Curio Spice Co.

Somerville, Massachusetts

Claire Cheney founded Curio Spice Company in 2015. She is an adventurous, self-taught cook who has travelled throughout the world. Over the last five years she's visited spice farms and communities in over 10 countries sourcing the best spices to bring back to her native New England. 

Curio Spice Company offers top quality spices sourced directly from farmers and producers, using the highest standards in organic and fair trade agriculture. 

Whether you’re a professional chef, an adventurous home cook, or just trying to get something quick and tasty on the table, you’ll enjoy seeing how our unique spice blends make familiar foods and drinks taste special. Our spices are toasted whole, ground and packaged by hand to ensure maximum freshness and nutrition. And we provide recipes and stories that introduce you to the people, geography, and cultures behind the food. 

Curio Spice Company is a local, independent, woman-owned Public Benefit Corporation working to provide a better life for farmers, protect the environment, and unite people around food.

 Sustainable Sources

The spices offered through Curio's signature blends are sourced direct from origin whenever possible, with the highest standards in organic and fair trade agriculture. Sourcing from origin highlights the "terroir" of spices from specific regions (just like wine), adding edible luxury, creativity and intense flavor to food, cocktails and more. Simultaneously, Curio's dedication to direct sourcing and the highest standards in sustainability allow for a premium product and improved farmer livelihoods.

Curio Spice Co. is a Public Benefit Company

A Public Benefit Company (PBC) is a business designed to “have a material positive impact on society and the environment.” A PBC is a for-profit business that seeks to provide social or environmental benefits, along with making a profit. PBCs must be assessed by an independent third-party to verify that they’re working toward their mission. A growing number of companies, both large and small, are becoming PBCs, such as Kickstarter, Patagonia, and Prosperity Candle. Visit Benefit Corp for more info.

About our Certifications & Sustainable Sourcing 

ORGANIC  Approximately 90% of the spices used to make our blends are certified organic. Organic spice production ensures that no herbicides, pesticides or synthetic inputs were used to grow or process the spices. At this time Curio Spice Co is not a certified organic handler, but will be working towards this goal in the next year.

FAIR TRADE   About 50% of the spices used to make our blends are certified Fair Trade. Fair Trade certified products are guaranteed to meet environmental, social and labor standards set by organizations such as FLO-CERT.

RELATIONSHIPS Founder Claire Cheney has visited many of the spice regions that Curio sources from, including Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia and Greece. Forming these relationships with farmers and producers at origin increases the transparency from farm to consumer, ensuring you receive a premium product.