Founders of Burlap & Barrel, Ethan Frisch and Ori Zohar, discuss transforming the spice industry with fair pay and transparency. They share their culinary journeys, from creating unique ice cream flavors to sourcing high-quality spices worldwide. Emphasis on building equitable, traceable supply chains and supporting small holder farmers.
Burlap & Barrel aims to create equitable spice supply chains by paying partner farmers fairly.
Burlap & Barrel prioritizes quality, transparency, and ethical practices in the spice industry revolution.
Deep dives
Revolutionizing the Spice Trade
Ethan Frisch and Ori Zohar, co-founders of Burlap and Barrel, aim to transform the exploitative and commodity-driven spice business into an equitable and transparent industry. They prioritize paying partner farmers what they ask, providing them with the resources to invest in their land and employees. By establishing new international spice supply chains, they deliver high-quality and unique spices to the US market. Their passion for spices stems from the rich history and flavors that spices bring to our food. They also recognized a business opportunity in the US spice market, which lacked quality and diversity.
The Role of Spices in Family Meals
Spices played a significant role in Ori's family meals, which merged Middle Eastern and international flavors. They incorporated spices like cumin, paprika, sumac, chili flakes, and fresh herbs into their dishes. Family dinner was a time for cultural exchange, comparing English idioms, and bonding over delicious and flavorful meals. Ethan, on the other hand, admitted that spices were not heavily used in his New York Jewish upbringing. However, his exposure to diverse cuisines in the city sparked his interest in different flavors.
From Ice Cream to Spices
Ethan and Ori's entrepreneurial journey began with Guirilla Ice Cream, where they created ice cream flavors inspired by revolutionary movements around the world. Their success in crafting unique flavors and their desire to improve the quality of spices in the US market led them to start Burlap and Barrel. They recognized that spices had the potential to transform meals and offer distinct and genuine pleasure. By sourcing high-quality spices directly from farmers and establishing trust-based relationships, they aim to provide consumers with better flavors while uplifting farming communities.
Changing the Spice Industry
Burlap and Barrel is disrupting the spice industry by prioritizing direct supply chains and fair trade practices. Rather than negotiating prices, they pay partner farmers what they ask, empowering them to invest in their land and community. Burlap and Barrel is dedicated to preserving heirloom ingredients, supporting regenerative and sustainable farming practices, and providing consumers with flavorful, traceable, and ethically sourced spices. Their focus on quality and transparency helps customers discover the diverse range of spices and upgrade their spice cabinets.
This week on Special Sauce we talk to the good guy spice whisperers Ethan Frisch and Ori Zohar, who are the founders of the socially conscious spice company Burlap & Barrel. They are on a mission to to build new international spice supply chains that are equitable, transparent, and traceable.