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Mountain Rose Herbs: Organic Herb Seller Since 1987

Mountain Rose Herbs sources organic ceremonial matcha from Wazuka in Kyoto Prefecture and offers it in 3-ounce jars and 1-pound sizes.
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Who is Mountain Rose Herbs?

Mountain Rose Herbs is a certified-organic matcha seller sourcing ceremonial-grade powder from Wazuka in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Its shade-grown leaves use traditional bamboo-screen covering before harvest, building umami and vibrant green colour.

Farm partners process fresh leaves into fine matcha powder, a relationship Mountain Rose Herbs visited in 2023. Fair for Life certification and organic, non-GMO ingredients support its sourcing standards.

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Organic matcha and herbs since 1987

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Mountain Rose Herbs in details

Mountain Rose Herbs has cultivated a reputation for exceptional organic botanicals since Rosemary Gladstar founded the company in 1987. What began as a modest operation serving herbal students in Northern California has evolved into a certified organic processor offering premium matcha and over 800 botanical products, all while maintaining unwavering commitment to environmental stewardship and ethical sourcing practices.

From Humble Roots to Industry Leader

The company’s transformation accelerated under Julie Bailey’s stewardship from 1991 to 2020, establishing rigorous sustainable harvesting guidelines. When Shawn Donnille joined in 2000, Mountain Rose Herbs pioneered organic certification through Oregon Tilth in 2002. The relocation to Eugene, Oregon positioned the company closer to farm operations while enabling direct relationships with growers worldwide.

In 2016, Mountain Rose Herbs became Oregon’s first TRUE Zero-Waste Facility with Platinum certification. This achievement reflects a fundamental operational philosophy: redesigning processes to eliminate waste rather than simply managing it. The 2020 consolidation into a 12-acre Eugene campus further reduced the company’s carbon footprint while enhancing efficiency.

Ceremonial-Grade Matcha from Kyoto

The company sources its ceremonial matcha directly from Kyoto Prefecture’s Wazuka region, where ideal climate and soil conditions produce exceptional tea. In June 2023, company representatives visited their farm partners to witness firsthand the transformation of shade-grown leaves into vibrant powder. This direct relationship ensures quality while supporting traditional Japanese tea cultivation methods.

Available in convenient 3 oz. retail jars and 1 lb. sizes, the organic matcha exhibits characteristic vibrant green color, smooth texture, and balanced flavor profile suitable for both traditional tea ceremonies and contemporary culinary applications. The powder delivers a clean energy boost with L-Theanine’s calming properties, making it ideal for mindful consumption.

Comprehensive Quality Standards

Mountain Rose Herbs subjects every botanical to rigorous testing for identity, microbial contamination, and chemical purity. Multiple certifications—including USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Fair Trade, FairWild, and Earth Kosher—demonstrate the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

As an Oregon Benefit Company, Mountain Rose Herbs prioritizes environmental and social impact over profit maximization. This structure enables long-term decisions benefiting customers, employees, and ecosystems rather than shareholder demands. The independently-owned status preserves this mission-driven approach, ensuring quality and sustainability remain paramount in every decision.

About the Mountain Rose Herbs Matcha

Mountain Rose Herbs offers a range of certified-organic matcha sourced from Japan's tea-growing regions, alongside the traditional tools to prepare it.

Matcha products

  • Ceremonial Grade Matcha Tea: the top offering, smooth and delicate with the vibrant green of shade-grown leaves, in 3 oz. jars and 1 lb. sizes.
  • Botanical Lucidity Matcha Elixir: ceremonial-grade matcha with maca root for mellow energy and clarity, stirred into hot liquid or poured over ice.
  • Mycobrew Matcha: matcha blended with medicinal mushrooms for a functional cup.

Tools and quality

Complete matcha sets include handmade Japanese ceramic bowls, bamboo whisks (chasen), and bamboo spoons (chashaku). Every matcha is certified organic with the hallmarks of quality: vibrant green colour, smoky and nutty notes, strong foaming, and a slight authentic bitterness, suitable for the ceremony bowl, lattes, smoothies, and baked goods.

Harvest location

Mountain Rose Herbs sources its ceremonial-grade matcha from the historic tea-growing region of Wazuka in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, celebrated for its ideal climate and nutrient-rich soil that produce exceptional green tea leaves.

Shade growing

The matcha is made with traditional shade-growing techniques, covering the tea plants with bamboo screens or cloth for several weeks before harvest. This concentrates amino acids, enhances the umami flavor, and raises chlorophyll for the signature vibrant green color.

