Ricola herbs are harvested when they have the highest possible content of the substances that are important for the production of Ricola herbal products. Here it is a question of both aromatic substances as well as colorants and active ingredients. Plants such as thyme, sage and cowslip, whose active ingredients and aromas are stored in their leaves and flowers, are still harvested with shears and scythes; if local conditions permit, mowing machines may be used, as well. Plough and spade or simple potato harvesters are used to harvest those herbs, like burnet, that store their valuable ingredients in their roots.

While the herbs are still in the field, experts from Ricola examine the quality of the freshly cut plants. They assess the plants' growth and measure the volume of active ingredients they contain. In addition, it is essential that these experts have a good nose because how a plant smells is a significant indication of quality. Provided that the herbs satisfy all of Ricola's quality requirements, they are packed and shipped for drying.

Finally, Ricola herbs undergo a final inspection in the laboratory in Laufen. Only when all these tests have shown that the herbs meet Ricola's stringent quality standards, are they then made into the various popular Ricola herbal products.