A millennial master herbalist and recognized herbal tea connoisseur who is transforming the herbal tea experience

Meet Gladstone St. Auburn Etienne

Part I - The Beginning

Every life-changing journey has a beginning. For ZABICOLife Founder and CEO, Gladstone St. Auburn Etienne, his story began in Dominica, the nature island of the Caribbean. This paradise is home of the most significant number of centenarians per capacity, with a rate three times higher than the United States or Great Britain. This longevity is often attributed to diet, which consists of an abundance of healthy herbs, vegetables, fresh fruits, fish and lean all natural meats. 

He spent his youth living and learning on a family-owned organic farm under the guidance of his mother, a recognized traditional island herbalist. His education began in his youth as he worked alongside his mother with hands-on learning about herbs and their healing properties. Gladstone rarely visited the conventional doctor as a child, as herbal remedies were used for treating all types of ailments, from sprains and cuts to detoxes and flus. As Gladstone grew, so did his appreciation of health, wellness, and all life, from the herbal plants that he lovingly tended to the animals that he cared for to the friends and strangers around him. Infinitely fascinated with how nature has provided us with the best medicine, this is where his heartfelt passion for helping others with the power of traditional medicinal herbs was born. 

“Herbal teas are as important to the body as water and physical exercise. The bloodstream that is free of toxins and free radicals is a prerequisite to great health.” - Gladstone St. Auburn Etienne

Part II - The Journey

At the age of 16, Gladstone began the next phase of his growth, taking the journey from Dominica to Washington, D.C. in the United States. In doing so, his goal was to expand his own education while also bringing his wealth of knowledge about traditional herbs and remedies to the world.  His true transformation began in 2014, when Gladstone challenged ten individuals to participate in a free 28-day transformational program to change their lives. This innovative program involved the use of herbal tea blends, custom nutritional plans, and free counseling sessions. It proved highly successful, with clients reporting significant improvements in health, including: decreases in migraine attacks from 20 to 3 per day, revitalized skin, significant digestive relief, and overall improvement in mood and feelings of wellbeing. Since then, Gladstone has been relentless in pursuing his dream of bringing the power of traditional herbal knowledge to the world.

Part III - The Creation

“I am driven daily to make a positive difference in people's lives. Helping people live their best lives naturally fills my soul with joy and excitement. So many people live with chronic conditions that can be alleviated, if not eliminated, with herbs, herbal remedies, and a wholesome diet. The intrinsic value of knowing that you are helping others is so rewarding.” - Gladstone St. Auburn Etienne

The endless drive and ambitions of Gladstone led to him reimagining the world of herbal tea. Through his passion of sharing his wealth of herbal knowledge and his business acumen, he brought a new brand into creation in 2014: ZABICOLife. Drawing its name from the zabico tree, the French creole name for the Caribbean apricot tree that traditionally represents health and wellness, this company embodies the true nature of herbalist traditions.

“Wherever herbal teas or functional teas are the topic of discussion, I want ZABICOLife to be mentioned.” - Gladstone St. Auburn Etienne

Using these traditions passed down from generation to generation, Gladstone carefully crafted a collection of herbal teas and herbal elixirs with deep roots in traditional recipes. Each blend was ideated to target specific health issues, including anxiety, stress, inflammation, and more. These powerful and delicious concoctions combine up to eight herbs that offer substantial, immediate benefits when added to a daily health regime. This collection blossomed into ZABICOLife, a world-renowned herbal tea and tisane house that offers a beautiful range of products with hand-selected ingredients that are locally grown and truly exquisite. ZABICOLife has since expanded its reach worldwide, receiving such recognitions as being selected for the 70th Jubilee in honor of Queen Elizabeth II.

Part IV - The Future

Like other modern visionaries, Gladstone hasn’t limited himself to the present - he’s actively working towards the future. With strong ambitions to reimagine the role of herbal teas in the new global wellness culture, he has embraced his role as a master herbalist and internationally recognized herbal tea connoisseur and brought them to the forefront.

“Herbal teas should be recognized as one of the pillars of the new wellness culture.” - Gladstone St. Auburn Etienne 

In looking forward, Gladstone is relentless in pursuing his dream of making herbal teas more than a
beverage, but a lifestyle. With the growing acceptance of and indulgence in complex coffees and wines among generations around the world, now is the time for an herbal tea revolution. Not only do herbal teas have delicious aromas and flavors, but they also serve to improve the body and provide peace of mind. They offer a unique experience with all the elegance and enjoyment of indulging in a fine wine or single malt with added benefits.

With this expansion comes the opportunity to delve into new endeavors that also promote health and wellness. This includes an amazing first-to-market line of herbal tea infused beauty products, including serums, eye creams, and moisturizers, coming soon. As an herbalist, tea connoisseur, environmentalist, and millennial, Gladstone St. Auburn Etienne has long imagined new ways of bringing traditional herbalist knowledge and practice to the world. We can only wait and see what amazing innovations he has in store for us next.

“ZABICOLife represents 3000 years of herbal wisdom, fine artistry, and generational excellence. I intend to inspire and transform this generation one cup at a time.” - Gladstone St. Auburn
Etienne