– by Deborah Rogers –
This is the first in a four-part series on some of the unique and local shops the Saanich Peninsula has to offer.
Daksha Narsing’s enthusiasm for food shines through, even down a slightly crackly phone line from Fort St John. Daksha is there, along with husband and business partner Bhaskar, for a Trade Show. It’s their 11th return visit there, and just one stop on a long road trip that will take them all over northern B.C. and Alberta. Daksha’s Gourmet Spices are in demand from vendors and home cooks alike. How lucky for us then, to have the Narsings call Saanichton home.
Daksha’s Gourmet Spices is a business success story: as the best businesses usually begin, it was Daksha’s passion for great cooking, and healthy eating that was the inspiration. The Narsings realized there was a market for the types of spices Daksha used at her cooking classes. Over the 18 years they have been operating, those first few spice blends have developed into an impressive line of curry mixes, pure spices, teas and chai. What hasn’t changed is the process of buying good quality, fresh fair trade spices from Canadian brokers and processing it themselves.
At their Central Saanich site, the spices are sieved and cleaned before being ground and blended. Daksha says they “strive to give the public the best possible product, one that we would use in our own kitchen.” This means there is no salt in the products and also no MSG, no preservatives, no corn and no soy. In fact, there are no allergens at all in the spices, making them a great choice for people with food sensitivities. A desire to move towards a simpler, more traditional way of eating is what prompted the Narsings to get their Gluten-Free Certification last year, and today Daksha is proud to say that all of their products are 100% gluten free.
Their new website, to be launched in May, will feature photographs of the delicious food you could be making with their products, and also some recipes. Daksha has published several cookbooks and is in the process of gathering recipes for the next colourful collection. It’s possible to order their spices and teas online but there are also an increasing number of suppliers in Victoria and on the Saanich Peninsula. Sadly, due to time constraints Daksha’s Gourmet Spices will not be a feature of this summer’s Sidney Market, but new store La Loca, soon to open in Sidney, will be carrying their full line.
Butter Chicken, Chicken Curry, Korma; Aloo Gobi, Dahl, Vindaloo. The exotic-sounding dishes are often very simple to make, and easily adapted to suit an individual’s palate. Nowadays there is less time to teach cooking classes, but Daksha is committed to educating people about the benefits of cooking with spices, and continuing to dispel the myth that all Indian food is hot. As our barbecues come out for the season, Daksha’s Gourmet Tandoori Mix or ever-popular Spicy Fish will make a great addition to the home cooks’ summer repertoire. Contact: www.spicesgourmet.com.
