For many people on our team, working at Mountain Rose Herbs is a career path fueled by passion and a true love of natural living. In fact, by the end of 2026, we expect that 26% of our staff will have been here for 10 years or more. Working for a company for a decade or more comes with deep institutional knowledge and wisdom that helps Mountain Rose Herbs improve, while remaining rooted in tradition and experience. Having such a large number of long-term employees also supports the community by improving access to wellness ingredients that are sourced, formulated, crafted, and tested by true experts.
One longstanding team member, in particular, is a true master of her craft and just formulated a brand new line for Mountain Rose Herbs. This “behind-the-scenes” looks shows what it takes to go from idea to formulation, creation, and education.
The Idea
Looking to expand our culinary offerings, our team decided that smoothie powder blends would be a great line to offer to our health-conscious community. Julie DeBord, who has been with Mountain Rose Herbs for an impressive 24 years, was tasked with creating smoothie blends that would be highly nutritious and support the body, all while being easy to use and tasting good. There was no one better suited for this task.
Julie has been helping to create and manage our tea and spice blending for over a decade, and this was naturally the best fit for her. In addition to her professional expertise with the company, Julie is a nutrition and fitness buff in her personal life and was using homemade powder blends as part of her ongoing wellness routine at home. She took her personal knowledge and applied it to this project with fantastic results.
Formulation
There is a lot that goes into creating a new line at Mountain Rose Herbs. First, we formulate a preliminary blend with a wellness goal in mind. From nutrition and digestive support to immune system and muscle aids, each ingredient is selected for effectiveness, ingredient harmony, regulatory compliance, and flavor. We also have to take into consideration the availability and sustainability of each botanical ingredient. Some herbs and spices are hard to find, so we keep that in mind when we are crafting our recipes. Oftentimes, the blends will take on different iterations as we try to find the perfect recipe for the job at hand. This can take months from concept to final recipe.
Creation
Once we have a final recipe that we all love, it’s time to bring it into production. This includes the in-house designing and printing of our labels, all in compliance with federal regulations and our Organic Certifier, Oregon Tilth. We then have to allocate the ingredients used in the blends, add them to our production schedule, and then there is the fun part of blending and packaging the finished product. This is another aspect of Julie’s work as the Senior Production and Inventory Manager.
Education
Once we are ready to share a new offering, we begin writing helpful information about the line or product so the community can determine if it's a good fit for their needs. We also share recipes and educational articles on our blog for additional resources and inspiration.
Our goal is always to provide the community with educational information about herbs to help empower them to learn and grow into their wellness practice. You’ll notice we don’t include boastful or medical-related claims for our products. This is also to remain in compliance with federal regulations, as well as maintain integrity as a reliable company that cares about the health and safety of its customers.
About Julie’s Smoothie Blends
Flax & Chia Seed Smoothie Blend
This powerhouse blend was created to provide amino acids, vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber for strength, energy, and digestive support. The base is made up of locally sourced (from Oregon) pumpkin seed powder. She then added flax, hemp, and chia seeds for nutritional diversity. Marshmallow root and sustainably sourced slippery elm bark powders are also a key part of this blend for their soothing demulcent qualities that support the respiratory, digestive, and urinary tracts.*
Julie’s Pro-Tips:
- She crafted this blend with whole flax seeds to maintain freshness. She recommends putting this formulation in the blender first to grind up the flax seeds, and then adding your other smoothie ingredients. This also helps the seeds be more bioavailable.
- You can bake with this blend, too! No need to grind it further if using it to bake.
Mushroom Extract Smoothie Blend
This blend was crafted with five functional mushroom extract powders and maca powder. Maca root, cordyceps, and reishi mushrooms bring their adaptogenic properties to help manage stress while also providing a wide range of vitamins and minerals. Cordyceps can also support the immune system and ability to provide sustained energy and stamina. Lion’s mane, chaga, and maitake were included in this blend to support the healthy functioning of the cognitive and digestive systems.*
Julie’s Pro-Tips:
- This is a fantastic post-workout smoothie to support recovery and maintain energy throughout the day.
- Mushroom extract powders are a more bioavailable form of powdered mushrooms, which means they retain more of the beneficial qualities and are easier for our bodies to absorb.
Beets & Berries Smoothie Blend
This blend was formulated to bring more antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to your diet. Its sweet and tart profile will awaken your senses and fuel your body for ongoing energy. Julie added acerola berry, rosehips, beet root, and cranberries for their vitamin C content and abundant micronutrients. Beets were also included to support nitric oxide levels in the body, and hibiscus to help the body stay hydrated. Mesquite and ginger then bring an earthy, bright, and balanced flavor.
Julie’s Pro-Tips:
- This was a blend that was originally crafted with a hard-to-source ingredient that was ultimately removed from the recipe. The original blend included schisandra berries, so if you have some of that on hand, it will make a great addition to the recipe!
Super Greens Smoothie Blend
This green smoothie mix was created with nutrition in mind. The recipe is filled with greens that contain many micronutrients, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, iron, antioxidants, etc. Some of the ingredients include organic alfalfa, wheatgrass, barley grass, spirulina, oatstraw, nettle leaf, and more. Adding it to a smoothie (or even just a glass of water or juice) can help fill nutrient gaps in your diet.
Julie’s Pro Tips:
- This blend was created because we truly don’t get enough greens in our diets. It’s really universal and a great staple for regular use.
- Julie likes this blend with a little pinch of stevia leaf powder.
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