Every herb at The Green Omen Apothecary and Tea Lounge in Atascadero has a personality. Some are soft and soothing, others sharp and fiery, and a few demand patience before they reveal what they know.
“Bee balm presents herself to me as a wise old woman, and her message to me is, ‘It takes courage to be soft in a world like this,’” shop owner and herbalist Riana Martinez explained.
Her path to Green Omen began with a deep intuition for plant knowledge.
“I had this intuition that I didn’t realize I had until one of my sisters brought it up to me,” Martinez said.
She remembers helping a sister with headaches and stomachaches, brewing remedies without knowing how she gained the knowledge.
“It was just coming to me,” she said.
That realization eventually led her to formal training through the Herbal Academy and other extended herb school programs to deepen her knowledge of Western herbalism and Ayurveda.
Martinez delights in the playful, mystical side of plants. She likens plant spirits to personalities: hibiscus is joyful, rose offers comfort, and tulsi—“Tulsi puts off this energy of … green goddess,” she said. “She’s strong and soft and powerful all in one.”
That energy flows into Green Omen’s tea menu, from rose-infused tulsi lattes to mocktails and herbal blends crafted in-house.
GREEN SPELLS Riana Martinez carefully pours a cup of herbal tea at Green Omen Apothecary, crafting each blend to match the personality of the plants and the needs of her visitors. Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF RIANA MARTINEZ
Since 2023, Green Omen has also been a space for those with an affinity for the witchy and spiritual. Martinez hosts workshops and events ranging from plant meditation to prayer circles, weaving intention into learning and connection. The next such event is a Green Witch Herb Garden Workshop on March 13 from 6 to 8 p.m.
“Women have been herbalists for centuries,” she explained. “Our knowledge was often called witchcraft just for helping our families with plants and remedies.”
That perspective informs the welcoming, inclusive atmosphere of Green Omen, where people of all spiritual backgrounds are encouraged to explore herbs.
When someone asks for herbal advice, Martinez doesn’t just hand over a bag of leaves. She asks about medications, digestion, stress, and how someone’s body tends to run.
“A lot of people are used to taking a pill and feeling better immediately,” she said. “That’s not always how herbalism works.”
Every element of Green Omen reflects this balance between intuition and intention. The shop carries more than 150 bulk herbs and teas, along with tinctures, salves, creams, and botanical blends made in-house. When the tea bar is open, customers can order herbal lattes, mocktails, and seasonal drinks and settle into the lounge space, designed to feel calm and welcoming.
“I want people to feel relief when they walk in,” Martinez said.
Class seats can be reserved at greenomenapothecary.com.
The shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 6280 Palma Ave., Atascadero.
Fast fact
• Join Wine & Wings: An Evening for Monarch Conservation on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Cliffs Hotel and Spa in Shell Beach. Sip wines from five SLO Coast wineries, enjoy monarch-inspired art, and explore booths from local conservation partners. Hear from experts during a panel on Western monarch conservation and keynote speaker Mary Ellen Hannibal on the wonders of monarch migration. Tickets are available through thePismo Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau’s Eventbrite page, and proceeds support the Western Monarch population.
• The 2025 Buy Local Bonus, run by the SLO Chamber of Commerce and the city of San Luis Obispo, resulted in nearly $650,000 in local business spending, according to the chamber. From Nov. 28 to Dec. 20, shoppers who spent $100 or more at participating stores earned a $25 gift card. The program sold out four days early, boosting the local economy by $737,675, according to the chamber. ∆
Reach Staff Writer Chloë Hodge at chodge@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in Feb 19-26, 2026.
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