Higher Grounds Trading Company

We searched for a local provider of high quality fresh roasted coffee. What we found was Higher Grounds Trading Company, right here in Lake Leelanau. HGTC is a company fueled by its social mission and driven by a passion for sourcing the highest quality coffees from around the world. Their mission is to provide premium, gourmet handcrafted coffees while supporting their coffee-producing partners who are leaders in sustainable development and environmental preservation. Check them out. We think you will like what you see.
Higher Grounds Trading Company is committed to: supporting fair trade, saving biodiversity and bird habitats, promoting organic agriculture, supporting the formation of indigenous rights and dignity, fostering corporate social responsibility.

These are lofty goals indeed, but HGTC is pursuing them through a simple straight forward approach. They adhere to the standards of the Fair Trade Labeling Organization and work with fair trade cooperatives to provide dignified wages and bring the benefits of fair trade to the communities that need them most. They partner with grower cooperatives that produce their coffee under a canopy of shade and practice organic farming techniques, thus preventing loss and degradation of these priceless habitats. Finally HGTC is working with cooperatives that have received international recognition for their inspiring, undying dedication in the struggle to create a just, equitable, and fair world for all people.

•COFFEE

Ethiopian Oromia Medium Roast
Oromia is one of the world's most distinctive coffees with a complex floral bouquet and light, crisp notes of citrus and dark berries. A crisp, clean finish makes for a delectable cup! It is produced by the Oromia Coffee Farmer Cooperative Union/ 1000 farmers from the Kilenso Mokonisa cooperative in the Sidamo region of Ethiopia at an altitude of 2,000-4,000 feet.

Ethiopia was the birthplace of domesticated coffee. The Oromia co-op was the first to enter the fair trade coffee industry from Ethiopia and our importing co-op was their first buyer. They've built schools, clinics and micro-credit facilities with premiums from fair trade coffee sales.

Justice Blend
This is Higher Ground's version of the breakfast blend. It is mellow and creamy with delicate nuances of vanilla and citrus. It is their most caffeinated coffee and a great way to start your day!

Mexican Water Process Decaf
This coffee uses an environmentally-friendly method of decaffeination that leaves all the flavor but none of the caffeine. This is a rich, full-bodied coffee so good you won't be able to tell its decaf.

•TEA

Light of Day Organics

Light of Day Organics is a Northern Michigan company, located in gorgeous Leelanau County. The company was founded by a Registered Nurse, and Horticulturalist in pursuit of a superior product which honors all those involved in bringing this labor-intensive crop from field to cup.

LODO supports local and foreign farmers through Fair Trade practices, growing and buying only 100% certified Organic and Fair trade Tea leaves, fruit, flowers, roots, bark, berries, then blending it themselves.

The LODO team of experienced Master Gardeners and Nurserymen has been growing organic herbs and flowers in the area since 1996. They believe in presenting their products in their most natural, loose form and are packaged in lovely, domestically-manufactured, polished silver tins to protect them from the elements. Their products are grown, harvested, dried, and packaged in a licensed facility in Leelanau County.

We carry a variety of Light of Day Organics products, including:

Green Tea

Red Raspberry Green Tea
Happy Spleen Green
Just Plain Green
Traditional Jasmine

Green tea is the least processed, the freshest, and the youngest of teas. It is low in caffeine, high in antioxidants and vitamin C. This grassy tea boasts a whole cocktail of health-giving constituents; their health benefits are the subject of a great number of medical studies.

Black Tea

Greamy Earl Grey
Steamed Darjeeling
Orange Assam

This deep amber-hued variety has a deep, hearty taste, and accounts for most of the tea (90%) that Americans consume. Some of the world's finest black teas are produced in India (Assam, Darjeeling and Nilgiri), Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and China.