TGFC Producer Spotlight

Meet Besaha

Besaha make delicious, handcrafted Moroccan and Mediterranean pantry items using natural ingredients. Here we find out more about the origins of the company and current owner Brenton. He’s a chef by trade and has worked in Antarctica, on yachts in the med and for the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

TGFC/ How did you get started?
Brenton/ I took over Besaha in its third year.

I was looking for an exit from the NZ Army (Chef by trade) and ended up getting a posting to Papakura in Auckland. I had been chasing it for a few years (a camp where expectations are higher for all who work there) and in the process came across Besaha.

I spent just shy of a year in talks with the founder learning about the business and how he did things. This was in order to make a decision if it was viable both financially and while working a full-time job which had me going away into the bush for weeks at a time and the prospect of six-month deployments.

I actually did the paperwork required for the purchase while I was away for a six-week period staying on the Taupo Airfield in tents.

I then found My Spice Mix by chance after I originally ignored it. I took a better look and recognised the potential. I could slot it into current processes as it was all very familiar to what was already in place. This has worked out well and helped us expand to bulk orders for producers wanting 1kg or more at a time.

TGFC/ Where has being a chef taken you?
Brenton/ As a chef, I’ve worked in various jobs around the world – from Antarctica, yachts in the Mediterranean to Buckingham Palace for the Queen.

TGFC/ What makes Besaha special?
Brenton/ We’re working to develop recipes that anyone can make that will produce better than usual results, without needing to gather all the ingredients or understand the different roles each ingredient may play in the dish.

We’re also working alongside other producers to develop a flavour profile that will suit their needs and moving towards being even more environmentally friendly by using biodegradable packaging.

TGFC/ Do you have a favourite product?
Brenton/ I’m a fan of the Za’atar and Butter Chicken Mix.

I like Za’atar as it’s something different that you don’t see around too much. It has a wonderful herby citrus smell to it. The butter chicken smells amazing and is so simple to use. It will help anyone make a good curry quickly.

TGFC/ What’s your most popular product?
Brenton/ Za’atar is our biggest seller in places that stock spices however in the past few years Chermoula has outsold it 4:1.

TGFC/ What Besaha products work best for the different weather we have in New Zealand?
Brenton/ In Summer the spices work well as it’s BBQ season. Couscous and the My Spice Mix range are more suited as winter warmers, although the couscous can be made as a nice salad for the summer if you stir it as it cools – otherwise it will set as a bit of a block!

Some of the delicious ingredients from Besaha are currently on special so it's the perfect time to taste the ingredients for yourself. If you need some inspiration, take a look at some recipe ideas from Besaha here.