The untold story of your tiny spice jars

The oh so dreaded 2019 pandemic has implicitly changed the way we buy and consume food. With farm to table being all the rage everybody suddenly wanted to know what they’re eating, where it’s coming from, who’s growing it and our kitchens literally became one of our most occupied spots in the house. We’ve all diligently inquired about the seeds used for growing our vegetables, visited urban farms nearby to closely understand or rather get involved in the process of cultivating the food we consume, we’ve most likely also known names of the farmers who’ve beautifully harvested the perfect lettuce for us. But when is the last time you thought the same things about the black pepper you sprinkle so liberally on your salads or the turmeric you toss in your curries?

By reconsidering the origin of the spices you purchase you could help transform an industry long stuck in the past. On one trip to the mountains of India when we tasted a chilli like we’d never tasted before we instantly realised what we’re missing out on. The fiery spice, which was hand-harvested at high altitude packed with flavor literally changed the way we looked at the tiny spice jars sitting on our shelves. Not to forget the fresh crispy cumin we sampled in a small village in Rajasthan and oh boy it was the best we’d ever had. After several of our sourcing trips we’ve come to just one realisation - the best quality spices are usually set aside for exports and by the time we get to pick up a bottle from a grocer’s shelf it’s origin becomes hard to trace, there’s a shadow cast on the actual taste of spice and many consumers have no idea they could be eating so much better.

Best quality spices are usually set aside for exports and by the time we get to pick up a bottle from a grocer’s shelf it’s origin becomes hard to trace.

The commodity market functions with great opacity. Monopolies flourish due to bulk sourcing, little quality consciousness and cheaper prices to the consumers for spices that we now know are no less than dust. This was not built for the growth of farmers, certainly not for the people who would consume them but mostly for the businesses who would profit from them and the opaqueness of the supply chains kept their practices from becoming common knowledge. It has been like this always, but this scenario is slowly changing as we see many brands steering way to a more equitable and fair marketplace.

The commodity market functions with great opacity. Monopolies flourish as a result of bulk sourcing, little to no quality consciousness and cheaper prices to the consumers.

Along with this we also see a paradigm shift in consumer’s approach towards buying organic products more from a sense of health and wellness but social responsibility as well which is undeniably encouraging for brands like ourselves who’re trying to bring something different to the table. Compare mass-market turmeric, whose origin you're probably unaware of, with single-origin Lakadong Turmeric that’s a wildly aromatic organic harvest, super fresh and milled carefully for maximum flavor in the hills of Meghalaya. The difference in flavor we bet will be evidently overwhelming. This ushered us to start our own venture as an ode or more appropriately a small tribute to the glorious spices of India. We’d been exposed to something we never knew existed and it was a total game changer.

Once you’ve tasted a batch of freshly harvested spices it’s hard to go back. Working with farmers across India championing natural farming, working towards a more sustainable agricultural landscape, we sit back in equanimity knowing that every single ingredient that we bring you is the toil of a farmer who strives hard every single day to grow the most delicious spices that there will ever be.

Once you’ve tasted a batch of freshly harvested spices it’s hard to go back.

So if you’re wondering where to buy organic spices from head right here: https://www.beunfiltered.in/