An Introduction to Single Origin Spices

I often get asked this impossible question: "what's your favorite item in the store?" Lately, I've taken to reframing that question as "what item in the store has shaped your cooking the most?" It could be my Shun Dual Core Nakiri - the knife that always gets me excited to chop vegetables even when I'm feeling lazy. Or my Le Creuset 5.5qt braiser - which has seen more batches of short ribs than I can count. But I think the honest answer, the thing that has taught me the most about food, is a humble spice.

The first time I opened a jar of Pragati Turmeric from Diaspora Co. it was after I'd been influenced by social media into buying some. I saw a picture on instagram of the deeply hued spice - somewhere between orange and yellow, reminiscent of sunshine and goldenrod flowers - and thinking "wait, is that what turmeric is supposed to look like?" By the time the jar arrived in the mail, I'd more or less forgotten that I'd ordered it, so I was in for a surprise. Popping the lid and taking a delicate sniff, I was astounded - this was deep, floral, earthy, with a sharp musk and a distinct tang. Before even cooking with it, I was convinced that I'd never really experienced turmeric before this. When I started cooking with it, it suddenly dawned on me why the recipes I'd tried to cook at home from the Indian subcontinent always seemed...bland. I just had really bad spices!

Why was it so good? What other single origin spices could elevate my cooking?

Cue rabbit hole!

Single origin spices are sourced from a single region, and sometimes even a single farm. Ethical spice companies source spices directly from farmers, ensuring they receive the highest price for the spices they worked so hard to grow. This results in a clear line of traceability from farm all the way to store. It also means we know exactly when and where the spices were harvested, and that there are no additives.

We've carried Diaspora Co since almost the first day Zest opened. Since then, we've added a second line of single origin spices, Burlap & Barrel. Both companies work directly with farmers, offer them premium prices, and source a distinctly higher quality, fresher product than anything you'll find in the grocery store. 

But I come back to the Pragati Turmeric over and over. It reminds me of just how much flavor, color, texture, and even joy we've lost in our food over time. It reminds me that even the humblest ingredient can tell a story. It reminds me, in short, why I cook - for those moments of pure sensory bliss.