As a child, I was always enchanted by my mother’s masala box in the kitchen. It was a vessel not only of exquisite flavors for our meals but also a source of natural remedies for our ailments.
That magical blend of taste and healing intrigued me. Little did I know that it would set the stage for my lifelong journey.
As a hosteler in my college days, I would eagerly wait for the arrival of my mother’s lovingly packed pickles every two months.
However, the pickles barely lasted a week, as my friends would always finish it before I could savor it. I was in awe of their love for my mother’s handmade pickles. I felt proud and happy to see her talent being admired and appreciated. This is where the idea of Sattva sparked for the first time with the desire to share my mother’s culinary magic with the world.
Hostel turned out to be an exposure for me to the diverse culinary tapestry of Nepal. Having friends from all over the nation, I got a chance to experience dishes from different ethnic communities of Nepal ranging from pickles to spice blends. It was a truly educational experience. This also helped me understand that we have barely explored the culinary prowess of Nepal, especially of the terai or the Madhesh region. This further fueled my desire to bring these unique flavors to the fore. The idea of Sattva started taking root in my head, however, I was still unsure of the relevance of my idea.
In the year 2020, a pivotal moment arrived when my sister Poonam and I ended up discussing about the importance of traditional recipes. Both of us have always been mesmerized by the unique flavors of our community and the role of women in preserving them for generations.
We delved deeper into this area, did our research, studied the market, mapped our source of raw materials, and in this journey understood, that pickles and spices can help solve the poverty issue in Nepal.
We wanted to build a company, that financially empowers every stakeholder associated with it, be it our farmer partners, or our didis who put in their heart and soul to make delicious products. Fueled by unwavering passion and driven by a belief in the possibilities, we embarked on our journey of Sattva Nepal. As novices in the business landscape, we faced the inevitable trials and setbacks. Yet, with each obstacle, we recalibrated, honed our approach, and persisted.
Our trajectory has been a huge motivation for me. I still remember going from store to store on foot in Nepalgunj asking them to sell our products. We would end up coming home with tons of advice, negative comments, and lots of disappointments. Slowly and steadily, we did get our products to stores in Hetauda, Kathmandu, and Nepalgunj.
And thanks to the digital age, platforms like Daraz, Tavisi Nepal and Thulo have been a blessing. What started with just 4 products—including the likes of Timur, Dalchini, Black cardamom, and the exquisite Chatpate Chhop blend—soon expanded to more spices and pickles in the category. It is heartening to see our catalog growing with new and unique flavors of Terai and Nepal as a whole. We still have a long way to go, selling spices isn’t that easy but I am positive that we can make it happen.
I am thrilled to see that our values and products have been resonating deeply within our communities. The feedback from our customers continues to help us improve every day. We are grateful to them for having been so open about their experiences with our products. Our day becomes especially better when someone shares how much value our products have added to their lives.
While our customers reaffirm our belief that quality and values matter, we are especially thrilled to see our farmer and women partners growing with Sattva.
Our mission empowers women—our esteemed curators and creators—to showcase their talents and contribute to their households. Our partnership with small-scale farmers ensures that hard work is justly rewarded, fostering equitable prosperity within communities.
Upon reflecting on this journey, I am reminded that the gap between ideation and execution is not for the faint of heart. The skepticism I initially encountered about the sale of pickles and spices was only the tip of the iceberg. The challenges of mobilizing women communities, dealing with logistical barriers, and navigating market intricacies have been profound. As a fresh graduate with tons of passion and limited experience, this has been a roller coaster ride but I am glad to have stuck through it. This journey has been truly transformational pushing me to challenge my mindset and build my skills. At the end of the day, the depth of our journey lies not only in our success but also in our perseverance. The fears that once gripped me have helped me become a better entrepreneur.
As I stand today, I am humbled by the journey of Sattva Nepal—a mosaic of uncertainties, failures, and triumphs. Our vision remains our guiding light : To foster global wellbeing with authentic Nepali flavors while empowering women and farmer communities of Nepal. This is just the beginning, and we have a long way to go but now I am sure, I will be able to pull through and bring Nepalese flavors on the global plate. And our journey starts with Nepal itself.
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-Written by Ms. Priyanka Shukla, Co-founder, Sattva Nepal.