Ujamaa
Supplying glorious single-origin spices and kicking colonial ideas out of the spice trade
- Location Edinburgh, Scotland
- Working on Fair supply chains; sustainable farming
Now based in Scotland, Ujamaa CEO Jawahir Al-Mauly has studied in Canada and Belgium, but was born and raised in Zanzibar - the East African country also known as the Spice Islands. Jawahir was very aware of Zanzibar’s economic problems - and of the exploitative nature of the spice trade, with practises forged in a colonial era and not much altered. Her mission was to do things differently.
Ujamaa grew from that passion. The company works directly with small farmers in Zanzibar, developing mutually respectful relationships and paying premium prices. That means Ujamaa can supply high-quality single origin spices and the growers can retain a decent share of the price.
These fresh spices aren’t just fair: they’re also starting to win awards for their superior taste. They haven’t been stuck in a warehouse, or blended with other harvests. This is spice as it is meant to taste and it will light up your kitchen.
Why they are different:
Open the jar and smell. Look at the red of the chilli or the yellow of the turmeric. And taste it.This is what spice is supposed to taste like. The direct nature of the Ujamaa supply chain means their spices are in a cook’s hands in the same year they are harvested - many commercial spices can take up to two years to reach the consumer.
Why they are kind:
There’s a big focus on working with communities and preserving cultural heritage, but Ujamaa are also working to promote sustainable farming and biodiversity measures.
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