B team for a consultation
If you are a hotel, restaurant, or bar looking to develop a signature non‑alcoholic drinks programme, we invite you to contact our B2B team. We can distill custom botanicals and train your staff to deliver an authentic, sustainable experience.
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