Once again folks :) I have loved coming here for over 7 years: -When I'm ill -Need herbs and advice or books or all of the above -Knowledgeable Staff -Amazing Quality and a vast range of products and herbs Brilliant!!! read more

Unlike most of the other posters, I am not an herb expert, tea baron or essential oil coinsure, just a guy who likes to have good spices. Anyways, Lhasa Karnak was great; what costs $4 at Safeway you can get for $.70 here with better quality, better service and less waist throwing out old spice bottles. The flavor the spicy paprika gave to my chili was zikpa worthy! Ask questions, try the teas, and let the clerk guide you through their world of flavor. read more

Great selection for such a small shop. Helpful, friendly staff. Their herb quality is top notch. I bought bulk herbs for a pregnancy tonic. The freshness/quality of their Nettle Leaf was FAR superior to what I had been buying here in Richmond, so I don't mind paying double price for it...totally worth it! I'll be back again soon. ETA: I went to the Shattuck Ave location, not the Telegraph location. read more

Lhasa Karnak is a wonderful place to get herbs that are hard to find. I have been going through a shamanistic phase in my life and I have gone on a tincture frenzy. Thanks to my pals at Lhasa I have a well stocked herb cabinet with more herbs and tinctures than I have aliments. The green teas they have are as fragrant and tasty as Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca. The employees are highly skilled, knowledgeable and have helped me tremendously over the years. I give you a big applause thanks Lhasa!! read more

CAUTION: If consistent quality customer service is what you are after Despite reading the negative reviews, I decided to check out this store. My shopping experience was very pleasant and the lady assisting me was very helpful. I spent about $165 that day on oils and herbs. However, I noticed one of my oils was grainy and I had not seen grains in the same oil purchased at another store. I called the store to inquire about this and the phone was handed over to the manager. I was trying to understand why my oil was grainy. As an insult to my intelligence, the manager told me "one batch was grainy and the other batch was not". I guess it was too much to ask and be given an understanding of the oil. I was told it was grainy because it is a plant and to pour the oil through a cheesecloth. The manager seemed very irate and let me know I was wasting his time when he told me "I have been on the phone with you for over five minutes and there is nothing else to discuss". He seemed very confused and kept restating, "What are you asking". Thankfully, I called another store from my hometown and they happily explained the properties of the oil, its grainy feel and why and how a discrepancy can occur from one batch to another. They also chuckled when I told them I was told to pour the oil through cheesecloth. If the manager at Lhasa Karnak could have explained this to me and treated me like a customer that wanted to continue to do business, they would not have lost a customer today. Even if the manager did not have the knowledge or even proper skills to communicate knowledge effectively, I very well may have remained a customer. But being made to feel as though I am an inconvenience is reprehensible in the retail world. If my five minutes was an inconvenience on the phone, it surely is not worth returning to this store. read more

Oh boy. Where do I start. Lhasa helped launch my career as an aromatherapy practitioner. Really. Back in 1993 I just plain hadn't been exposed to much of what I now take for granted today. Living in California opened my eyes to many thangs I would have never experienced had I stayed trapped in the NorthEast. I loved my years in Berkeley and shopping at Lhasa (and taking my very first echinacea for cold prevention in 1993 long before most main stream people had ever heard of the stuff) weas an integral part of my Berkeley experience. read more

Stopped by here yesterday to look for something to help my migraines (there's a prescription I can take if I want, but the side effects are almost as bad as the migraine itself). The staff said it was too broad of a problem to really pinpoint, but they directed me to some of the books they sold and said I was welcome to sit, browse, and find the answers I needed. After checking the books and discussing with them, I ended up buying two ounces of feverfew tea, a small bottle of peppermint oil, and a strainer spoon for the tea. As the day wore on, the dull headache I had started to turn into a migraine. I popped too Excedrin with lunch, no effect. After awhile, I headed back to my friend's place and got to brew up my first cup of feverfew tea. It actually worked! This place was already gonna get a glowing review for their helpfulness, but they're definitely as good as it gets for getting rid of my migraine! read more

Berkeley's finest hold over from the 60's. The staff here are friendly knowledgeable, and way more human than the ilk you'll find hawking wares at whole foods. They are truly holistic in their approach to wellness and often offer tips and remedies much more powerful than the plethora of dried herbs, teas, spices, and extracts that line this beautiful apothecaries cove. This is one of my favorite places to take visitors on a tour of the soul of Berkeley. read more

Nice. These guys are very helpful and patient--and the selection, oh the selection! I could spend days in here and probably not be able to look through all the bottles and jars. If you're getting into herbalism, or if you just want some good bulk spices or tea, come check this place out. Expect to wait, possibly a long time, if anyone is ahead of you in line. read more

