What Curio Spice does

Curio Spice Co. is a single-origin spice importer and small-batch blender founded in 2015 by Claire Cheney as a Massachusetts Public Benefit Corporation. The company sources spices directly from smallholder farms in countries including Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Vietnam, Madagascar, Greece, and Ethiopia, then toasts, grinds, and blends them at an in-house production facility in Winchester, Massachusetts that opened in 2022. Its catalog spans roughly 201 SKUs organized into signature, classic, everyday, salt-free, collaboration, beverage, and tea-time blends, alongside single-origin pure spices, herbs, teas, gift sets, and specialty pantry items; 119 unique blends have been released through 2024 and the company produces approximately 18,000 lbs of spice blends per year.

The business operates a hybrid distribution model anchored by a Shopify-powered direct-to-consumer e-commerce site (curiospice.com) with international shipping, supplemented by two company-owned retail locations in the Boston area — a Cambridge flagship store opened in 2016 and a Boston Public Market stall added in 2024 — plus a wholesale program for foodservice operators and specialty retailers. Pricing is unit-based with products ranging from approximately $4.95 to $74.95; a former $42/month Curio Spice Club subscription is being discontinued in 2025. The company has achieved Certified B Corporation status (2018) and WBENC Women-Owned Business certification (2025), and supplements its core channels with corporate gifting, spice-blending classes, and branded events hosted at The Spice Lab in Cambridge.

As of 2024 the company employs roughly 30 people and has grown without disclosed institutional capital. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. Its principal strategic assets are the founder-led direct-sourcing relationships, a mission-anchored brand position around women farmers and transparent supply chains, third-party lab testing for heavy metals and microbial contaminants, and an owned retail-plus-e-commerce channel footprint that supports both consumer storytelling and B2B/wholesale scale-up.

Name

Curio Spice

Legal name

Curio Spice Co.

Website

https://curiospice.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Curio Spice Co. is a woman-owned, B Corp-certified specialty spice company that imports single-origin spices directly from smallholder farms globally and blends them in small batches in Massachusetts, selling via e-commerce, retail stores, wholesale, and corporate gifting.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Foods & Spices

NAICS

Spice and Extract Manufacturing (311942)

SIC

Food And Kindred Products (2000), Miscellaneous Food Preparations & Kindred Products (2090)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialty & Single-Origin Spices (Geographic/Varietal, Premium Grades) (AFAJANAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ground & Powdered Spices (AFAJANAB)

Keywords

• Single-origin spices
• Spice blends
• Specialty food retail
• Direct-trade sourcing
• Culinary education

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Direct E-commerce Sales: Consumer direct-to-consumer sales through Shopify storefront at curiospice.com. Products include spice blends, pure spices, teas, gift sets, accessories, and books. Free shipping on orders over $65.
2. Retail Store Sales: Brick-and-mortar retail sales at flagship Cambridge store and Boston Public Market stall. In-store sampling, classes, events, and culinary bookshop.
3. Wholesale & Bulk: Wholesale distribution to other retailers and foodservice operators. Bulk jar options available for most spices. Foods Service pricing available via [email protected].
4. Corporate & Business Gifting: Corporate gifts program including custom gift boxes, party favors, and bulk orders for business events and gifting occasions.
5. Events & Classes: Revenue from spice blending classes, author events, corporate events, and private events at The Spice Lab. Ticketed and free community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Curio Spice is a direct-importer and maker of single-origin spices and signature spice blends, sourcing directly from smallholder farms globally and blending in small batches at its Massachusetts production facility. The company sells spice blends, pure spices, teas, gift sets, and pantry items to consumers through its Shopify storefront and two retail stores, distributes wholesale to foodservice operators and specialty retailers, and operates corporate gifting and culinary education (Spice Lab) programs.

