Burlap & Barrel

Ethan Frisch and Ori Zohar founded Burlap & Barrel to buy single-origin spices straight from farmers and foragers, including some never before imported to the US.

About Burlap & Barrel

Based in
United States
Known for
single-origin spices sourced directly from farmers

Burlap & Barrel works directly with farmers and foragers instead of buying through the commodity chain, and pays partner farmers two to ten times the commodity price. Ethan Frisch and Ori Zohar run it as a public benefit corporation. Buying direct has let them bring in spices that had never been imported to the US.

Its single-origin spices each come from one place, and the sourcing reaches the mountains of central Vietnam, Bardiya in Nepal and Extremadura in Spain. Some harvests follow local drying methods: in Extremadura, peppers for its smoked paprika are dried over oak coals.

Its spices are sold to professional kitchens as well as home cooks.

Burlap & Barrel questions

What does single-origin mean for Burlap & Barrel spices?

A single-origin spice comes from one place, such as one farm, cooperative or foraging area, rather than a mix of harvests from many sources. Burlap & Barrel buys its single-origin spices directly from the farmers and foragers who grow or gather them, so it can say where each one came from.

What is a public benefit corporation?

A public benefit corporation is a for-profit company that is also committed to a public benefit named in its founding documents. Under Delaware law, for example, its directors must balance shareholders' financial interests with the interests of people affected by the company and that stated benefit. Burlap & Barrel describes itself as a public benefit corporation building new international spice supply chains that are equitable, transparent and traceable.

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