Our Mission and Values

  • The Living Roots Mission is simple: Harvest the highest quality, curated teas and spices from small hold farmers we know and bring them directly to your table.


    Our values are deeply intertwined with our commitment to sustainability, ethical practices ,and cultural preservation. Guided by our North Star—the Harvest to Table philosophy—we combine eco-friendly practices and artisanal craftsmanship to bring you products that will delight your senses, support local farmers , preserve heirloom growing traditions and lead the way toward a more sustainable and equitable world.

Harvest to Table

At Living Roots, we are deeply committed to our 'Harvest to Table' philosophy, which champions local agriculture and honors the deep-rooted traditions of farming in India and Taiwan.

We partner directly with local and indigenous farmers, we ensure that every spice and tea leaf embodies the essence of its origin, cultivated with care and respect for the environment.

We don't make a fleeting visit to the farmer to buy the produce .We have sat at their dinner tables, know the names of their children and take our time to "Know the Farmer".

The techniques our farmers use were honed across generations and are a family heirloom. The products are not mass produced and grow only in specific area sand small batches - our turmeric for instance comes from the Lakadong valley in the remote hills of North East India.

Planetwise Craftsmanship

We place a near obsessive attention to our packaging and design philosophy.

All our packaging materials are 100% plastic free and BPA free. Our commitment is to use only materials that are plastic free, are biodegradable and are recyclable.

Our spices are packed for your convenience in borosilicate bottles and jars which do not leach and are inert and will not interact with the spices. Our bottles and jars can be reused, repurposed or recycled.

On every spice container bottle, you'll find a colophon. These are usually motifs from the cultures local to where we source our spices. To learn more, look up your spice containers and visit the spice page to learn more about the culture and the motif.

Our teas are packaged in recyclable and 100% biodegradable Kraft paper tubes. Our tubes will breakdown cellulose fibers naturally and can be entirely absorbed by the environment without any impacts on the environment or human health.

All inks used on our bottles, jars and cardboard containers are eco-friendly and use water-based pigments.

And finally, our spoons are made from sustainably sourced, traditionally grown natural Neem and Bamboo wood.

Artisanal

At Living Roots, 'Artisanal' is not just a label but a proof to the craftsmanship and care invested in each of our products.

From handpicked spices to carefully curated teas, our artisanal approach ensures quality and uniqueness. We create products that are both authentic and exceptional by combining traditional techniques with innovative practices.

Our turmeric powder and saffron are sourced from farmers who use age-old natural cultivation methods, ensuring the root is grown to its full potential. Most of our farmers are either small hold farmers growing on less than 5 acres. The farms are women or minority owned and span generations.

We employ state-of-the-art drying processes to preserve the spice's natural oils and vibrant color. This maintains the rich, authentic flavor of the spices and enhances its potency and freshness, resulting in a product that stands out in both taste and quality.

By honoring artisanal methods, we preserve the cultural and
culinary heritage that defines the regions from which we source.

Transparency

We started Living Roots with a vision to bring radical transparency at the individual product level.

The global spice market, integral to cuisine and culture, is grappling with the twin crisis of contamination and adulteration. On our website you'll find a link to a lab test for every spice from a government approved lab in the area where it was grown.

We test for pesticides (Glyphosate etc.), Heavy metals (Lead etc.) and pathogens (Salmonella etc.) Our spice and tea packaging will list the harvest date. There are no middlemen between us and the farmer so you can trust the freshness of the product when you open the container.