Product overview

Curio Spice Co. is a direct-importer and maker of single-origin spices and expressive spice blends. The company offers a diversified product portfolio organized into several collections: Signature Blends (14 exclusive in-house blends including Aegean Salt, Kandy Spice, Kozani Spice, Bonga Spice, Da Lat Spice, Edo Spice, Fleur Spice, Kampot & Salt, Zenú Spice, and Supeq Spice), Classic Blends (kitchen favorites with historic and cultural influences), Everyday Blends (5 balanced, easy-to-use versions of familiar blends), Salt-Free Blends (23 blends without sodium), Collaboration Blends (13 blends created with chefs), Beverage Blends (18 drink-focused blends including chai and tea), and Tea Time (15 botanical tea blends). The Pure Spices collection includes single-origin chilies, herbs, flowers, salts, peppers, and specialty ingredients. Additional offerings include gift sets (3-Jar, 8-Tin Chef Set, DIY 3-Tin), cookbooks (Art of the Harvest, Milk Spice & Curry Leaves), sweets & pantry items (vanilla, hot sauces, honey), and services (The Spice Lab classes, Cambridge Refill Program). Founded in 2015 as a Public Benefit Corporation, the company is woman-owned and B Corp certified, sourcing directly from smallholder farms globally and blending in-house in Massachusetts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aegean Salt Citrus and herb finishing salt made with Cyprus salt, lemon peel, mastic, and thyme from the island of Chios, sold to consumers and foodservice customers.
• Kandy Spice Warming Sri Lankan spice blend featuring sweet cinnamon, ginger, fennel, coriander, star anise, fenugreek, black pepper, clove, mace, and cardamom, sold to consumers and foodservice customers.
• Kozani Spice Citrusy, herbal, sweet, earthy, floral blend featuring fennel, lemon peel, bee pollen, lemon verbena, oregano, sage, and Greek saffron, sold to consumers and foodservice customers.
• Bonga Spice Bright Ethiopian spice blend featuring chilies, coriander, cumin, koseret, besobela, turmeric, black cardamom, nigella, parsley, and garlic.
• Da Lat Spice Sweet and bitter blend inspired by Vietnam featuring cocoa nibs, coffee, black pepper, star anise, ginger, coriander, turmeric, and cassia.
• Edo Spice Crunchy and floral blend with numbing sansho pepper and chile, inspired by Japanese cuisine.
• Fleur Spice Delicate blend featuring hibiscus, pink pepper, anise, fennel, rose petals, coriander, spearmint, cardamom, lavender, and ylang ylang.
• Kampot & Salt Blend of Kampot black pepper, Maine sea salt, ginger, lime, and tarragon.
• Zenúa Spice Fruity, zesty, delicate, earthy blend inspired by Colombian culture and flavors featuring passion fruit, coriander, chilies, annatto, ginger, and black pepper.
• Supeq Spice Made from 100% New England sourced ingredients featuring dried seaweed, sea salt, shiitake mushroom, ginger, nettle, and hot chile.
• Texas BBQ Texas-style BBQ dry rub featuring three types of chilies, brown sugar, smoked sea salt, alliums, cinnamon, oregano, and ginger with tomato powder for a bold, savory bite.
• Classic Blends Collection Kitchen favorites collection featuring original recipes informed by historic, cultural, and culinary influences elevated by high-quality ingredients and Curio's creative touch.
• Signature Blends Collection 14 exclusive blends created in-house and blended in small batches, packaged in infinitely-recyclable tins.
• Everyday Blends Collection New takes on old standbys — balanced, easy-to-use versions of familiar blends rendered remarkable with vibrant, freshly ground spices.
• Salt-Free Blends Collection Collection crafted to deliver vibrant, layered flavor without added sodium, full of aromatic spices, herbs, and seeds.
• Collaboration Blends Collection 13 curated blends created with chefs and food artisans, celebrating the power of shared creativity.
• Beverage Blends Collection 18 spice blends for drinks including chai, tea, sangria, and cocktail mixers.
• Tea Time Collection 15 tea blends crafted using spices featuring whole botanicals, fragrant herbs, and warming spices.
• Chilies Collection 11 whole and ground chilies from regions where heat is both flavor and tradition.
• Herbs & Flowers Collection 25 herbs and flowers including basil, bay leaves, curry leaves, fennel pollen, lavender, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and edible flowers.
• Pure Spices Collection Single-origin, fair-trade spices including chilies, herbs, salts, peppers, sugars, baking spices, cinnamon, vanilla, and saffron.
• 8-Tin Signature Blend Chef Set Gift set including eight signature blends (Aegean Salt, Bonga Spice, Da Lat Spice, Edo Spice, Kampot & Salt, Kandy Spice, Kozani Spice, Zenúa Spice) packed in a box with ribbon.
• 3-Jar Spice Blend Gift Set Three classic blends (Herbes de Romance, Comfort Curry, Chili Today) in a gift box with recipes.
• DIY 3-Tin Gift Set Build-your-own custom 3-tin gift set from Curio's blends.
• Curio Spice Club Subscription A curated monthly spice subscription box at $42.00 per box (subscription currently being discontinued).
• Cookbooks & Food Books Curated cookbooks including Art of the Harvest by Claire Cheney, Milk Spice & Curry Leaves by Ruwanmali Samarakoon-Amunugama, Malai Cookbook, and Mostly French by Makenna Held.
• Sweets & Pantry 32 products including vanilla extract, vanilla paste, vanilla beans, hot sauces, honey, marmalade, shrubs, and pantry treats.
• Wholesale & Bulk Distribution Wholesale distribution of Curio blends and pure spices to retailers and foodservice operators, with bulk jar/bag options and dedicated foodservice pricing.
• Corporate & Business Gifting Corporate gifts program including custom gift boxes, party favors, and bulk orders for business events and gifting occasions.
• The Spice Lab Culinary education hub hosting free and ticketed classes, events, book signings, and community pop-ups.
• Cambridge Refill Program Spice refill program at the Cambridge, MA retail location for select spices sold in compostable paper bags (2-8 oz).
• Spice Blending Classes Educational classes teaching spice blending techniques, hosted at The Spice Lab and Boston Public Market.

