Tanzanian Origin
The Trianon story begins with Dutch spice expert Paul de Rooij meeting former partner Edward, during a consulting trip in Tanzania. Drawing on his extensive industry experience—leading the Dutch Spice Association, founding ventures in Indonesia and Sri Lanka, and as managing director at Verstegen—Paul recognized the immense potential of Tanzanian spices, grown under ideal climatic conditions and with organic farming practices. Inspired by the chance to bolster local economies through a spice enterprise, Paul and Edward teamed up to establish Trianon’s factory in Lusanga village, north of Muheza City in the Tanga region.
A Transformative Vision
In 2020, Paul crossed paths with Grounded Investment Company, a Sub-Saharan Africa impact investor committed to advancing social impact via regenerative agriculture. Grounded was motivated by the opportunity to enhance farmer livelihoods and preserve biodiverse rich local ecosystems by elevating Tanzania’s spice industry to global renown through regenerative agriculture, strategic investment and technical expertise. Recognizing the shared mission, Trianon officially joined forces with Grounded Investment Company in 2021.
Organic Haven
Mention of Tanzanian spices typically evokes thoughts of the historic spice trade originating in the twelfth century on Zanzibar Island. However, lesser-known is the century-long tradition of spice cultivation on mainland Tanzania. The region’s humid, rainy climate, particularly in the mountains, provides optimal conditions for high-quality spice crops. Here, farmers continue to grow spices organically by default, benefiting from minimal external influence. This unique setting offers a rare opportunity for low chemical contamination, aligning with stringent global regulations and growing consumer demand for cleaner products.
Ethically Sourced
We source our spices from small farmers near the pristine rainforests of the lower Eastern Arc Mountains, recognized as global biodiversity hotspots. Spice cultivation is vital for our partners’ families. Through collaboration, we enhance livelihoods with regenerative farming practices that boost yields and quality, facilitating access to our higher value markets. Our regenerative agriculture program promotes sustainability, preventing cropland expansion leading to forest degradation in this unique natural area. Committed to traceable, ethical sourcing, we enhance social impact and mitigate global supply concerns like child labor and deforestation.
Join us in supporting sustainable practices with every purchase of our exceptional Tanzanian spices.
Team
Valued Partners
