Flavor Obsession: Camella’s Kitchen Named Clean Choice Awards Winner
Our Pumpkin Spice Pepper Sauce surrounded by pumpkins. Photo by Kellie Robinson.
Have you ever tasted something so good, you just couldn’t put it down? Apparently, that’s what happened to the folks over at Clean Eating Magazine when they tried one of our sauces. The sauce in question was our Pumpkin Spice Pepper Sauce, and it made quite the impression! So much so, that it was selected as a standout winner for the 2021 Clean Choice Awards hosted by the Magazine. Packed with tons of flavor and heat, the sauce is a savory take on the classic pumpkin spice flavor. We’re beyond ecstatic to have won this recognition!
Camella’s Kitchen’s Pumpkin Spice Pepper Sauce is listed as the Editor’s Obsession for spices and sauces for the 2021 Clean Choice Awards. Image by Clean Eating Magazine.
And, we’re in good company – we were selected as one of the 55 winners for this year’s Awards. The Awards, which is in its 10th annual year, honor brands that are committed to helping consumers eat well and live better. Given that we specialize in bold Caribbean flavors, it was fitting that our sauce was considered a Prized Pantry Staple. On top of that, our Pumpkin Spice Pepper Sauce also had the distinct honor of being named Editor’s Obsession among the spices and sauces. This distinction, awarded to top-rated items in each category, meant that those products were something the editors were literally obsessed with and couldn’t go without. These must-have items were selected out of over 700 submissions. We’re so proud for our sauce to have been named one of them.
Many of you have been following along on our journey for the past two years. As we’ve shared previously, we came from humble beginnings. The inspiration for starting our business was Ms. Camella, Karen’s mom. Camella sold her delicious baked goods, sweets, and snacks around town and at her local market in Trinidad. Karen found a love of cooking while helping her mother out in the kitchen. It is in her memory that we started Camella’s Kitchen, named after such an inspiring woman and the very kitchen where Karen got her start. Since then, Karen has continued to build on her skills to make amazing creations.
When it came to the creation of the Pumpkin Spice Pepper Sauce, Karen did what she does best and tapped into her creative prowess to create a unique flavor that would embody the fall season. So, taking inspiration from flavors popular in Trinidad and Tobago, she concocted a blend of pumpkin, hot peppers, and savory spices that worked in unison to delight palates nationwide. This Caribbean hot sauce is one of our favorites, and is amazingly versatile. It works great as a condiment, and also stands out in recipes. We love putting it in soups and stews, and it’s even a knockout ingredient in tacos. Like many of our other pepper sauces, this one also works well in combination with other sauces. If you haven’t had the chance to try it already, be sure to check it out for yourself – we ship to all 50 states and Canada.
Camella’s Kitchen’s Pumpkin Spice Pepper Sauce is one of 55 cleanest finds. Image courtesy Clean Eating Magazine.
Of course, we wouldn’t have gotten here without our wonderful community. First off are the farmers that we worked with. While our West Indian heritage plays a big part in the direction we take with our flavors, it’s the ingredients (and the people who grow them) that help to make our flavors the stars that they are. We’re so proud to have connected with the local farming community because these are the connections that matter, and ultimately allow us to reinvest back into the community. We especially want to give a shoutout to the folks over at Soilful, Tallawah Farms, and Project EDEN. These Black-owned farms, located in Washington, DC, and Prince George’s County, Maryland have been instrumental in the creation of this sauce, and will continue to help us make more amazing flavors.
As far as our larger community goes, your support has meant the world to us! We have so many family and friends who have helped us along the journey, and for that we are ever grateful. And to everyone who has purchased from us, signed up for our newsletter, followed us on social media, and come to our events – we say thank you. Your encouragement helps us to keep going. And we hope that we inspire you to keep going as well. As we continue along this path, we hope to inspire you to be bold in your approach to life. If you’d like to stay updated on our journey, be sure to subscribe to our updates or follow along on our blog.
Sending peace, love, and blessings,
Karen and Nyana
Camella’s Kitchen is run by two ladies from Trinidad and Tobago. Based out of Prince George’s County, Maryland, we’re living our sauciest lives by bringing our bold Caribbean flavors to you! How will you #BeCamellaSaucy? Tell us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, or YouTube!