Quantifiable outcome

• Produces 18,000 lbs of spice blends annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Provincetown Business GuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to create the Provincetown Pride blend, a seafood blend inspired by the Portuguese fishing community of Provincetown, MA. A percentage of each sale of the Provincetown Pride blend is donated to PBG, which promotes Provincetown as a travel destination for the LGBTQ+ community.
• Walden Local MeatscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to create exclusive spice blends for the meat company including All Told, Walk in the Woods, and Ocean Smoke. Blends designed specifically for use with meat, marinades, and vegetables.
• Salmon SistersStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration blend (Campfire Salt) featuring alder smoked Alaskan sea salt with a hint of heat, created with the Alaskan fishing and food company.
• Crescent RidgeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration blend (Vanilla Hot Cocoa Mix) with Massachusetts-based dairy and creamery company.
• Michelle Mulford (Uncommon Feasts)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to create Uncommon Chai, a peppery aromatic chai made with chef Michelle Mulford of Uncommon Feasts.
• Ruwan SamarakoonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration blend (Ru's Dark-Roasted Curry Powder) with Sri Lankan food writer and cookbook author Ruwanmali Samarakoon-Amunugama.
• Betty LiuminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration blend (Betty Liu's Chile Crisp Dust) with cookbook author of 'The Chinese Way'.
• Fork On A RoadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration Garam Masala blend created in partnership with Fork On A Road.
• Invisible Cities ApiaryminorOthersVermont honey supplier for sweets and pantry section. Raw Vermont Wildflower Honey from Invisible Cities Apiary sold through Curio.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Penzeys Spices: Established DTC-driven spice brand with retail stores and a broad catalog of blends and pure spices. Comparable in channel mix and product breadth, though much larger and more price-oriented.
• Diaspora Co. Single-origin, ethically sourced spice brand with strong founder storytelling and direct-sourcing relationships. Competes for the same conscious-consumer, premium-spice buyer.
• Mountain Rose Herbs: Organic herbs, spices, and botanicals company selling direct to consumers and wholesale. Comparable in mission-driven positioning, organic certification, and B2B plus DTC distribution.
• Burlap & Barrel: Single-origin, direct-sourced spice company selling to home cooks and chefs. Closely comparable in mission, sourcing model, and DTC-plus-wholesale distribution approach.
• The Spice House: Multi-channel specialty spice retailer with its own store footprint, e-commerce site, and wholesale. Closely comparable hybrid DTC plus physical retail and bulk-spice model.
• Spicewalla: Chef-founded spice brand selling small-batch blends direct to consumers and through wholesale. Comparable in size, channel mix, and emphasis on fresh-ground quality.

Broad incumbents

• Frontier Co-op: Large cooperative supplying organic and conventional herbs and spices to retail and foodservice. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same ingredient category with a different scale and channel profile.
• McCormick & Company: Largest global spice manufacturer with broad retail distribution. Relevant as the dominant mass-market incumbent whose scale and pricing power set the competitive ceiling for premium DTC brands.
• Simply Organic: Branded organic spices and seasonings sold through grocery and natural channels. Comparable positioning in the organic spice category, but at significantly larger scale and broader distribution.

Regional players

• Oaktown Spice Shop: Independent retail spice shop with its own small-batch blends, originally Oakland-based. Comparable in store-driven, blending-focused model, but operates on the West Coast.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@curiospiceco.7586
• Facebookfacebook.com/curiospice/?fref=ts
• Instagraminstagram.com/curiospice
• Pinterestpinterest.com/curiospiceco
• TikToktiktok.com/@curiospice
• Xx.com/curio_spice

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Curio Spice