“If the answer is no, then you’re probably not buying from a company that’s hoping to build equity within the spice industry,” says Javeri Kadri.
“It’s all about education,” says Javeri Kadri. So, how do you ensure equity and equal exchange in the spices you buy? Get educated It really makes such a difference in everyday cooking.” “It’s so much more fragrant and floral than most of the black pepper you’ll find on grocery store shelves. “Take our Aranya Black Pepper, for instance,” says Javeri Kadri. The result? Spices that are exceedingly fresh, fragrant, and connected to the farmers who bring them to your kitchen. A commitment to excellence and authenticity Part of that rigorous testing involves the Indian Institute of Spices Research, which focuses on resource management, crop production and improvement, and protective technologies for safe spices. “Each spice takes us from several months to years to source, based on rigorous lab testing, in-person visits, and, of course, multiple tastings,” she says. Regenerative agriculture involves farming and grazing that contributes to biodiversity by restoring the soil, removing carbon, and improving the water cycle. “We work with family-run farms who specialize in regenerative farming practices.” “I do two months-long sourcing trips to India and Sri Lanka every year, where I seek out farmers who are growing the most delicious spices,” she says. Javeri Kadri’s role is far from ‘just’ an office job. “My background and the fact that I have a personal connection to the country from which we source spices gives me a unique perspective,” she says. Javeri Kadri believes her experience as a queer immigrant of color makes her a prime candidate to do just that. The goal is simple: To be leaders in building a more equitable spice trade. Starting with just one spice- Pragati Turmeric-the company now offers 30 single-origin spices from 150 farms across India and Sri Lanka. So in 2017 at 23, Javeri Kadri founded DiasporaCo. website, “farmers made no money, spices changed hands upwards of 10 times before reaching the consumer, and the final spice on your shelf was usually an old, dusty shadow of what it once was.” She was shocked to find out that in 400 years, not much has changed.Īccording to the DiasporaCo.
It was this sense of place and respect for the originators of spices that led Javeri Kadri on a 7-month journey back to India to everything she could about the spice trade. “I started researching the spice trade and discovered that most of the turmeric was a blend, with no sense of place or respect for the people that grew it.” was nothing like the turmeric I’d grown up with in India,” says Javeri Kadri. “ Turmeric was suddenly everywhere, but the bland stuff being sold in the U.S. founder Sana Javeri Kadri was born and raised in postcolonial Mumbai.Īfter studying food justice in college, Javeri Kadri was working in marketing at a thoughtfully-sources San Francisco grocery store called Bi-Rite. They ethically source high quality spices, pay farmers fair trade wages, and honor the cultures where these diverse seasonings are sourced.Īnd the spices you’ll get from DiasporaCo. While it may be hundreds of years later, the repercussions of a colonized spice trade remain. ranking as the top importer of spices worldwide. Often the result of violent struggle, control of spices was transferred from the farmers who grew them to the European powers of the time.Įven today, spices are still a major economic force.Īccording to data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), the spice industry had a total trade value of 3.61 billion U.S. This made India a prime target for conquest.Īlthough the spice trade in India existed long before the 15th century, explorer Vasca de Gama’s arrival in what is now the coastal Indian state of Kerala in 1498 marked the beginning of the European race to dominate the industry. Spices were nothing short of an economic stronghold for whoever controlled these flavorful herbs, roots, and seeds. However, the spice trade played a major role in drawing colonizers to diverse parts of the world. When it comes to colonization, you may not immediately think of kitchen spices.
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