The Spice Theory Caribbean Food Spices Crafted in Jamaican Heritage

If there are memories most of us have as adults, they are those involving food and the hands that so thoughtfully prepared it. For Dr. Corrie Amos, it is her grandmother Violet who she says is someone who served her community and enjoyed giving back 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.

Amos shares that her love of food comes from her grandmother who is also 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 as well as its potential impact on 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 often plays a role in the diagnosis, therefore signaling for a healthier 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 influenced by her Caribbean heritage, love of food and cooking and role as a physician.

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, 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.

“We have jerk spices that are already on the market, we have other products that cater to the Caribbean community. But I wanted to add a spin with a little flair and just add a few ingredients that aren’t necessarily ubiquitous through the [store] aisle,” says the New York resident.

With this goal in mind, The Spicy Theory currently offers three blends:

• “Fern Gully” Garlic Herb Pepper Blend – Roasted garlic kicks off the ingredient list with herbs including parsley, basil, thyme and oregano, but the aleppo pepper might just be the star here.
• “Welcome to Jamrock” Jerk Spice Rub – Of course allspice is a given that is joined by Scotch bonnet pepper, garlic, thyme, coriander, ginger and nutmeg. Get it mild or with more spice.
• “Natural Mystic” Adobo Blend – Adobo is common among Caribbean food spices, especially within Latin Caribbean communities such as the Dominican Republic. The Spice Theory’s creative take starts with Mexican oregano, smoked Spanish paprika and sea salt and ends with ancho chili powder and other spices.

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Salts within The Spice Theory line of products are just as tasty as they are fun to play with.

“Scotch on the Rocks” Smoked Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sea Salt and “Old Fashioned” Citrus Smoked Bourbon Barrel Sea Salt are both great as finishing salts for your dishes or rimming your cocktails to elevate your home bar game.

Rounding out the current offerings is The Spice Theory Scotch Bonnet Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil, which is truly one of a kind.

What’s next?

Amos is not stopping with the blends, with plans of expansion to include additional olive oils and healthy food snacks.

The Spice Theory products are currently sold online, and Amos and her team are working to have more people experience the flavors through hotels and restaurants.

Meanwhile, head online to check out the collection of recipes before ordering blends for home delivery and discovering why these Caribbean food spices are a must for your kitchen spice collection.

This story originally appeared in Cuisine Noir Magazine