Always a great experience I went here once before and forgot the name. I looked for the place and was happy it was still open. The staff are always helpful and nice They helped me get cayanne pepper and medicine for my respiratory infection. Everything was wonderful read more

I heard about yerba maté through friends, and looked around the bay area for the best place to get it. I tried a couple of places before finding Lhasa Karnak. Not only is their maté way better than all the rest, but the store is quiet and nice, and they sell all the gourds and accessories too. I keep shopping here, even now that I don't live in the Bay, because they do mail-orders too! Here's a tip: they have a deal where you can buy 2 lbs. of maté for $26. The place to go for herbs and things! read more

They carry Neem! They have so many good quality herbs at a great price. The staff could've been more friendly, but, hey, they got the job done. Nice ambience as well. read more

Nice place; so happy to be in the Bay Area with a selection like this. I grew up holistically, and so when I was having some stomach issues this week my friend recommended fennel oil, which of course they have here. They were really chill and helpful with suggestions. Love the bulk selection and tea selection looked really great. I'm already feeling a little better from the stuff they recommend. Check this place out! read more

I love this store! Very friendly and helpful staff with a huge selection. Good vibes overall.

Its close to where I currently reside. Staff are very knowledgeable about their products and was really helpful. read more

Lhasa Karnak Herb - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Berkeley, California

I LOVE this store Everytime I come in the staff is so knowledgeable and helpful. If you are looking for an affordable place to buy herbs, teas, oils etc. you should definitely come here! Its worty it to note that even if you're not sure what to buy the staff is willing to sit with you and explain different herbs, teas, oils, and supplements work. read more

I was very pleased with the vast selection of options. I went in congested(head & chest) and fatigued. they suggested the perfect mix of herbs to help me. Although I'm not 1o0% I was able to rest. Can't wait to see what the days to come have in store. Yay peppermint! read more

Lhasa Karnak Herb - Sage, thyme, ginger, & peppermint (Tea time) Sea salt & eucalyptus ( bath) - Herbs & Spices Near Me - Berkeley, California

i order all of my herbs from here. I do wish they would work on the website. i dislike emailing my credit card information into the ether and would prefer to know the total before i receive the receipt in the mail. I should note that i have NEVER had an issue with ordering by email. i always get exactly what i order. love. read more

Great space, good lighting, selection is broad. I found everything I came for, neither of which was particularly exotic but hard to find anywhere else else. They have a pretty good collection of classic and new herbal books, too. Prices are reasonable. And the woman behind the counter was friendly and seemed knowledgeable. All in all a very satisfying experience. I am definitely going back! read more

I thought I had an obscure, difficult to obtain list of botanicals for my current project. I thought there was little hope of finding 4 of the items on my list of 10. Lhasa Karnak had all 10 ingredients and the staff was knowledgeable about almost all of them. I was impressed. With this local resource so handy, I am going to be trying more experiments soon. read more

My fiancé has been hassling me for sage for weeks, but I live in Pittsburg. Walking around Berkeley yesterday, we walked inside and they had it! I've never been in a place like this, but the shelves are lined with books and herbs. Upon walking, we were greated kindly and offered assistance right away. They had 3 different kinds of sage and these tea tree oil toothpicks I always have trouble finding. With 2 sage bundles, tea tree oil toothpicks and a book it all came to 20 bucks. It was less than I thought it would be, but their prices are pretty hefty. I would definitely return read more

Great selection of herbs and spices. This review is based on service, not selection or price. I asked an employee for some recommendations for a drawing poultice that I intended to make, their demeanor was somewhat condescending and dismissive. Essentially, I was told to do my research online before coming in. Which doesn't make sense, as I could just do research and then buy online for cheaper. I prefer to support local businesses, but may need to find another one for herbs and spices. read more

