Meghalaya’s rich spices
Due to its geographical location, Meghalaya is naturally suited to grow a variety of spices, especially Lakadong turmeric, ginger, long pepper, cinnamon and bay-leaf. We work with women farmers in Meghalaya’s Jaintia Hills to source these ingredients and create our organic health supplements.
Lakadong Turmeric
Lakadong turmeric is known as the world’s best turmeric, for which Meghalaya is famous worldwide. It is also known as the miracle spice of Meghalaya, and grows in the foothills of the West Jaintia Hills. The miracle spice has a high curcumin content of 7- 12 % compared to regular turmeric, which has 2-3%. Curcumin has been linked to a range of health benefits, including pain reduction and potential protection against cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart failure, diabetes and arthritis.
Long Pepper
Long pepper improves curcumin’s bioavailability and solubility in the body. It is most commonly used to help treat chronic bronchitis, asthma, stomach ache, constipation and respiratory infections.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is a versatile spice and known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumor, cardiovascular, cholesterol-lowering, and immunomodulatory effects.
Ginger
Ginger is often recommended for the treatment of conditions like arthritis, upset stomach, asthma, diabetes, menstrual irregularities, pain and inflammation to name a few.
Meghalaya’s women
Meghalaya is a part of the Seven Sisters in northeast India and is wedged between Bhutan, China, Myanmar, and Bangladesh on the far eastern edge of India. It is predominantly a matrilineal society divided into 3 major matrilineal communities – Garo, Khasi and Jaintia. Known as the ‘Khatduh’, the youngest daughter inherits property and anchors the family, looking after elderly parents, giving shelter and care to unmarried brothers and sisters. Children take on their mothers’ surnames, and men move into their wives’ homes after marriage. Most businesses are run by women.
Multitasking is real even for women in a matrilineal society, and women effortlessly shuffle household and professional tasks, with agriculture being the primary occupation.
Meet Anumahasa
Anumahasa is a 32-year-old entrepreneur and Self-Help Group leader from Shillong. A role model for the people of her village, men and women alike, she was married off at the young age of 16 and has two grown-up children. She started her own enterprise to be self-reliant and was the first woman in her village to do so.
In the beginning, Anumahasa would get up as early as 2.00 AM and pick turmeric. At 5.00 AM she would cook for her children and send them to school. She operated her business from her own kitchen, selling turmeric to other women in her village, calling it a kitchen-to-kitchen model of business. In 2019, she established her own venture, Braves Enterprises, which sells Lakadong turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, bay leaves, and other spices within the territory of Shillong.
Anumahasa gradually grew her business, hiring others in the community and has a staff of over 40 employees working with her today. In addition to this, she helps generate employment for several farmers in her village working with 30 self-help groups comprising 300 women farmers. She also contributes to the environment by educating farmers on how to procure raw ingredients without cutting or harming trees.
Meet Darnon Kyndait
Darnon Kyndait is a 24-year-old farmer and belongs to a small village nestled in the Jaintia Hills in Shillong. She got married at the age of 23 and is mother to a 7-month-old baby.
Darnon studied till 9th standard before dropping out of school. Her husband works as a mason. She lives with her 45-year-old mother who works in a field, and has 10 siblings, including little brothers as young as 4 and 5 years old.
Darnon is one of several farmers in Meghalaya who helps us with the sourcing of Lakadong turmeric, long pepper, cinnamon and ginger for our supplements.