Trout Lake Farm: A northwestern gem
Cape Natural: Rooibos with soul
In 1973, the founders of Trout Lake Farm found a truly special place to put down roots. Nestled in the Cascade Range’s foothills in Washington state, with breathtaking mountains to the north and south, they began growing organic medicinal ingredients. All these years later, they’re still going strong, and we’re honored to source their products.
Rooibos is a fascinating botanical with a long history. The indigenous tribes of South Africa developed the traditional knowledge of using this wild plant as a beverage. Rich in polyphenols and naturally caffeine free, demand for rooibos has exploded over the last decades.
Irrigated by the crystalline waters of the White Salmon River, glacier-fed from the slopes of Mt. Adams, and embedded in rich mineral soils born from ancient volcanoes, the farm is a testament to the power of responsible agriculture. They grow and process all their ingredients on site, preserving every bit of goodness in their remarkable botanicals. Their story, and their ingredients, inspire us every day. We leave the last word to them: Our story has inspired us to work in close cooperation with the earth’s natural processes. To put back and care for and not just take away. We are, in the final analysis, hardworking American farmers. But we think outside of the traditional box by incorporating cutting-edge, sustainable processes so that we can meet the needs of an expanding global marketplace for organic botanicals and, at the same time, be good stewards of the land.
Trout Lake Farm’s pristine peppermint, echinacea, and skullcap can be found in our tea blends throughout the US.
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Rooibos enjoys Protected Designation of Origin status, meaning that in order to be labelled rooibos it must hail from its ancestral home: Cederburg, a small mountainous region in the Western Cape of South Africa. We source our rooibos directly from Cape Natural, a company known for actively supporting its farmers. Rooibos farming is hard work: the Cederburg is a semi-arid desert, and the success of each harvest is largely determined by rainfall that season. Cultivated varietals are difficult to farm in such conditions, but Cape Natural is committed to providing tools and knowledge to its farmers. We partnered with Cape Natural in July of 2021 to sponsor the donation of shoes and school supplies to 300 school-age children in their local community. Suppliers like Cape Natural, who go beyond providing great quality and responsible farming practices, are powerful and cherished allies in our work to empower and enrich the communities that produce our ingredients.
Cape Natural’s rooibos is featured in our rooibos blends in the US and Europe.
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