Unleash Your Reggae Mojo Hot

TEST Sharing food with friends and family is a sure way to connect and build wonderful memories together. Many of us probably have fond memories of being mesmerised by an elder family member cooking up authentic dishes in the home, and the joys of licking the spoon, sprinkling in herbs or kneading dough with sticky floury fingers.

This passion for food and the love of connecting with people is what inspired Sherene Murray, 31, from Leytonstone. Last year, Sherene launched Tee's Caribbean recipe kits – a web-based business where shoppers are able to buy authentic Caribbean groceries, food hampers, gift baskets and Caribbean recipe kits which enables customers
to cook a wide variety of Caribbean dishes, snacks and beverages in the comfort of their home.

“Our recipe kits use only fresh hand-picked ingredients which make a huge difference to the taste of your cooking,” explains Sherene. Sherene talks with authority – she has produced food for the Notting Hill Carnival and has a wealth of experience of cooking with all kinds of Caribbean ingredients, Sherene is passionate about her knowledge of the herbs and spices used.

“Cooking is part of our family culture, and the preparation can be just as fun as the eating part,” she laughs. “I remember as a child shopping in the colourful Riddley Road Market, Dalston, for fresh ingredients, then being mesmerised by my mum manoeuvring around the kitchen, chopping, stirring, kneading. You could smell the pot from our house from the beginning of our street,” she adds.

It seems the entrepreneurial spirit has always been part of Sherene's make-up. As a child she loved visiting market stalls and used to help her mother on a clothing market stall at the tender age of seven years old. Sherene has always loved talking and making people feel good, and would tell customers how items of clothing would look good on them, and help bag items up.

Sherene set up the business because she is totally committed to providing a place where lovers of Caribbean food can buy all their online groceries, buy unique edible Caribbean gifts, get cooking tips & advice, find out the history behind Caribbean food and have access to a simple way to prepare Caribbean meals, snacks, deserts and
beverages. Recipe kits come ready prepared to make a particular meal – such as rice and peas, chicken soup, curry goat, jerk chicken plus lots, lots more. Sherene is also available for her customers, if they have a query with cooking, or with a particular ingredient, she is always happy to take their calls and answer e-mails.

“I get concerned when I go into another store to buy ingredients and can tell the assistant's knowledge on the product is poor,” explains Sherene. “It gives me further assurance that there is a gap in the market for Tee's Caribbean recipe kits”.

Sherene set up her business with just £400 and the love and support of her family. A stickler for good customer service, Sherene is committed to providing her customers with excellent service and quality products. The kits can be used for all sorts of occasions from Saturday night dinner with family, to making dumplings and sharing time with your children, to cooking up Caribbean chicken soup to ward off flu symptoms.

Sherene's business is already a success story. It caters for those seeking unique Caribbean gifts, seasoned Caribbean cooks who want quality products delivered to their door, or complete beginners, Sherene simply wants to share her love of this joyous, happy food.
“I just love it!”, she laughs.