Shelburne, Vermont - July 4, 2011
Ed and Thora Pomicter met years ago in college, and since then have kept the spice alive in their relationship.
Working out of their basement, they have created the Teeny Tiny Spice Company.
"Usually when you walk into someone's basement you don't see all this spice," Thora Pomicter said.
Spices from all over the world -- countries like India, Egypt, Albania, and Guatemala create their organic spice blends. It all started when the busy couple with two teenagers wanted to keep dinner interesting. "Find great recipes, say yeah we want to make that and then realize that out of the 16 spices we'd only have 12," Ed Pomicter said.
They started making batches of spices for themselves but once friends got a taste the Pomicter's knew they were onto something.
The ethnic and custom spice blends are all about ease. "Take 1 or 2 tablespoons of spice and add it to that recipe and you have something that tastes totally different than what you're used to," Ed Pomicter said.
Gina Bullard: "Is this for the advanced cook?"
Ed Pomicter: "No, this is for everybody to use."
Ed is used to wearing a mask -- he's a full time anesthesiologist -- but not one like this. Grinding together spices like pepper, cumin, chilies, and paprika fill the basement with a spice dust that fills your lungs.
Flavors like British Curry and Chocolate Chili fill the reusable cans which are starting to line shelves all around the U.S.
"We're now in five states and continue to get calls from around the country," Thora Pomicter said.
"Ethiopian Berbere is a traditional spice from Ethiopia that is used in bean dishes, but we try to use it in everything," Ed Pomicter said.
The Pomicters say for the advanced cook, their products makes life easier, but for the beginner it's a one stop shop for creating something that might otherwise be complicated. But if you're nervous, every ten dollar tin has a recipe on the top to get you started.
"You just put that in where you normally put basil and bang you have something totally different all of a sudden," Ed Pomicter said.
An exotic company hidden in the basement of a Vermont home.
Gina Bullard - WCAX News
