Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Best Ethically-Sourced Spice Blends

For mothers who love to cook, giving them a set of spice blends brings the world to their kitchen. Moms also would be proud to not only receive this present but to also learn that their Mother’s Day gift is one that gives back — through direct sourcing from farmers and growers.

This Mother’s Day, consider giving that special person in your life one of these ethically-sourced spice blend sets.

Rumi’s Middle Eastern spices and blends are comprised from direct sources from rural farmers and women in Afghanistan to provide reliable wages and economic stability. Their Middle Eastern Favorites Gift Set is a collection of four spice blends – Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout, Afghan Curry Braise and Kabui Piquant Chicken.

This woman-owned B Corp’s mission is not only to curate spice blends but also improve the lives of spice farmers by directly sourcing from small and sustainable farms. They also obtain spices from women-owned businesses and spice cooperatives contributing to female education and improved livelihoods. Their 8 Tin Chef Set contains eight of their signature blends, with each paired with a recipe card, and boxed up like a rare book collection. They include their Aegean Salt, Bonga Spice, Da Lat Spice, Edo Spice, Ferla Spice, Kampot & Salt, Kandy Spice and Supeq Spice.

This queer, WOC-owned and led business sources 30 heirloom, single-origin spices directly from 150 farms across India and Sri Lanka. Diaspora Co. pays their farm partners an average of six times above commodity pricing to provide them with what they believe to be a living wage. The Pantry Refresh holds six of Diaspora Co.’s popular spices: Pragati Turmeric, Aranya Black Pepper, Sirarkhong Hathei Chillies, Wild Ajwain, Nandini Coriander and Makhir Ginger.

Certified health coach Samantha Binkley applied her passions for pursuing a healthy lifestyle and cooking toward creating this organic spice and salt blend line. This Black woman-owned business sources directly from Californian organic producers in the Coachella Valley along with distributors in the state’s Central Valley. Spices that cannot be locally sourced are imported from Egypt, India, Spain and Tunisia; some also originate from Central America. As part of Healthy On You’s Edible Playlists line, the Herby Melodies Collection contains Use Fish You Were Here, Bohemian Sea Salt and Let The Good Thymes Roll.

Spice Club, Burlap & Barrel, $45

This social enterprise works directly with smallholder farmers to source fresh, single origin spices for professional and home cooks and to build long-term partnerships with them to connect them to high-value markets. Their Spice Club is a quarterly seasonal seasoning subscription with each box holding four full-sized jars of spices. They include pre-releases of brand-new spices and new harvests of Burlap and Barrel’s favorite spices, along with a collaboration food product, recipes and spice stories. There’s also a free shipping code for your next order.