Plants embody not only the power to capture our sight with their vibrant colors that bloom in the spring and turn orange in the fall, but they also possess the power to heal and nourish our bodies. For millennia, humans have utilized Earth’s abundance of plants to heal, consume and utilize in multiple and unique forms, including tea.
Joe Vanderberg and Ashley Holdquist established Sage and Cedar in 2022 to provide Spearfish, South Dakota, consumers with teas that are infused with vibrant flavors that pair with natural healing powers. This inspiration stemmed from personal beliefs, practices and philosophical ideologies.
Vandenberg was born in Lead, South Dakota. Growing up in a mountainous environment, he developed a special bond with his surroundings. He filled his time with fishing, camping and going on adventures in the Black Hills to discover a more in-depth connection with the land.
While surrounded by the pure air and towering trees, he let his mind wander. His thoughts manifested a drive to learn and get to the root of ideas. This led to him adopting Eastern Philosophy and practices. To tie nature and spirit together, Vandenberg learned herbalism through the Herbal Academy.
As life started to capture serenity, it soon fell into turmoil. He fell ill and noticed that his body was not in unison. Vanderberg noticed that his life was starting to lose its stabilization and he needed balance again. So, he went on a path of utilizing his knowledge of herbalism to start feeling healed naturally and to take care of his body.
Vanderberg was not alone in a journey of self-discovery and channeling his passion for natural resources into something beneficial for the body and soul.
Holdquist grew up in Custer, South Dakota. This land allowed her to embed herself into nature and gave her an appreciation for how Earth provides people with ingredients to fuel their bodies such as the wild plants that blanket the Black Hills’ grounds.
Her care for the Earth is also reflected in her yearning to be a caretaker. Health to her is not just influenced by personal instinct and how to go about it but also using her beliefs in astrology. She studies the patterns from the sky that embody the macrocosms and microcosms.
Holdquist’s interest in creating healing products influenced by astrology led her to attend the Chestnut School of Herbal Medicine. This provided her with a broader understanding of utilizing plants to make teas infused with healing components.
As the two met, they shared a connection not only for nature but also to utilize Earth’s gift of plants to transform into healthful tea blends. This connection established Sage and Cedar. Vanderberg’s background in herbalism led him to be Sage and Cedar’s master tea blender and sourcing specialist. Holdquist added her expertise in health to the blends, making her the company’s medicine maker.
Sage and Cedar is unique, in a sense, as it does not have a store front. Rather, this company sells its teas and mixes through various forms. They vend from place to place, market to fair, to tent to booth. They also sell wholesale to various places throughout the Hills, including the Black Hills Farmers Market in Rapid City, and Leones Creamery and Redwater Kitchen in Spearfish. They rely mainly on different farmers markets and festivals to spread their products and share knowledge. As explained by Vanderberg, they would prefer to meet face-to-face with those who may be purchasing and enjoying their hard work, and to have a connection with them, rather than be another chain with a factory who sells boxes to the masses.
Vanderberg and Holdquist channeled their South Dakotan roots into their business as well. Through this business decision, they teamed up with local farmers. This allows their original inspiration from the beautiful Black Hills to be an instrument in their teas.
Sage and Cedar is innovative and open to new flavors and creating unique loose-leaf blends. Their variety of flavors includes 96 loose-leaf blends and powered teas. With so many decisions, consumers have voiced that their top picks include Vintage Earl Gray Tea, the Vanilla Elderflower Tea and the Spiced Chai. Mushroom blends are also a popular item for them, along with their Less Stress Life Blend Tea.
Sage and Cedar herbal Tea Company is not just a blend of steeped leaves in steamy water, rather it provides Black Hills residents a taste into the reality that we only have one body and it should be taken care of, whether that is through meditation or through what we consume.
