Fetlework early on tried buying the full harvest from some of our farmers and one said - “If I sell it all to you, what will I do on market days?” Business is a part of the social fabric in Ethiopia - so for that reason we combine micro lots from the same growing regions sourced from local growers, foragers and partner farms.
The flavor profiles in our spices directly reflect the local soil, altitude, and climate, often resulting in distinct, specialized taste notes. Ethiopia has a lot of geographical diversity, with a massive central highland plateau split by the Great Rift Valley, flanked by low-lying deserts. Our microclimates are largely due to altitude rather than latitude, creating three main zones: hot lowlands (Kolla), temperate highlands (Woyna Dega), and cool alpine areas (Dega), causing dramatic microclimate variations within short distances. We plant seeds that have grown in these lands for centuries - creating unique heirloom varieties.
Our spices are processed using ancestral methods that include sun drying, fire roasting and hand sorting. The same ancient and simultaneously innovative techniques and terroir that made Ethiopian single origin coffee highly sought after are shared in our single origin spices and herbs.
