12 AAPI-owned food brands to support right now
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May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. And in many parts of the country, celebrations and cultural events take place to commemorate and honor people of Asian and Pacific Island heritage.
No celebration would be complete without recognizing the rich culinary traditions within AAPI communities. From kitchen products that make cooking easier to a smattering of direct-to-consumer spices and condiments, here are AAPI-owned food brands we love.
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1. Our Place
Co-founded by Shiza Shahid, direct-to-consumer cookware and dinnerware brand Our Place is best known for its multitasking Always Pan. We tried this pan and like that it excelled at tackling multiple stovetop cooking tasks, such as frying eggs and making one-pot pasta. And we didn't mind showing off this gorgeous piece of cookware, either.
2. Brightland
This pantry staple goes in pretty much everything we cook. However, the importance of what goes into making olive oil is oftentimes ignored, which is why founder Aishwarya Iyer decided to produce high quality olive oil using olives harvested from heirloom trees in California.
In addition to the best-selling Alive and Awake oils, Brightland regularly releases fun flavors such as last year's ultra-seasonal ramp vinegar (which we loved).
3. Free AF mocktails
Canned mocktails have become all the rage lately as consumers become more mindful of their alcohol consumption. Free AF founder Lisa King is well aware of consumer habits, having cut back on alcohol herself back in 2020. That inspired her to encourage sober-curious folks by providing them with easy-to-access beverages that are just as tasty as traditional cocktails—with zero alcohol and low sugar.
Varieties include an aperitivo-inspired Apero Spritz, a refreshingly zero-proof Paloma, and more. But we recommend opting for the tasting pack to get the full experience (and share it with friends).
4. Momofuku
We fell in love with this brand after trying the delicious, ramen-style Momofuku noodles dressed up with accompanying condiments, like chili crisp, sesame oil, and savory salt.
Owned by chef David Chang, Momofuku brings restaurant-grade ingredients to the average home cook to elevate everything from quick noodles to more complex dishes, like tingly lamb ssäm. If you're not a seasoned chef, don't worry, there are plenty of accompanying recipes to get your inspiration flowing.
5. Bokksu
Love traveling? This snack subscription can virtually take you on a trip to Japan. Each box includes an assortment of 20 to 22 Japanese snacks, candies, and a tea pairing, plus a booklet that details the origin and flavor profile of each product. There’s a theme for every month, which intends to celebrate a region, a festival, or a cultural phenomenon—like Mochi Madness for March and Moon Festival for September.
Bokksu also has a grocery section where you can shop snacks, pantry staples, and kitchenware from Asian-owned brands. And for AAPI heritage month, the brand launched a special collection of Bokksu founder Danny Taing's favorite food products from Asian-founded food start-ups.
6. Diaspora Co.
If you’re looking for high quality spices to add to your pantry, you may want to consider Diaspora Co. Our kitchen team loves it so much that we find ourselves craving “the deep, floral earthiness of the Pragati Tumeric at least once a week.” We love it mixed into a batch of one-pot tumeric coconut rice or a simple bowl of popcorn, covered in butter and heavily sprinkled with this golden spice.
7. Umamicart
This online Asian grocery delivery service can save you trips to your local H-Mart. Founder Andrea Xu is a self-proclaimed third-culture kid, having grown up in Spain and now living in New York. Her passion for food and culture began in her early childhood as her parents ran a Chinese restaurant in Spain.
Frustrated by limited choices at her local markets, she started Umamicart, an online Asian grocer that offers a curated and comprehensive selection of timeless staples and new, distinctly Asian American products and ingredients. And they're all delivered conveniently to customers’ doorsteps.
8. Hast Knives
If you’re looking for a low-maintenance but high-performing knife, this award-winning carbon steel knife should be on your radar. We tried each knife in a four-piece knife set, chopping up vegetables, cutting through chicken bones, deboning a whole fish, and mincing herbs. Though it’s a bit pricey, we’re impressed by its build quality that we think will last a long time.
9. Omsom
Coming up with new ideas for home cooked meals can get old, fast. I struggled to find inspiration for new recipe ideas—until I tried Omsom popular sauce kits that were popping up on my social feed.
Thanks to Vietnamese-American sisters Vanessa and Kim Pham’s brilliant invention, I was able to not only cook delicious meals easily, but also explore dishes that I’d never attempted before. My favorites are the Vietnamese Lemongrass BBQ and the Filipino Sisig sauces, which are both aromatic and rich in flavor.
10. Fly by Jing
You may have heard about the chili crisp craze, but did you know that this condiment pairs extraordinarily well with vanilla ice cream? Inspired by the incredible Sichuan cuisine of her hometown Chengdu, Chinese-American Jing Gao founded the company to introduce more people to the magic of chili crisp. It's a delightfully savory condiment with a pleasant heat that pairs well with anything from fried eggs to pizza to, yes, vanilla ice cream.
Jing Gao also collaborated with women-owned, sustainable tinned seafood brand Fishwife to create their tasty and ready-to-enjoy lovechild, Smoked Salmon with Sichuan Chili Crisp. It's made with fair trade Atlantic salmon that sits in an extra-virgin olive oil and Sichuan Chili Crisp brine for a luxuriously spicy and savory flavor.
11. Dang Foods
For those who love Southeast Asian flavors, these Thai street food-inspired snacks won’t disappoint. Founded by Thai-American Vincent Kitirattragarn, Dang Foods aims to bring the food of Kitirattragarn’s childhood to the masses.
From coconut and rice chips to snack bars, Dang has a variety of munchies made from ingredients from Thailand. As a certified B Corp, Dang meets rigorous environmental and public transparency standards, sourcing all the coconuts from their family farm in Thailand.
12. Mìlà
If you're obsessed with dumplings, you'll want to get your hands on these renowned, high-quality ones—which get delivered right to your door. Co-founders (and life partners) Jen Liao and Caleb Wang started Mìlà (previously Xiao Chi Jie) in 2018 as two Chinese Americans passionate about sharing their cultural food with the rest of the country.
Today, they're producing uniquely delicious dumplings that prioritize high-quality ingredients, like extra soft mondako flour in the dough and fresh ginger and scallions in the filling. The dumplings are made fresh every day and shipped frozen to your door, ready to steam and enjoy.
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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: AAPI-owned food brands to shop right now
