Bombay Spices - Victoria

My name is Neda and I’m the face (and hands) behind Bombay Spices, blending freshly made spice mixes like Roghan Josh, Korma Masala, Vindaloo, Dahl/Lentil and many more so others can discover the secret of delicious flavours of Indian cooking at home.

Each spice mix has a different blend. I want to carry my mum’s way of making spices, where I mix each blend, roast and then grind to give unique flavours to every dish. I want to show my culture and connect with people through my food.

Bombay Spices was born out of my love for authentic Indian food, and most fittingly, it started from the confines of my favourite space – my home kitchen. My mother always used homemade freshly ground spices to cook food, and when I came here, I noticed the store-bought spices didn’t do justice to the original flavours

Having lived here for more than a decade, I deeply felt I owed it to my social circle, who loved Indian food but were deprived of the experience of enjoying an aromatic, delicious curry because of its complex blending and cooking techniques. Our signature Garam Masala recipe has been passed through generations of passionate home cooks. Garam Masala is the basis for most delicious Indian cuisines. It’s a blend of over 10 spices roasted and ground to give a balanced depth and flavour to the food

I moved to Australia in 2009, a year after my marriage. Leaving everything that we were and had, we moved to a country with no family and friends. Leaving my homeland was never easy, but like any immigrant, we slowly discovered and learned to live the Australian life. Finally, I found a job, and my two children were born soon after.

After 12 years at my workplace, unfortunately, I had a work injury that put us in a vulnerable position financially and mentally. At the same time, we were also building our first home, which heightened our anxiety. As we were scrambling through this challenging time, I was more driven than ever by the thought of being self-employed.

All our spices are blended, roasted, and ground in Australia. These secret home recipes have been passed through generations of passionate home cooks. We guarantee they will ignite some Indian flare in your kitchen and can be enjoyed for everyday meals or special occasions: from rich creamy Kormas to simple Dahl; from hot Vindaloos to mild Do Pyaaza; these spice mixes are sure to impress everyone in the family.

I believe handmade things bring out our love and passion into what we make. We also value it more because we can see the hard work behind the product. I believe in using only fresh spices in my blends, which are free of preservatives and additives. Encouraging home cooking that is simple, delicious and healthy – and also budget-friendly – is important to me because bringing the family together at dinner time is what we grew up with.