botânicas
A botánica is a type of retail shop that specializes in religious, herbal, and spiritual supplies used in Afro-Caribbean and Latin American folk practices, as well as in Catholic devotional life. Originating in Latin American and diaspora communities, botánicas function as general stores for devotion, healing, and ritual preparation, often located in urban neighborhoods with large Latino populations. They are distinguished by a focus on items tied to spiritual beliefs, rather than purely on cosmetics or ordinary herbs.
Typical inventory includes hierbas (herbs) and roots, powders and tinctures, candles in a range of colors, incense,
Botánicas reflect cultural and religious syncretism, connecting Catholic devotion with Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous spiritual traditions. Items