The story behind The Fifth Spice

For years, I taught cooking classes. No matter the course, the same conversation always came up. Someone would tell me how much they loved Indian food, followed by the same familiar dishes: Butter Chicken. Chicken Tikka Masala.

I always smiled, but I couldn't help thinking the same thing.

There's so much more to discover.

I grew up between two cultures. My father is German, my mother is Indian, and my family is Konkani, a community whose food traditions span the Konkan Coast of western India.

The food I grew up with looked nothing like what most people associate with Indian cuisine. It was fragrant fish curries, coconut-based gravies, hand-ground spice blends, and family recipes that had been passed down through generations. These were the flavors that filled our home, yet outside of it, almost nobody had heard of them.

As I continued teaching, I realized people weren't lacking curiosity. They simply hadn't been introduced to another side of India.

That's why I created The Fifth Spice.

Not to recreate the Indian restaurant menu, but to share the regional food I grew up with and invite others to discover the incredible diversity of Indian cuisine, beginning with the Konkan Coast.

Every spice blend is inspired by a real family recipe. Every recipe tells the story of a region, its people, and the traditions that shaped it.

My hope is simple. The next time someone thinks of Indian food, they won't think of just one or two dishes. They'll think of a country with countless regional cuisines, each with its own flavors, stories, and traditions.

And perhaps their journey starts here.

Welcome to The Fifth Spice.

— Sabrina