If there are memories most of us remember as adults, it is those involving food and the hands that so thoughtfully prepared it. For Dr. Corinne Amos, it is her grandmother Violet who she says is one who served her community and enjoyed giving back to the community through food.
“As long as you walked in the door, you were sure to leave with a full belly and a happy heart,” Amos says about the matriarch who passed away in 2021.
Her grandmother would be one of her culinary mentors and the inspiration behind her Caribbean food spices that meld flavor and health.
The Spice Theory Crafted in Flavor and Health
The board-certified anesthesiologist knows the power of food from the standpoint of bringing satisfaction to one’s taste buds to negatively impacting our health.
Prior to her death, the Jamaican entrepreneur says her grandmother battled heart disease, pointing to access salt in one’s diet as the ingredient that plays a role in the diagnosis, therefore prompting a lifestyle change.
“I really wanted to combine my love of medicine with my culinary skills to bring forth a passion project which has now developed into a full-blown business and thus The Spice Theory was born,” says Amos, about her line of Caribbean food spices are influenced by her Caribbean heritage, love of food and cooking and role as a doctor.
With the help of other flavor makers, Amos released The Spice Theory, a premium line of vegan, low-sodium spice blends that she calls “all-in-one” for their versatility to boast flavors of both foods and drinks.
With so many Caribbean food spices out on the market, Amos wanted to represent her Jamaican culture like the rest, but with a twist. Making them low-sodium is important to Amos going back to her grandmother, as well as recognizing the disproportionate rates of heart disease in the Afro-Caribbean diaspora and the lack of healthy seasoning options for this demographic.
“We really focus on a way of honoring my heritage, my Caribbean heritage, through flavorful food that is healthy for you and not bland. And I just really want to promote a messaging of embracing flavor without having to sacrifice your health.”
Caribbean Food Spices For the Culture
Considering Caribbean food spices currently on the market, Amos’ approach includes building on the natural health benefits of spices and herbs and expanding on them within the blends in a unique way.
By V. Sheree Williams
