A group of Camosun College students recently won the Canadian Western Bank Women Makers and Creator’s Award for best business implementation. Mosaic Tastes was formed by a group of immigrant women in the college’s Markets as Incubators program—which is funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada—who work with a team of mentors and instructors from Camosun.
Mi Oh was one of these women, and she says she’s had a very positive experience creating the business.
“Mosaic Tastes is a really great experience, being an immigrant person,” says Oh. “It came from the Business program in Camosun, and we’ve created three spice blends—Baharat and Za’atar from the Middle East, and Sazón from Latin America. I am from South Korea so I had never tasted anything like these before, so as time goes by, I can appreciate the spice blend.”
Oh says that there have been recipes created especially for the spice blends.
“They are great with any meat, vegetables, or soup,” Oh says. “At first I didn’t try them, but recently I finally did, and they were wonderful. They removed any smell from the meat; you can make them with anything. It only takes a few minutes, and it tastes really good. Sometimes I take our spice blend and use it with Korean food, and I am really happy with it.”
Mosaic Tastes have had success selling their product at local markets such as The James Bay Community Market and the Oaklands Sunset Market, as well as online.
“At first, there wasn’t too many sold,” says Oh, “but recently over $800 was sold, and then we got the award and that really started the growth.”
The award from the Canadian Western Bank includes $1,000, which will help Mosaic Tastes’ business ventures. Oh says that the business has also been a great way to make friends and create other relationships.
“I think it forms a really special community. To be a new immigrant in Canada, we are from all over the world, we have learned new culture, authentic culture.
Recently one of our members from Palestine, she used Baharat and the Za’atar spice blends, she invited all of our members last Sunday for dinner, which led to dancing together with loud music,” she says with a laugh.
Oh says then they all shared a meal together.
“We got to taste a traditional Middle Eastern Meal,” she says. “We got to share our friendship; it was a really excellent time in my life. Maybe next time it will be at my house, since our friendships are also growing.”
Oh also says that Camosun has been supportive through the entire project and experience.
“Without Camosun we could not exist,” she says. “Especially the three teachers/mentors, they are really hardworking and dedicated in their teaching and their support. “
Oh says she is really happy to introduce the authentic spice flavours in Canada.
“I’m really honoured to be one of the members,” she says. “I’m also so happy I got to learn from the excellent teachers in Camosun, who are really professional and passionate people… I’m just so grateful to all the people who helped us and took an interest in what we were doing.”