Author: Jan Schöfer

We are very proud of the Kardenshop and what we have achieved with it. In particular, that we have really been able to help people. But one thing has become increasingly clear to us over the years: "Kardenshop" only sounds commercial. And of course we are an economically oriented company. But we also have - and this is extremely important to us - a philosophy and non-monetary reasons for doing what we do.

You have to know that the teasel shop is the result of a process of suffering. True to the motto "If nobody does it properly, you just have to do it yourself", we founded the company to offer an honest and fair source of supply for those affected. At the time, there was no such thing - we had to learn that the hard way. What sets us apart? Quite clearly: production according to Storl and thus the high proportion of real teasel roots in each product. More about that? Kardenwelt Quality

This primary motivation was simply not conveyed enough by the name “Kardenshop” – we were increasingly convinced of this.

However, we can see ourselves much more clearly in the name "Kardenwelt". This whole "world" combines everything that sets us apart. Our knowledge, our experience, our willingness to share it. Our standards for the products we sell. And the good feeling that we want to convey to the customer. We are a family business - and we work with each other and for each other every day. Together we bring the Wilde Karde to you. It aims to help as much as possible.

No more, but also no less: This is our world of carding. And that is why it is now called “Carding World”. Here you can see the new logo.

When we moved to Bergatreute in 2014, we also got our own – somewhat larger – teasel field. Why do we need this when we hardly harvest any teasels ourselves? You're right to ask yourself that.

Well, for our teasel tinctures, the teasel root capsules and the balm we use fresh, annual roots of the wild teasel. In fact, the wild teasel is a biennial plant. The plant from the teasel family spends its first year of growth forming a strong root and a rosette of leaves above ground. The stem and thorn head are nowhere to be found here. And that is how the teasel is harvested and processed. What a pity? Well, that is how its medicinal benefits are greatest. See the book “Cure Lyme disease naturally” by Wolf-Dieter Storl in the area Literature.

In the second year of growth, the teasels form the stem, the thorny head and – for about one to two weeks – the pink ring around it. Great to look at and a first-class photo subject.
The head, however, has a real use for the plant: between the spines you can find the seeds for propagation. If the wind knocks the plant over or it is just shaken, a larger local colony can form in this way. It's even more beautiful to look at.

We use these seeds and make them available to our farmers. This way, you as a customer can be sure that you will always get the right plant. By the way, many private customers want to have teasels in their garden. Ask us, we can help :-).

This is our Kardenfeld on the outskirts of Bergatreute. Now known throughout the town.

Want more photos? Sure, go to the gallery: Kardenwelt Photo Gallery

The Kardenshop has been in Neustadt ad Aisch in Middle Franconia since 2007. But as always, everything becomes too small at some point – and part of the family had already been living in the Allgäu for years. An extension and a family reunion were needed.

In 2014, the time had finally come. After a long search, we found a former textile printing works in Upper Swabia. The rooms were spacious, accessible with a forklift truck and the house around them was in very good condition. The price was fair, the surrounding area with the nearby town of Ravensburg (Ravensburg – City of Towers) is ideally suited. What made this location even more interesting: The town of Baienfurt is just around the corner. Baienfurt is known for its history with the wild teasel. Why? Link under the article.

All in all: We bought the house and the printing shop. From then on, the family was reunited, as there was a rented apartment on the upper floor. So nothing stood in the way of the Schöfer Seniors moving closer to their son and grandchildren. To the Allgäu, to Bergatreute near Ravensburg (yes, that's right, that's where the puzzles come from).

The history of the wild teasel

From 2007 to around 2010, the Kardenshop in the tranquil Neustadt ad Aisch – in Middle Franconia – didn't have its own cultivation areas. We were just experimenting wildly. Organic? Sure – but not with a certificate and all that stuff :-).

Well, in any case, the garden had to be used without further ado. Friends, colleagues and sometimes even relatives helped us with the planting and harvesting. Thank you, EVERYONE! You are partly to blame for the world of teasels we live in today. It was definitely a great time. Lyme disease hardly stopped us then. Just like today.

The aim was to find the best distance between the plants, the most suitable growing period and of course the most sensible techniques for successfully growing teasels. Sometimes we were more successful, sometimes less. Sometimes the voles were more successful than us :-). But: all of our experience, which we share with our farmers today, is still essentially based on the methods developed back then. Sometimes a little more advanced - but basically still the same.

And this is what such an extension looked like. Not very big? We know. At least THAT is different today.

More photos of cultivation and processing? Kardenwelt – Photo Gallery

In 2007, Jan Schöfer, the current owner, was still suffering from a stubborn case of Lyme disease. The situation was actually pretty deadlocked and there were no real approaches to a cure. Antibiotics had been tried, several times in fact – without lasting success. By chance, Edgar Schöfer (the current senior boss) read Mr. Storl's book: "Cure Lyme disease naturally" and wanted to help his son. As he is a passionate sportsman and therefore knew exactly where to find wild teasel, a few test batches were made for self-help. Unexpectedly, this first tincture and the subsequent extracts were astonishingly good and slowly but steadily showed their effect. What luck! After a few months and just as many sales on an auction platform, Jan Schöfer (the junior) decided to set up a company called "Kardenshop". And so it all began.

You have to know that at that time there were no comparable tinctures made from the roots of fresh teasel plants - at least not in a 1:1 ratio. But these full tinctures were exactly what was needed. And we were able to make them. So the necessity of "If no one does it right, you just have to do it yourself" gave rise to the teasel shop - today's teasel world.

And we are still Kardenwelt today. A family business in Upper Swabia. With a concept and quality standards.

And this is what our first logo looked like :-).

Would you like to find out more about us? Please go here: To the Carding World

Tips for treating Lyme disease? Lyme disease