Lhasa has some of the best bulk herbs and spices in the region, and their selection of supplements and other health/beauty products is fine. I used to come here for years *despite* the staff's disregard for customers, but decided recently to just stop coming. I believe strongly in supporting community businesses, but LK takes its customers for granted in a major way. I have experienced exceptions to the following (i.e., some genuinely kind people there), but they are exceptions. There's a weird cliquishness at LK. Customer service varies by day/mood and (I think) whether or not you manage to impress whoever's working as "cool." Their criteria is different than mine. If you make it to the club, it seems like you get treated with anything from friendliness to excitement to somewhat superficial herbaphilia. I suspect there is an earnest sense among the staff that herbs are great paralleled by a sense of scarcity, because pay at an herb store is a lot less great than the herbs. This scarcity culture likely contributes to the us/them mentality of deciding who is and is not "real," herbal-wise. I'm an experienced herbalist; I worked for 10+ years at a similarly-sized herb store far away from here; it had a slightly different business model (they employed a large number of professional practitioners part-time rather than what appears to be a somewhat less experienced full-time staff). At the end of the day, I practice herbalism because herbs and holistic medicine are, in my estimation, environmentally and physiologically helpful, viable modes of sustaining health. Meeting a more experienced herbalist or a relative herbal neophyte is no skin off my nose; we're all on this interesting journey together, and I love sharing my knowledge. Very little such affection for cooperation and intellectual curiosity here. It seems like competition was a requirement to shop: I lost track of the number of visits where staff were visibly (and audibly) impatient with and condescending toward me or made it clear that a friendliness was a privilege that could be lorded. I'm confident with herbs and keep my own counsel (especially when the environment reads as ambivalent or obliquely hostile). Here, I have received unsolicited and exasperated advice about how to prepare herbs, some of which reflects an incomplete knowledge of the medicine. If I were really into recreational confrontation, I might like going here to set people straight, either from a service perspective or an herbalism one, but I'm not. Life is hard; I don't need to be abused in my personal time by people who are disinclined to hear me anyway. Staff of LK: You have a lot going for you. If you're that unhappy, think a little more carefully about why before taking it out on your customers. Hubris is not a business model. Potential shoppers: Beware. If your emotional health is as important to you as your physical health, shopping here might well represent a net loss. read more

If I could give ZERO stars I would!!! Seems to be a well stocked place BUT THE EMPLOYEES HERE ARE THE WORST!!!!!! I completely agree with the other Yelpers who experienced the racist behavior in this store by the 2 white females working here. Went here today with my friend who was seeking something to help with allergies. One of the females helped him and appeared to have an issue with my friend (for no apparent reason) who was totally polite and not being any type of way for this female to talk to him in a condescending, annoyed manner. He asked a couple of clarifying questions (naturally) and she seemed sooo annoyed by it-hello, you are in retail it's your damn job to answer questions! She had to go answer the phone and became preoccupied with another customer. So my friend asked the other female for assistance to get an item off the shelf for him that was out of his reach and she answered "Um, I can get the step stool to get it" WELL DUH!!! WTF!?! Begrudgingly she got her little step stool and got the item for us. We checked out, I signed my card slip and the worker said "bye" I was like "can I get my receipt?!" (I mean hello?!?) and she gave to me. My friend and I talked about the experience on the ride home and we totally felt the crazy racist vibes these women were giving. Not only do I feel like they are HELLA RACIST but it's apparent they have MISANDRY (don't know the word? It means having hatred, contempt for or prejudice for men) issues. Advice for these women-WORK ON YOUR ISSUES!!!NEVER coming back to this place. read more

Lhasa is the absolute BEST for herbs. Their selection is massive. I mean they have EVerything! They also have a bunch of really nice teas, crystalized ginger and other super cool assorted doodads. The staff is incredibly knowledgable as well. I've been in a couple times for herbs related to Adrenal Fatigue. Each time the person who waited on my showed me the products that could be a fit and explained in a really easy to understand way, what was good about them. Each time I've been in I've gotten something I've been really happy with. read more

Really nice people. Very knowledgeable and helpful. Excellent customer service, in spite of the fact that they have to work with face masks. They are risking their lives for God's sake just to help us. I give them credit for that. Also, they go above and beyond to help you. read more

This place is alright if you need bulk herbs or tinctures. The neg rating because I know ALOT about herbs since I worked with natural medications since I was 16. I went into this store when I was 19 and they looked at me like why am I here? I was disrespected as well when I asked for an application. SO I wont go there for my herbs. read more

Wow, I'm so sad with my experience here. The woman behind the counter exuded hostility, I obviously purchased a taboo item. After she lectured me on it she treated me like I was a criminal. I'm disappointed about my because she could have educated me on it in a much different manner. if you stock an item and a customer is buying it don't lecture and be rude. Simply don't offer it, or educate and not talk down to your customer base. I would rather go somewhere else where the service actually is interesting in helping me understand what I am ordering or the story behind it. I would consider coming back if that one person is not employed there anymore. read more

Great store, very knowledgeable, they have everything but their prices are quadruple other stores for the same EO's and herbs.

