Q:

What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

A:

Growing up as a woman of Asian heritage in Spain, I never felt seen for my identity or culture, so having a dedicated month to highlight AAPI stories and celebrate AAPI individuals and culture is deeply meaningful to me. This past year, the AAPI community has continued to suffer from increased violence and hate, which has led to additional stress and fear in the community. I personally have never felt so unsafe when walking or commuting in New York City. So while this month is about celebrating our heritage, history, and amazing things that make our community, it’s also become an increasingly crucial time to amplify the need to make progress on and resolve the issues that are hurting our community.

Q:

How do you bring your heritage into your business?

A:

We prioritize giving back to the community, with givebacks such as partnering with Heart of Dinner, the grassroots organization that combats food insecurity and social isolation within NYC’s elderly East Asian American community, as well as sharing and amplifying resources through our platform and giving fun discounts and perks to our customers so they can celebrate with us, from educational posts on social media to well-loved home recipes on our website. Our goal with Umamicart is to strive to carry a mix of traditional staples and new Asian-American brands, building from my personal experience of struggling to find access to brands my Chinese parents used in our kitchen growing up and catering to the intersection of people like myself who have Asian heritage, but grew up in or moved to America at a young age.

This month, Umamicart is donating 2lbs of fresh food to Heart of Dinner with every purchase of our Pantry Essentials Kit, Pantry Premium Kit, or prepaid Snack Subscription. Customers will also receive a limited-edition Heart of Dinner mug with their purchase. Additionally, to celebrate and uplift beloved Asian-led brands, Umamicart is offering 20 percent off all products from the beloved heritage brands Calbee, Sun Noodle, and Ito-En for the entirety of May.

Q:

How has your approach to incorporating being AAPI into your life changed over time?

A:

My relationship with my Asian identity has evolved from what was once a strong desire to belong, to now embracing who I am as a multicultural individual. I am proud to celebrate my unique culture, influenced by my Asian heritage, my time in Spain where I was born, and my adulthood in the US. I no longer pay attention to voices looking to define how and who I should be based on my race, and I hope I can inspire other members of the AAPI community to do the same.

Q:

Pass it on: what are some of your favorite AAPI-led small businesses?

A:

46 Mott Bakery, in Chinatown. The team of aunties at 46 Mott makes traditional and delicious products—serving traditional Cantonese desserts, bao buns, glutinous rice, rice noodles, and more—I’ve also been able to experience firsthand their efforts to adapt their operations to relentlessly grow their business. We’ve worked closely with the team to adapt their packaging to be delivery ready, and we are now shipping their products to over 12 states through Umamicart, as it’s important to us to support AAPI-led businesses whenever possible. 

Q:

Let us in on your favorite AAPI snack!

A:

Matcha Chocolate from the Brooklyn-based, Japanese tea company Kettl. The chocolate is made with Japanese matcha and Belgian white chocolate, and is one of my favorites to snack on. I’m especially fond of Kettl’s commitment to sourcing from suppliers they know and love, as well as their support of local restaurants and cafes.