The Permapolis Aromathèque in Saint-Denis: a herbal-tea garden in the heart of the city

In Saint-Denis, Permapolis's Aromathèque grows herbal-tea plants through a short supply chain, while championing social, educational urban agriculture that respects the environment.

In Saint-Denis, Saint-Denis, Permapolis grows far more than just aromatic plants. The association has been working for several years to bring nature back into the city, creating community gardens, vegetable plots, amenity spaces and plant-production projects in places that are sometimes surprising. Its aim: make the city greener, but also more cohesive and solidarity-building, by mobilizing residents, volunteers, local organizations and gardening know-how.

The Aromathèque, also known as the Jardin des tisanes, fits into this approach. Born as part of the appel à projets Parisculteurs 2018, it has grown on terraces provided by the City of Saint-Denis, notably on the roof of the Bourse du Travail. Permapolis is experimenting with the culture de plantes whose leaves, flowers or fruits can be dried and consommés en tisane.

The project pursues several objectives. First, it aims to trial urban agriculture practices, drawing in particular on permaculture and the latest agronomic research. The association also seeks to build a small local supply chain—from production to processing to the sale of “Made in Seine-Saint-Denis” herbal teas. Profits are reinvested in environmental and community projects.

The Aromathèque also has a social dimension. Gardening becomes a springboard for inclusion, training and knowledge transfer. Permapolis notes that the sale of herbal teas funded the hire of a person in an integration program, involved in production, harvesting and drying of the plants. The venue also welcomes volunteers by appointment and trainees in training.

On the visits side, the aim is to concretely show how an urban farm can operate in the city: which plants to choose, how to grow them, harvest them, dry them, and then transform them. Permapolis also plans workshops around herbal teas, edible wild plants, botanical walks, and the creation of a shared herbarium. Visits are regularly organized by Explore Paris or as part of the festival Toi, toit mon toit, which runs June 12–14, 2026, to give the public a glimpse of a less-hidden side of Seine-Saint-Denis, seen from its rooftops.

You, Roof, My Roof: the free rooftop festival perched on the rooftops of Seine-Saint-Denis and Paris
What if we climbed onto the roofs? From June 12 to 14, 2026, Seine-Saint-Denis unveils its peaks at the free festival "Toi, toit, mon toit!", featuring guided tours, workshops, aperitifs, and brand-new panoramas of the region! [Read more]

A simple way to see Saint-Denis differently : not only as a densely packed urban space, but also as a testing ground for green initiatives, social experiments and collective projects.

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.

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