Kamwo Meridian Herbs: Bringing Traditional Chinese Medicine to the Kosher Market 

Introduction 

OU Kosher certified Kamwo Herbal

At the New York City counter preparing custom blends.

Kamwo Meridian Herbs, established in 1973 in New York City’s Chinatown, is the largest herbal dispensary on the East Coast, offering a comprehensive range of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) products and services. With a legacy spanning four generations, Kamwo has been a pillar of the Chinese medicine community for over 50 years. Under the leadership of Dr. Thomas N. Leung, a trained pharmacist and Doctor of TCM, the organization continues to integrate ancient healing arts with modern practices. Kamwo’s herbal dispensary, acupuncture supply store, and educational initiatives serve both licensed practitioners and individual consumers across the U.S. and internationally. 

Kamwo recently received OU Kosher certification for several of its products, ensuring accessibility to a growing number of practitioners and their patients. In this interview, OU Kosher talks with Dr. Leung about Kamwo’s history, its decision to pursue kosher certification, and the innovative “Kosher Cam” system that supports compliance. 

Kamwo’s History and Mission 

OU Kosher: Dr. Leung, can you tell us a little about Kamwo Meridian Herbs and its history? 

Dr. Leung: Absolutely. Kamwo was founded by my father, Dr. Shan Leung, in 1973. Our mission has always been to provide high-quality Traditional Chinese Medicine to our community. Over the years, we’ve expanded our offerings to include raw herbs, granules, acupuncture supplies, and custom-compounded formulations, serving practitioners and patients both locally and internationally. Today, we are proud to be a trusted herbal pharmacy for professionals across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. 

Kosher Certification and the Growing Demand 

OU Kosher: What prompted Kamwo to seek kosher certification for its products? 

Dr. Leung: It all started with requests from Jewish practitioners and their patients—particularly in Midwood, Brooklyn. One of my colleagues, who runs a clinic in that area, repeatedly asked if we could provide kosher-certified products. Initially, I hesitated because I thought the certification process would be too complex. I told her, “If we can’t do it 100% of the time, I won’t do it at all.” But she insisted, and eventually, we spoke with OU Kosher to explore the process. 

OU Kosher: What changed your mind about kosher certification? 

Dr. Leung: When OU Kosher came in to assess our processes, we realized that with the right controls and adjustments, we could maintain kosher standards without disrupting our operations. The OU rabbis also pointed out that many small clinics couldn’t afford their own kosher certification—but if Kamwo held the certification, we could serve multiple clinics at once. That made a lot of sense. So, we adapted our workflow, and now, here we are! 

Kamwo Herbal Kosher herb cookerKosher Cam: Using Technology to Maintain Kosher Compliance 

OU Kosher: One of the most innovative things about your kosher program is your “Kosher Cam” system. Can you explain how it works? 

Dr. Leung: Absolutely! Initially, we had a rabbi physically supervising production, watching over batches as they were prepared. We appreciated their diligence, but it was time-consuming and not very efficient. We thought—why not use technology to make the process more seamless? 

Now, we have the Kosher Cam, a 24/7 recording system that automatically marks and logs each batch of kosher-certified herbs as they are being prepared. Every time a kosher batch is processed, the system adds a timestamp so that OU Kosher representatives can review the footage remotely. 

This allows the inspectors to oversee the process remotely, eliminating the need for constant on-site supervision. It ensures that every batch is documented and available for review at any time, making the certification process both efficient and transparent. This also helps reduce costs by streamlining the oversight process. 

This innovation has significantly improved efficiency. The rabbis can quickly review footage to verify a specific batch instead of watching the entire process live. It also enhances batch tracking. Our Rabbinic Coordinator (RC) has access to our ordering system, allowing real-time verification of ingredients for every fulfilled order. This ensures that only certified ingredients are used, preventing errors and reducing processing delays. 

OU Kosher certified Kamwo herbsKosher-Certified Products at Kamwo 

OU Kosher: What kosher-certified products does Kamwo currently offer? 

Dr. Leung: Right now, we have a range of kosher-certified products, including custom-compounded formulas prepared for individual practitioners, as well as pre-packaged herbal remedies designed for ease of use. One of our most exciting offerings is our kosher-certified soup remedies. Traditionally, Chinese bone broths contain pork, which isn’t kosher. To accommodate Jewish consumers, we modified the formula so that they can source their own kosher bones from a kosher butcher while still benefiting from the herbal blend. 

As part of our ordering system, practitioners can check a box for kosher products. Our system then cross-references the order against a list of certified kosher herbs to ensure compliance. 

Response from the Jewish Community and Future Plans 

OU Kosher: How has the response been from Jewish practitioners and consumers? 

OU Kosher certified Kamwo Meridian Herbs

Kamwo’s packaged consumer product

Dr. Leung: Honestly, we were surprised by the demand. Initially, we thought it would be a small niche market, but as soon as we announced our kosher certification, we received calls from multiple clinics requesting kosher-certified products. Even some Muslim practitioners appreciated the kosher certification because it aligned with halal standards. 

OU Kosher: What are Kamwo’s plans for serving the kosher market? 

If demand continues to grow, we may expand our kosher-certified product line further. We are also open to feedback from the community to better understand what Jewish practitioners and consumers need. 

One thing is certain—our commitment to high-quality, kosher-certified Traditional Chinese Medicine is here to stay! 

Conclusion 

Kamwo Meridian Herbs is bridging the gap between Traditional Chinese Medicine and kosher observance, making these ancient remedies more accessible to the Jewish community. 

For practitioners and consumers interested in kosher-certified Traditional Chinese Medicine, Kamwo is proving that modern technology and ancient traditions can work together seamlessly. 

For more information about Kamwo’s kosher-certified products, visit KamwoHerbs.com 

 

https://kamwoherbs.com/