Six bitter botanicals, brought together in one alchemical essence
Espara combines six traditional bitter botanicals in an alchemical essence rooted in Paracelsus — in a 30 ml dropper bottle holding roughly 530 drops.
🌿
A six-plant composition
A balanced blend of traditional bitter botanicals — led by yellow gentian (Gentiana lutea).
⚗️
Alchemical method
A multi-step distillation following a method handed down through the centuries — plant components are processed separately, then brought back together.
💧
15 drops, twice a day
Take before meals, sublingually or with a little water — 30 ml hold roughly 530 drops.
🌱
Vegan, gluten- and lactose-free
V-Label certified, no animal-derived ingredients, no gluten, no lactose.
Sweet is everywhere these days. Bitter has become the outlier — a flavour that used to belong to everyday cooking and has quietly disappeared from most plates. Anyone who has tried a traditional bitter aperitif knows the moment on the tongue: sharp at first, then clear.
Gentiana lutea, the yellow gentian, grows high in the Alps and Pyrenees. Its root contains amarogentin — one of the most bitter naturally occurring compounds known. The other five plants in the blend each bring their own bitter profile, from herbaceous-sharp to warm-aromatic.
"Alchemical" sounds medieval — and it traces back to exactly that period. Paracelsus (1493–1541) saw alchemy not as gold-making but as a method for crafting potent herbal preparations. To him a plant had body, spirit and soul — three parts to be separated during processing, treated individually, and finally reunited. For the longer story: Preparation and use of essences.
📊 Yellow Gentian Compositum by the numbers
📋 Recommended use
Take 15 drops twice a day before meals (place under the tongue or take with water). 30 ml correspond to approx. 530 drops.
Composition per 30 ml
| Component |
Share |
| Yellow gentian distillate |
16.67% |
| Common centaury distillate |
16.67% |
| Calamus distillate |
16.67% |
| Sage distillate |
16.67% |
| Wormwood distillate |
16.67% |
| Silverweed distillate |
16.67% |
| Alcohol content |
16% vol. |
Legal name: Food supplement with distillates of yellow gentian, wormwood, calamus, sage, common centaury and silverweed.
Ingredients: Distillates of yellow gentian (16.67%), common centaury (16.67%), calamus (16.67%), sage (16.67%), wormwood (16.67%), silverweed (16.67%); 16% vol. alcohol.
Net quantity: 30 ml
What does "compositum" mean in alchemical essences?
"Compositum" is Latin for "compound". In alchemical essences the term marks blends of several plant distillates — as opposed to single-plant essences. This compositum brings together six bitter botanicals in equal parts, with yellow gentian as the lead plant that gives the blend its name.
⚠️ Mandatory information: Food supplements are not a substitute for a varied and balanced diet. The recommended daily dose should not be exceeded. A varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle are important. Keep out of reach of small children.
📦 Storage: Store in a dry place, at room temperature, protected from light. Protect from heat.
💬 Frequently asked questions
-
What does the essence taste like?+
Bitter. Genuinely bitter — that's the nature of bitter-herb essences. Yellow gentian contains amarogentin, which remains perceptible even at strong dilution. A little water softens the edge; sublingual gives the most direct taste experience.
-
How do I take the drops?+
Take 15 drops twice a day before meals. Either place them straight under the tongue and let them sit briefly, or dilute with a little water. Before meals, so the bitter notes register on the palate first.
-
How long does one 30 ml bottle last?+
30 ml correspond to roughly 530 drops. At the recommended daily amount of 30 drops (2 × 15), one bottle covers approximately 17 to 18 days.
-
How much alcohol does the essence contain?+
The alcohol content is 16% vol. — typical for plant distillates, where alcohol acts as both solvent and preservative. A daily dose of 30 drops corresponds to about 1.7 ml of liquid with roughly 0.27 ml of pure ethanol.
-
What are alchemical essences according to Paracelsus?+
Paracelsus (1493–1541) saw alchemy not as gold-making but as a method for crafting potent herbal preparations. To him a plant had body, spirit and soul — three parts to be separated, processed individually, and finally reunited. For the longer story:
Preparation and use of essences.
-
Which other Espara products are available?+
Responsible person (GPSR, EU 2023/988) & manufacturer: Espara GmbH · Franz-Sauer-Straße 46 / Haus A · 5020 Salzburg · Austria · office@espara.com
