During chilli season when she was growing up, rooftops across Shashi’s neighbourhood would turn bright red. In Kenyas, families and farmers spread their chillies out in the sunshine to dry - something she still remembers vividly today.
Living in Kenya and then India, Shashi learned to cook alongside her mum, sisters and aunties. Spices were part of everyday life, and learning how to use them meant spending time together in the kitchen. Recipes passed from one generation to the next. Blends were made by instinct and experience, shaped by years of tasting, cooking and sharing meals.
Long before Spice Kitchen had a name, this was where it began.
A Grinder with a Story
When Shashi settled in Birmingham, she brought those recipes and traditions with her.
A cast-iron grinder, thought to be more than 100 years old, became part of that story. Originally used for coffee, it was rescued from a family home when it was about to be thrown away.
Shashi put it to work grinding spices for her own Garam Masala, making batches to give to family and friends.
Today, that same family recipe remains at the heart of our collection. It’s even won awards — something that makes us especially proud.
Every Family Has Its Own Blend
The knowledge Shashi has passed on to Sanjay continues to shape the blends we make today.
And one of the lovely things about spice cookery is that every family does things a little differently. A little more of one spice, a little less of another. A preference passed down, or an adjustment made with whatever’s in the cupboard.
Blends such as Za’atar and Ras el Hanout have many variations, reflecting the places and people who make them. Those differences are part of what makes exploring spices so rewarding: there’s always another flavour to discover.
From Our Kitchen to Yours
Sharing that knowledge is a big part of why we do what we do.
Our hundreds of recipes and Sanjay’s cookery books, 'Spice Kitchen' and Essential Spices For Dummies, help you understand your spices, build confidence and find new ways to enjoy them.
Whether you’re trying your first homemade spice blend or experimenting with a dish you’ve never cooked before, we hope something you discover here becomes a favourite at your own kitchen table.
Perhaps even a recipe you’ll pass on?