Persian jam and Japanese seasoning on dining tables of Kerala; startup to bring foreign flavours to Malayalees

KOCHI: A German woman's startup aims to bring exotic flavours like Persian jam and Japanese seasoning to the table of Malayalees. Samira Goth, a native of Nuremberg, Germany, prepares food products that are free of toxins and chemicals. Her husband, George Augustine, is a native of Fort Kochi. The two fell in love when Samira arrived in Fort Kochi in 1955. The couple got married in 1998.

The initiative is being launched as a cottage industry through a women's group in Cherthala Arookutty. Carrot jam prepared in a Persian recipe will be added with rowanberry extract, which is easily available in Germany. Pineapple and mango jams in a German recipe are also being prepared. Jambolan jam is in the works. Another product is pineapple, Garcinia cambogia and apple vinegars instead of unnatural vinegars. Samira says that vinegar can be made from bilimbi, which is readily available in Kerala.

Gomasio seasoning

Gomasio is a Japanese seasoning made from toasted sesame seeds and sea salt. It can be used with porridge, soup, noodles, and salads. Another product is a sweet and sour lemon pickle using a German recipe. Almond and cashew paste will also be launched in the next phase. They will be available online and in premium stores under the brand Lotus Land Foods.

Samira is also known as a well-known translator. Samira has translated 12 Ayurvedic books into German for Narayana Verlag publishers in Germany. These books are the only resource for German students to learn Ayurveda in their own language.

My goal is to provide food products without artificial ingredients to my husband’s people.

- Samira Goth