GILI

Organic herbal tea from leftover lemon and ginger pulp

Since 2021, GILI has been working with fresh, organic and local ingredients to make elixirs. With these 'magic potions' of ginger, turmeric, wasabi, lemon, ... founders Gaëlle and Enzo set the tone for a zero-waste production approach. This way, every leftover squeezed lemon and ginger gets a second - and at least as tasty - life.

100% natural, 0% waste
Whereas the majority of beverage producers throw their pressed fruit in the bin after production, GILI reuses the leftover lemon and ginger pulp. Thus, they freeze-dry the leftover fibres from the production process to make herbal tea. For each 700ml bottle of ginger elixir, for example, Gaëlle and Enzo make 3 cans of ginger-lemon herbal tea. Ideal for the tea drinker who raises the head on sustainable business. Or for all those who like a mild-spicy morning pick-me-up or alcohol-free nightcap.

In 3 years, GILI was able to turn as much as 6 tonnes of 'leftovers' into herbal tea. That is comparable to 15 tonnes less CO2 emissions into the air. Or 39,000 square metres less land sown with pesticides.

GILI is also making its mark on society on a smaller scale. For instance, the organisation has its herbal teas canned in a sheltered workshop by people with disabilities or complex backgrounds.

A second life for every GILI bottle
Not only the pulp gets a second life, so do the GILI bottles. To prevent the bottles from disappearing into the glass bulb on the side of the road after use, Gaëlle and Enzo are calling for their bottles to be returned to their warehouse in Mechelen. There they will be washed, sterilised and reintroduced to consumers. Would you rather keep them anyway? Then you can use them as water bottles, vases, candle holders or use them to brew your own kombucha.