Amborella Organics
In our tenth edition of Cultivating Conversations we spoke with Taylor Clarke, one of the co-founders of Amborella Organics. What began as a simple idea, to encourage more people to interact with nature, has germinated into a full fledged company. Here, Taylor shares how the brand began with a daydream over coffee and where their roots are spreading now.
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins
Amborella Organics is a seed-bearing lollipop company that my husband Brennan and I founded in 2016! Our goal is to create experiences in the garden with those you love and our vehicle for that experience is our seed-bearing lollipop.
“After you eat our organic lollipops, with herbs and flowers throughout, you can plant the stick in soil and grow a herb or flower.”
Each herb or flower grown has a connection to what you just ate–Blueberry & Nettle for example grows nettle while Sage & Marshmallow grows sage. Our name ‘amborella’ comes from the first flower to move from water to land!
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins
HOW DID THE IDEA FOR AMBORELLA ORGANICS GERMINATE?
Love that verbiage! We were in Florida at the time–Brennan was working for a medical company and I was a journalist covering stories wherever we traveled for his work.
“Over coffee one day he shared a daydream he had years past of a lollipop that could grow a flower from the stick.”
The inspiration came from watering tomatoes in his backyard and the smell of tomato leaves reminding him of summers spent gardening with his grandma. As his mind wondered he thought about how significant those memories were, his want for others to have more experiences like this in nature, and finally how strikingly similar a flower is (bulb and stem) to a lollipop. It took us time to develop the technology and flavors–neither of us had a background in manufacturing or food. We were lucky to launch the business at The Flower Chef book launch, at Rolling Greens, in Los Angeles. We soon garnered our first wholesale account, a coffee shop in Los Angeles.
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins
WHEN YOU STARTED THE COMPANY, WERE YOU LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING SUSTAINABLE?
Growing up at the beach, sustainability quickly becomes a part of your life.
“Creating a sustainable product and company was important to us from day one.”
And, as we grow we plan to only improve that commitment.
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins
WHERE DO YOU SOURCE YOUR SEEDS AND INGREDIENTS?
“We source non-GMO seeds from farmers in the U.S.”
Some of our suppliers for ingredients include Mountain Rose Herbs and Host Defense! These are companies with incredible connections to plants/flowers/fungi and sustainability.
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins
AS THE BUSINESS HAS GROWN, WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME STANDOUT MOMENTS?
“Waking up to a viral video by NowThis news was a huge moment for us–we had over 10 million views.”
We received emails from all over the world sharing how people had similar experiences gardening with a grandparent or how they think of sustainability different now because something that’s existed for such a long time now has additional use and less waste. Today we are sold with Nordstrom, Uncommon Goods, Urban Outfitter, Macys, Anthropologie, Bloomingdales, and incredible small businesses across the world. Each time we receive a new wholesale application or order on our website we feel thrilled that we continue to grow. We were recently featured in Reese Witherspoon’s book club and on the TODAY show!
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins
DOES COMMUNITY PLAY A ROLE IN THE AMBORELLA ORGANICS BRAND?
Absolutely! Social media growth has always been organic and an incredible way of connecting with our community of customers. Events that we’ve attended such as Renegade Craft, Unique Market, Expo West, and Dessert Goals are how we’ve met so many small businesses and buyers that have become friends.
We have tremendous respect for those that make Amborella possible everyday–our internal staff, photographer, graphic designer, print maker…
“they have become family and I think true community for brands starts within.”
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins
ALTHOUGH LOLLIPOPS MIGHT BE ASSOCIATED MORE WITH CHILDREN, HOW HAVE ADULTS REACTED TO YOUR PRODUCT?
So well that they end up eating the pops and needing to purchase more for their children!
“We love that kids now like flavors their parents assumed they would not like— Lavender & Lemongrass or Lemon & Thyme for example.”
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins
HOW HAS SOCIAL MEDIA IMPACTED AMBORELLA ORGANICS?
“We’ve received great press–Oprah, Food Network, Food & Wine Magazine, Health, GOOP, and so much more.”
Often the way they find us is through social media. Last Valentine’s Day G-Eazy sent our pops to Adrianna Lima and that was pretty cool to have a friend send us.
WITH THE PANDEMIC ENCOURAGING HOME GARDENS, DID YOU SEE A SHIFT IN YOUR PRODUCT CONSUMPTION?
We certainly had a year of substantial growth and love that people were spending more time in their garden. I think home gardens will continue on beyond COVID because of how rewarding it is.
“Gardening teaches us to slow down, embrace failure, and appreciate beauty.”
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins
WHAT’S NEXT FOR AMBORELLA ORGANICS?
We have so many fun projects in the works–a vegan and organic gummy, pops paired to astrology signs (Rosemary & Mint is for you, Virgo!), co-brands launching for Valentines Day, and new retailers on the horizon.
“We are proud and honored to get to make delicious candy with a purpose for a living.”
Photo Credit: Heather Marie Collins