Ep. 32: Decolonizing the spice trade with Diaspora Co. founder Sana Javeri Kadri
“ The idea came primarily in 2016, when the turmeric latte trend had exploded, I just had a hunch that this turmeric was pretty shitty and that nobody knew where it was coming from.”
Once upon a time in Bombay (in a pre-Covid era when we could still meet and gather in small, confined recording studios) I had the chance to finally ask Sana Javeri Kadri how she went from rebellious teen to spice queen. In addition to providing us with safer, fresher, more sustainably produced and higher quality spices, it’s no exaggeration to say that Sana has single-handedly brought the inequities in the global spice supply chain to the attention of leading U.S. chefs, food magazine editors, and consumers.
Hear how this self-assured, queer, Bombay-raised and Bay Area-based badass got started down the entrepreneurship path on the full episode below, on your favorite podcast app, or on iTunes and please do subscribe, so you don’t miss an episode!
Photo: Aubrie Pick
SHOWNOTES FOR EPISODE 32:
Diaspora Co.’s website where you can find links to order their amazing single origin spices, and to Sana’s fantastic newsletter (highly recommended even if you’re not a spice fanatic!)
Diaspora Co. on instagram
Sana’s Bombay restaurant favorites:
Soam
Swati Snacks
BOOKS and other things we discussed:
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Ants Among Elephants: An Untouchable Family and the Making of Modern India by Sujatha Gidla
To all the boys I’ve loved before by Jenny Han
Superhuman email app
Follow us on Instagram for more on Sana and everything we mentioned in this episode!
Special thanks to the team @ Flying Carpet Productions for audio post-production engineering!
