By Marty Olmstead

Nirmala Narine found her passion in the jungles of Papua New Guinea one day four years ago when she came across a rare type of vanilla bean which had a fragrance and flavor unlike anything she had ever encountered. A native of Guyana and peripatetic world traveler, she had been working in corporate gift and incentive programs for Fortune 500 companies when she realized that she wasn’t getting much spice from her job.

While traveling, Narine was drawn to pepper berries from Tasmania, cloves from Madagascar and green tea oils from China, as well as the many other exotic spices that she had come across in 10 years of globe-trotting.
When she got back to New York, she founded her company based on these discoveries and her childhood experience of grinding spice mixes using her great-grandmother’s marsala brick (essentially, a mortar and pestle).
Today she travels to every corner of the world to discover spice plantations, colorful markets and vibrant food stalls to hand-select the best sources to include in her line of spice blends.

Nirmala’s Kitchen
43-01 21st Street Suite 303
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 361.7807
(800) 522.8505

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