Pantry · Seattle, Washington
Villa Jerada
Moroccan pantry staples from a Seattle founder sharing the flavors of home.
- Founded
- 2011
- Founded by
- Mehdi Boujrada
- Based in
- Seattle, Washington
Making it since
2011
Their story
Mehdi Boujrada grew up in Morocco and started Villa Jerada in 2011 with help from his mother. His first product was a Moroccan olive oil, which he carried door to door to Seattle restaurants that mostly knew European imports.
The line has since grown into a pantry of North African and Middle Eastern staples, including harissa, preserved lemons, chermoula, ras el hanout, dukkah, Aleppo and Urfa peppers and nigella seed. Boujrada sees the work as a way to tell a fuller story about Moroccan food.
How it's made
Each product is made in small batches, and many are built around a specific food memory from Boujrada's childhood. The focus is on traditional recipes and spice blends rather than shortcuts.
I'm just someone with very modest means trying to preserve and transmit something from our culture.
Why we carry them
We reach for Villa Jerada harissa and preserved lemons any time a dish needs a lift. It is a great way to start cooking Moroccan at home.
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