“I’m honored to lend my voice to this series because it’s more than a story about ingredients—it’s a story about people, culture, and connection,” said Jon Batiste. “Traveling through India, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala, we’re uncovering traditions and histories that deserve to be celebrated. As a musician, I’m always searching for connection and soul in unexpected places, and this series captures that spirit beautifully.”
The series transports viewers on a journey through India, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala, to bring these ingredients' hidden cultures, communities, and histories to life.
Cardamom - Cardamom became a lifeline for a small community in the mountains of Guatemala following the ravages of a 40-year civil war, bringing much-needed economic renewal to the region. Told through the words of an original song by Grammy-winning Guatemalan artist Gaby Moreno, the film shares the story of a town, its people, and their quest to thrive—culminating in the crowning of a Cardamom Queen.
Cinnamon - Cinnamon has long been mythologized, carrying with it a sense of mystery about its origins and journey to our kitchen tables. The film traces both the layered history of this intricate agricultural practice and the literal layers of bark that farmers skillfully cut through to harvest the spice.
Ginger - Ginger is depicted as a mighty force; a strength-giving root that traces its origins back to the time of Confucius. In addition to exploring the places where Ginger grows and the people who grow it, the film introduces audiences to different rituals of strength practiced in these regions, and the power this plant can provide.
The films are the first original commission by The Yogi Foundation, the nonprofit organization established by Yogi Tea. The Foundation supports projects in grower communities and in the creative, science, and technology sectors. Its vision is to make philanthropy a catalyst for new systems rooted in relationship, reciprocity, and care—demonstrating what’s possible when communities and ideas come together.
I had a chance to learn more in this interview.
Why did you decide to make a film about spices?
For a lot of reasons, but especially because there’s something magical about tracing the origins of overlooked things. Spices are taken for granted – we love those flavors, sure, but who really knows much about where they come from? We had this idea that we could bring spices to life in a way befitting their powerful flavors and punchy aromas through similarly impactful visuals and sounds.
We also wanted to elevate the communities that produce spices – not only because they’re so often overlooked, but because their rituals, traditions, and practices feel so alive and vibrant in a world that can feel oversaturated and disconnected. Spices’ stories span such a range of interesting fields, from history to geography to the culinary arts; they’re the perfect subjects for film, even if they don’t have what we usually think of as “star power” at first glance.
What makes the story of an ingredient so interesting?
The word “ingredient” is perfect here because it feels so inert. There are billions of recipes out there, each with their orderly lists of ingredients, all presented as if they were the same. Salt, oil, beef, carrots – nothing more is ever said about them.
The reality is that every ingredient is bursting with stories. Whenever someone does a deep dive about an ingredient they always find something fascinating: there’s an excellent book about cod’s profound impact on human civilization, and even research into how breeding better strawberries ended up challenging some theological beliefs about the perfection of creation.
Ingredients are interesting because they sit at the intersection of so many seemingly unrelated trajectories; tracing any of them always leads to fascinating places.
Why is it important for people to know where food comes from and how it's sourced?
The easy answer is simply that you can only assure the quality of your food, and the wellbeing of the people that produce it, by knowing where it comes from. That kind of transparency is vital for something as opaque as global agribusiness.
But there’s a deeper answer here, and that has to do with looking past the box. Grocery stores are full of disembodied representations of farms and farmers. We treat the marketing illusion as if it were real, but when we do, we forget our place – and our responsibility – in the living system that feeds us.
When you get to the heart of where food comes from you encounter the people that grow it. Part of what we tried to do with the films was uncover the human element of these ingredients, because they are inextricably linked yet always hidden. Building a more resilient food world requires rediscovering the humanity hidden in every aisle.
Instagram: @theyogifoundation
The Yogi Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, established by Yogi Tea to inspire our collective sense of possibility. For more information, visit www.theyogifoundation.com.
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