Clayton Farmer's Market: Meet Annette Hopkins of Trail Lodge Tea

For Crestwood resident Annette Hopkins, the business of tea has been a journey. It began when her family started drinking instant tea and progressed to June 2011, when she attended a tea convention and decided to start a company.

Now, Trail Lodge Tea can be found weekly at the Clayton Farmer's Market and at markets in Webster Groves and Ellisville. The name reflects Hopkins' interest in nature and the environment. She also chose it with the goal of opening a cafe; she thinks the title appeals to both men and women, as opposed to the traditional Victorian tea room.

"You get to sit, relax and take some time out from our busy life," Hopkins said.

She gets leaves via U.S. wholesalers from countries such as Sri Lanka, China and India. Handpicked leaves make a high-quality drink, specifically the first two leaves and the flower bud of a tea plant, she said.

With them, she creates black, green and herbal teas. Some of the teas are certified by Fair Trade USA, and some have organic ingredients.

Hopkins primarily is responsible for packaging the tea. She has developed two recipes—peach melba rooibos and Mexican cocoa rooibos—that are blended by another company.

Some of the proceeds from the Mexican cocoa rooibos are donated to Ninos de Mexico, an organization that helps orphaned and at-risk youth in Mexico City. She also sells a black tea called World Bird Sanctuary Tea. A portion of sales of that blend benefit the Valley Park-based World Bird Sanctuary.