Sacred Foods introduces popped lotus seeds, a popular Indian snack, to Vancouver
Founder Mika Gioia grew up with the popcorn-like superfood in Pune
Sacred Foods founder Mika Gioia remembers eating popped lotus seeds that her mom would make in Pune, India.
SNACK FOODS AND superfoods rarely go hand-in-hand. When craving something salty and crunchy, most of us reach for a bag of chips, quite possibly chock full of preservatives. The quest for simple, wholesome, and pure snacks is what motivated Anamika “Mika” Gioia to start Sacred Foods, all based on an ancient Indian food loaded with nutrients: popped lotus seeds.
Sacred Foods founder Mika Gioia.
People have been gathering, popping, and eating lotus seeds across India and the rest of Asia for thousands of years. They can be found in many traditional Indian dishes, from curries to desserts, and make for a popular snack. A source of protein, vitamin B6, thiamin, manganese, and other vitamins and minerals, the seeds also play a role in Ayurvedic practices.
Born in Canada and raised in Pune, Gioia grew up snacking on her mom’s popped lotus seeds. “[Living] in both India and Canada, I [developed] a very diverse palette,” says Gioia. “I love experimenting with flavours from around the world and creating fusion dishes. Sacred Foods is a reflection of that.”
With an appreciation for a wide range of flavours and culinary styles, Gioia notes that she has “always had a fascination for food”. As a young girl, Gioia enjoyed helping her mom in the kitchen, asking to go to cooking classes at age 11. “I was the only child in that class,” Gioia says. “That’s when my culinary journey began.”
Gioia was 13 when her family returned to Vancouver. “Being multiracial, I was always exposed to both cultures growing up,” she says. “While this was sometimes confusing for me when I was a child, I now realize it has given me a unique and diverse background, which I am truly proud of.”
Upon moving back to Canada, Gioia noticed her favourite snack was nowhere to be found. “I actually first thought of creating Sacred Foods when I was 13 years old,” she says. Similar to popcorn, popped lotus seeds have a “very unique texture: they are crunchy, yet light and airy,” she says. “They pair well with pretty much any kind of seasoning, salty or sweet.”
In 2018, at age 23, Gioia decided to transform this 10-year-old dream into reality. Armed with her mother’s recipe, she focused on using minimally processed, clean ingredients. “My mother used to roast [them] with olive oil and spices,” says Gioia. “At Sacred Foods, we still follow the same simple, home-style process.”
Gioia sources the seeds from Bihar farmers, with the entire snack-making process based out of northern India. Hand-picked and popped using traditional methods, the lotus seeds are then cleaned, sorted, and graded before being roasted, seasoned, packaged, and shipped to Canada.
“I want to use this brand as a platform to do good for the world, especially for the farmers and the land they use to grow the crops” Gioia says. “Ethical farming practices and sustainability for the environment are very important to me.”
Sacred in her company’s business name is not just a reference to the lotus seeds’ years of cultural importance; Gioia says she emphasizes purity in all aspects of production, including the absence of pesticides and fertilizers. “The cultivation process does not destroy the ecosystem,” she says. “It is sustainable, seasonal and naturally occurring.”
Available at a range of stores, including Whole Foods and Choices, the popped lotus snacks come in four flavours: sweet Thai chili, white cheddar, Himalayan pink salt, and spicy wasabi. Aside from the cheddar version, all the snacks are vegan, paleo, keto, and gluten-free.
“I created Sacred Foods help people discover positivity, mindfulness, and healthier habits through snacking,” says Gioia. “It makes me happy that I’ve created something [anyone] can enjoy.
Related Articles
