Story

My name is Hannah Weber, and I am the owner of Herbal Passion.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve been obsessed with tea and incense.My Christmas stocking was always filled with “Celestial Seasonings” tea boxes, and my mother and I would frequently get into disputes over me “smelling up the house” with my incense.I grew up a little on the chubby side, and it wasn’t until high school that I began to pay attention to my health.I became really interested in cooking, and began to exercise regularly.By my junior year of high school I was working at Whole Foods, and knew that I wanted to major in Nutrition and Dietetics in college, which is precisely what I did.During undergrad, I worked as a personal trainer and was a counselor at a weight loss camp for kids in Missouri during the summers.I found myself inspired by all of my “kids” who showed up at camp with zero confidence, minimal knowledge about healthy eating, and left with a positive outlook on life and increased sense of wellness.I knew I was destined to motivate and educate people about healthy living.

I moved to Charleston from my hometown of Chicago in 2012 to complete my dietetic internship with the Medical University of South Carolina.During that year, I found myself very concerned that I had gone into the wrong field.Helping people make lifestyle changes was why I had majored in nutrition in undergrad, and I found myself feeling very lost in the clinical scene.I was disturbed by the heavy influence pharmaceuticals play in the medical model, and I felt that my job as a dietitian would be extremely limited if I chose the clinical route.During the internship I worked at Earth Fare–a natural health-foods store in the Southeast region.The “wellness” department of the store inspired me to start using all-natural body care products, and my interest in herbs blossomed.Naturally, I began to seek out a way to learn more about herbs, and I stumbled across the “South Carolina Herbal Society,” which offered an herbal apprenticeship program in Charleston.After attending a few meetings, I decided to complete the apprenticeship and immerse myself deeper into the world of herbal medicine.In the spring of 2015, I graduated from the Gaiananda School of Herbal Studies and felt compelled to spread awareness about all of the amazing natural options Mother Nature provides us!I knew Charleston was lacking an herb shop/apothecary, and I found myself day-dreaming about opening one up.In November of 2015, I completed my Birth Doula training and found myself at a crossroads regarding my career.Still working at Earth Fare, I knew it was time for a change.In December, I stumbled upon a space in Avondale that was up for rent and decided to take a risk, and make my dream a reality.And so Herbal Passion was born.Cheers!