Spreading the love for Lankan spices with ‘Hari Hari’ This week we focus on the talented and inspiring Illana Smith, a UK resident with Sri Lankan roots who has decided to enter the spice world of Sri Lanka and introduce it to the UK. Her unique take on it still stays true to the authenticity of the Sri Lankan spices we all know and love, whilst giving it a modern touch. Her love for the country is showcased by her beautiful packaging, representing the colours in the Sri Lankan flag, and in the way she carefully blends the spices together to ensure that we end up with a mouth-watering authentic Sri Lankan curry that is easy to make, and free from artificial colouring and flavours. Tell us a little bit about yourself? Born in Germany, to a Sri Lankan mum and British dad, we moved to Sri Lanka when I was a child. Having spent a substantial part of my life in Sri Lanka, I spent a lot of time in kitchens, watching and learning how spices were used, and learning about the traditions, history and influences that make Sri Lanka and its food so diverse. It was here that I developed a true love for the unique flavours for Sri Lankan curries. Living in the UK now, having completed a BA (Hons) in Hospitality Management and then an MA in HRM (Human Resources management) at Bournemouth University, I stopped working as a Senior HR Manager after having my three children. What inspired you to come up with this business and why did you focus on spices? Ever since I was a child, I wanted to run my own business. It wasn’t until I had my own children, that the focus and drive came in to play. I became very much more conscious about the food I was cooking for them – where it came from, what was in it etc. I have always cooked curries, and with this new found awareness about the food we put in our bodies, I began to do a lot of research into spices. I discovered the amazing health benefits of the spices used in Sri Lankan curries, which only helped to further my love for using them in my cooking. I don’t just use them in my curries anymore, but also in my chicken stuffing, baked beans, omelettes, casseroles and more! I found it near impossible to source authentic Sri Lankan spices in the UK to keep the curry flowing, so I used to manage at home, with the supplies my mum and friends sent me. Whenever I cooked a curry, my friends and family invited themselves round to partake. They had been bugging me for years to sell my curries. It was a combination of this, my growing awareness about the food we ingest, and the lack of awareness that people had in the UK about how truly amazing Sri Lankan food is, that led to the birth of the idea of Hari Hari. How did you come up with the name? Hari Hari is an expression we use all the time at home and my kids love saying it. The implied impatience of the term is what I feel every time I cook a curry, so making it the perfect name for my spices! What makes your brand stand out? For the conscious eaters who want simple, natural and authentic curries, my Sri Lankan spices are in environmentally friendly packaging and include easy-to-follow recipes that enable you to quickly cook a healthy and wholesome meal from scratch! Hari Hari does not compromise! The spice blends aren’t ‘watered down’ to accommodate different palates as the aim is to keep as close to the authentic version as possible. I have worked very closely with my spice supplier in Sri Lanka, to ensure that the spices I get are as pure as can be – you won’t find any additives, preservatives, dyes, colours or any other hidden extras in my kits. This also means that Hari Hari is perfectly suited for varying dietary requirements. What are your future plans? The plan is to keep growing and expanding the business, whilst continuing to promote and highlight the wonders of Sri Lanka. My business may be focused on the food of our island but I get asked a lot of questions about Sri Lanka as a place/holiday destination and I aim to continue to promote the island as a complete package. I am also currently looking to work with an organisation in Sri Lanka. Ideally one that helps mothers to become self-sufficient and so help their children not only in the day to day matters of living life but also to help install in the next generation that work independence is an advantage that will help foster positive future ethics. What are your bestsellers? Chicken and dhal curry are the biggest sellers, with the prawn curry kit coming in pretty close behind. Website: www.harihari.co.uk IG: HariHariCurry   By Nikita Gomez Photos Illana Smith