Cell suspension cultures of Coleus blumei Benth. have been found to accumulate 8-11% of their dry weight as rosmarinic acid (α-O-caffeoyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-lactic acid). Actively-growing tissue converts >20% of exogenously supplied phenylalanine and tyrosine to the caffeoyl ester and this high rate of synthesis coincides with an increase in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase specific activity. Administration to the cultures of known phenylpropanoid precursors of rosmarinic acid failed to enhance the latter's production and in some cases inhibited it.