DO NOT GO HERE!!!!!! You would think that an owner of a place like this would be very enlightened - I mean what else inspires someone to open a store so full of eastern paraphernalia? If you need any herbs go to Whole Foods/Berkeley Bowl or anywhere but this horrible place! 1 star for many reasons... starting with their lack of customer service. It seems like the employees hate their jobs, the customer service was horrible. The owner is a complete idiot. Dont waste your time or money. Oh and not mention they are very pricey!!! read more

A gem of a store. I buy all my cooking spices in bulk here, and tried nearly a dozen of their teas sold in bulk (before deciding Hey, I just don't like tea and that's FINE). If you cook with some certain spice on a regular basis, Lhasa Karnak is sure to have it -- even galangal, sumac, and several different kinds of anise. They also sell Dr. Brommer's soaps in gallon jugs as well as the smaller sizes, and in all the flavors; their supply of essential oils and fragrances is extensive; their homeopathic herb-n-remedy shelves are floor-to-ceiling; and they even have a nice bookshelf of hippy herby books with, mind you, a little cushioned window seat alongside! To top it off, the ladies who work here are stellar (and patient, while I ask them to measure out just "one more" ounce of cumin seed...). read more

My mom is an herbalist and I like to dabble in the field. Lhasa Karnak has had almost everything that I've ever asked for (organic too!) and if they happen to be missing something that I need for a recipe, they always have a good substitute. I love their essential oils too, they feel strong and pure--sometimes I think buying the more commercial oils means they have been sitting around a little long and some of the good energy that has been put into them has gone away. Maybe it's all in my head, but hey, a lot of holistic medicine is about care and good intention. They've also ordered things that I've needed and it has always come in a timely manner. The staff is very helpful and always willing to answer questions. If you are buying bulk herbs or essential oils, you can't beat Lhasa Karnak. read more

Great selection of herbs, with knowledgeable staff. I like their house blended loose leaf teas, good value for the quality.

This is the only place I buy my essential oils and botanicals. They are pure and the staff is quite knowledgeable.

My source for spices, as they've a wonderful selection of peppercorns and cinnamons. The tarragon and dill will make you set the salt shaker aside. read more

Great selection of herbs but like Terre M I have also felt less than welcome, unacknowledged and looked down upon in this store by its Caucasian staff. A younger white male and middle aged white female in particular. I returned a second time in case the treatment was an anomaly but sure enough treatment was the same. I make herb based products for a living and was willing to pay the higher price of their herbs in order to support local business. After my two visits I've taken my business to Williams Natural Food Store where I am always warmly greeted. Oh and since you guys are such pigs (aside from the one Latina employee who I'm presuming you hired so as not to have to deal with ppl of color) was the only pleasant aspect of your shop I'll be recreating and posting your overpriced tea blends. read more

Do your research before taking anything you get from here. I had a real wake-up call today. I've been coming to Lhasa Karnak for 5-6 years, generally trusting the staff in their judgement. Yesterday, my wife went in to ask for help with her allergies (they've recently gotten quite severe), and she was given an immune booster with herbs like echinacea. Based on my limited knowledge of herbs, this struck me as strange, so I did some searching for "allergies echinacea" and found that it's highly counter-indicated for allergies, and is quite likely to worsen the condition or even send her to the hospital. Upon explaining this to the "guy in charge" (either a manager or the owner), he offered me store credit. And wouldn't budge on a refund. So - I'm pretty disappointed. They still have our money from that purchase, but they are unlikely to get any more! Whole Foods is almost always cheaper, and just down the street (sure, they are a sometimes unethical mega-corporation, but I'm not sure Lhasa Karnak rates any higher anymore). Ultimately, this is Berkeley - so you should be able to find an herbalist who treats you with respect and attention. If you don't know one, I'd point you at Connie Cronin, she's on Yelp (but not heavily reviewed - I think she doesn't work with the Yelp set as much). read more

I was looking online for some oils and herbs, then I was invited to go to Berkeley, and boy am I glad I went! They had every possible oil you can think of! All natural remedies, herbs, cleansers! Best store I came across in a while! The men there were very helpful, and the pricing was extremely affordable!! Definitely my go to shop now. read more

Until two days ago, I had never been to this kind of establishment so I was completely mystified upon entering. Now I wish I lived in their attic so I could have access to all their riches. They have a great selection of tea: I decided on the Mill River flavor, which was well worth the $6.50 per canister. I fully intend to return here for gifts (not only for my loved ones but for myself). Plus the girl at the counter was really nice and didn't kick me out when I said "OHMYGOD" really loudly when I first walked in. read more

Amazing Selection. Some of the rudest customer service ever. I almost just turned around and walked out (and I have really high tolerance for this). Don't ask any particular questions of the staff, only ask for an herb and amount. That's all they'll give you, unless you want a whole lot o' attitude with that herb/spice/etc. Now, you might say, well how much does customer service matter if what they carry is unparalleled and you're supporting a local business. All good reasons, but after two poor interactions, i this case, I'm seriously thinking of not going back, so it matters a lot. And it made me sign up for yelp to review. Is it the owner? I've found in general they set the tone of an establishment. If so, folks, time to get someone kind and generous to run your front end and let them be (no micromanaging! That is, if you want your business to continue to thrive. read more