Thistle and Clay is an environmentally conscious family business based in Aboyne, Royal Deeside, specialising in hand made organic soapshampoo and conditioner bars and skincare. All our products are made locally and our ingredients carefully sourced to ensure their quality. All our packaging is compostable, biodegradable or recyclable and completely plastic free.

In 2021 we opened a zero waste coffee house and organic refillery in Ballater. You’ll find the finest artisan organic coffee by DearGreen, and a range of organic freshly baked cakes and bakes made by us in house. You’re guaranteed a warm highland welcome.

We have a wonderful zero waste arrangement in place. The coffee beans arrive in large coffee bags, emptied into vacuum sealed drums, and the bags are returned and refilled.

We don’t offer takeaway paper cups, but please do “bring your own cup”, or “borrow & return” one of ours when you’re finished. Until paper cups are truly home compostable, they’re just not an option for us.

Our refillery has expanded to include both of our shops, and is very much in keeping with our zero waste ethos. We’ve done things a little bit differently, making it easier for you by bagging our products up in compostable paper bags, pre-weighed and priced. After considering the options, we’ve gone down the route of glass jars rather than plastic dispensers.

If you’re short on time, you can place your order online and pop back to collect it when it’s ready.

Come on, pop past to say hi, sit by the fire in Ballater and enjoy a cup of the “finest coffee in the world”. 🥰😘