Direct farm partnership

In June 2023, Mountain Rose Herbs representatives traveled to Wazuka to observe their farm partners transform fresh leaves into fine matcha powder, a direct relationship that supports quality control and sustainable farming. The company prioritizes organic, non-GMO ingredients and holds Fair for Life certification, ensuring fair labor practices in the communities it works with.

Mountain Rose Herbs History

Mountain Rose Herbs was founded in 1987 by Rosemary Gladstar in Northern California to supply herbs to students at the California School of Herbal Studies.

Ownership and growth

  • 1991 — Julie Bailey acquired the business and ran it from Humboldt County.
  • 2001 — Shawn Donnille became part owner and relocated the company to Pleasant Hill, Oregon.
  • 2002 — Earned organic certification through Oregon Tilth.
  • 2020 — Bought the Phoenix Industrial Park in Eugene to consolidate operations.
January 1, 1987

Rosemary Gladstar, the 'godmother of modern herbalism,' established Mountain Rose Herbs in Northern California to provide high-quality herbs to students at the California School of Herbal Studies, emphasizing education and sustainable practices from the beginning.

January 1, 1991

Julie Bailey purchased the small herbal business from Rosemary Gladstar and began running it from her home in Humboldt County, California, focusing on developing natural products and implementing rigorous sustainable wild harvesting guidelines.

January 1, 2001

Shawn Donnille joined as part owner and moved the company to Pleasant Hill, Oregon, to be closer to farm operations, wild harvesters, and processors, leading to the creation of a full-time laboratory and quality control department.

January 1, 2002

Under Shawn Donnille's leadership, Mountain Rose Herbs obtained organic certification through Oregon Tilth, transforming the company into a certified organic processor and solidifying its commitment to organic agriculture practices.

December 1, 2020

Mountain Rose Herbs purchased the Phoenix Industrial Park in Eugene to consolidate its six facilities into one 12-acre campus, significantly reducing the business's carbon footprint and streamlining operations under one roof.

Frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions and answers.

What's the difference between Mountain Rose Herbs' Ceremonial Grade Matcha Tea and their Matcha Elixir?

Ceremonial Grade Matcha Tea is pure, organic matcha powder sourced from Wazuka in Japan's Kyoto Prefecture. This traditional matcha has a smooth, delicate flavor with smoky, nutty notes and vibrant green color - perfect for traditional tea ceremonies.

The Matcha Elixir combines this same ceremonial-grade matcha with maca root to create a convenient single-serving packet. It's designed for a mellow energy boost and mental clarity, and you simply add one packet to 6 oz. of hot liquid. This blend offers the benefits of both matcha and adaptogenic maca in one product.

Does Mountain Rose Herbs offer matcha preparation tools, and where are they made?

Yes, Mountain Rose Herbs offers complete Matcha Sets that include all traditional preparation tools:

  • Handmade ceramic bowl from Japan
  • Bamboo whisk (chasen) made in China
  • Bamboo spoon (chashaku)

They also sell individual Matcha Whisks separately. These traditional bamboo whisks are essential for properly blending matcha powder with hot water to achieve the characteristic frothy consistency.

Why does Mountain Rose Herbs source their matcha specifically from Wazuka in Kyoto Prefecture?

Mountain Rose Herbs chose Wazuka in Japan's Kyoto Prefecture because this region offers ideal climate and soil conditions for growing high-quality green tea. The company maintains direct relationships with their farm partners there - in June 2023, Mountain Rose Herbs representatives actually visited Wazuka to observe the tea leaves' transformation into matcha powder.

This shade-grown matcha from Wazuka increases chlorophyll content and produces the vibrant green color that Mountain Rose Herbs' ceremonial grade matcha is known for. The direct partnership ensures quality control and supports their commitment to ethical sourcing.

What makes Mountain Rose Herbs' Mycobrew Matcha different from their other matcha products?

Mycobrew Matcha is a unique blend that combines traditional matcha with medicinal mushrooms for added health benefits. This sets it apart from their pure Ceremonial Grade Matcha Tea and their Matcha Elixir (which contains maca root).

While their ceremonial grade focuses on traditional preparation and the elixir emphasizes energy and mental clarity, Mycobrew Matcha targets customers interested in the functional benefits of both matcha and mushroom compounds in a single product.

How does Mountain Rose Herbs' zero waste certification affect their matcha packaging and operations?

Mountain Rose Herbs was the first Oregon company to receive TRUE Zero Waste Facility Certification from Green Business Certification Inc., achieving Platinum status. This means they divert at least 90% of non-hazardous waste from landfills and incineration.

For their matcha products, this certification ensures that packaging materials are chosen with sustainability in mind, and any production waste is properly recycled or repurposed. The company adopted its zero-waste policy in 2007, so this environmental commitment has been integrated into their matcha sourcing and packaging processes for nearly two decades.