A NORTH QUEENSFERRY spice shop is hoping to popularise Sri Lankan curries in West Fife.

After moving back to Scotland, Thea Samuel could not get her head around the fact that the cuisine was not more popular.

She explained: "I lived in Sri Lanka in 2007 while working for a charity, that's where I met my ex-husband.

"We were going to live there but ended up back here – I missed the food so much.

"My kids are half-Sri Lankan and when they were young I was working shifts so I had no time, I started making curries for my family because they are so simple.

"Making the curry kits worked around my children, I wanted them to keep Sri Lanka in mind and remind them of where they were from and make sure they were used to the food."

Thea started her business, SriSpice, not only to raise awareness of Sri Lankan curries, but to also highlight how healthy the curries are.

Through her spice kits, she aims to make chefs out of even the most cooking-averse customers.

"My mum was a nutritionist," she said, "she was keen on how healthy they are."

"I tested my recipes all out on my mum's husband, who doesn't cook at all.

"I wanted to make sure they were easy to follow for people who are not confident in the kitchen."

During lockdown, her business took a step up as online sales skyrocketed.

She told us: "My kits are sold in some local shops and on my website, at first I was doing it alongside my old job.

"I was doing it slowly while the kids were still little but the pandemic changed everything.

"The first lockdown was so busy, I was making spice kits in the middle of the night – it was nuts!

"I did some local deliveries as well.

"I wasn't selling so much in shops, though, the ones I stock in weren't letting people in as much, and were only really selling their own goods.

"They were all quite nervous about COVID, so stopped ordering so much.

"I also use Neighbour Food which is a local food network which runs across the UK.

"They sell all local products so I'm in a few of their markets."

Recently, Thea has become involved with a spice shop in Perth, called Ceylon 35.

They are an eco shop who import spices from family farms in Sri Lanka.

Together, they hope to bring better spices to Scotland, including cinnamon, which they both agree is not up to Sri Lankan standard.

SriSpice kits are available to buy across Fife, including in Post and Pantry Aberdour, Macauley's fruit and veg in Burntisland, Woodlea Stables in Crossgates, and Wrights Grocer in North Queensferry.