The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings with Keith Lorren feature 51 of Together Talks
- KLS
- Aug 15, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Apr 14
"Together Talks" feature 51: The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings presented by KLS, freight company
Some Background on The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings
Today's edition of "Together Talks" campaign, KLS had the opportunity to interview The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings and Keith Lorren, Founder. Chef Keith Lorren is known affectionately around the world as "The Spiciest Man in the World", "The Duke of Delicious", "The Kaiser of Curry", "The King of Spice", and the man who "Invented Cooking!" Most importantly, he is the World's Premier Spice Designer. He is The Spice King!
He has traveled and worked around the globe in countries such as China, Japan, the UAE and Greece, exploring cultures and traditional cuisines while developing culinary products for major corporations and cooking for famous guests.
Keith Lorren obtained his culinary education by traveling internationally, working and managing various restaurants in Miami, Florida, Shanghai, China, Dubai, UAE, and studying Culinary Arts at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. He also obtained a Business Administration degree from Nova Southeastern University, Davie, Florida.
Keith Lorren has worked behind the scenes at the Food Network Studios in Manhattan, NY, developing recipes for top shows, and has been a guest on several television and radio programs including NBC’s Today Show, Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, and Travel Channel’s Park Secrets.
The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings are the flavorful creation of Chef Keith Lorren.
Keith Lorren's Gourmet Products are the best tasting, most innovative, most healthy spice blends in the history of the world!
The Spice King Collection is a luxury line of gourmet spice blends that are 10x’s more flavorful than anything currently on the market., you would have to use a whole cabinet full of spices to get the flavor of just one bottle of The Spice King blend. He promises, “Just one gets the job done”!
While living in the middle east and working with the Arab perfume makers, he developed a special technique that infuses the spices with concentrated aromatic oils making them 10x’s more flavorful and 10x’s more healthy than any other spices currently sold in stores. They are now getting tens of thousands of orders from all over the world.
He invites you to open up and experience The Spice King Collection before you! Smell the alluring aromas, the complexity of perfection, look at the unmatched quality and vibrancy of the herbs. These are the best spices in the history of the world, specially designed for each dish. Don't waste any more time or money with those "other companies"! Cook with the best! Cook with the The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings today!
Decade Plus
The company was founded in January 2011. We asked Keith where the inspiration and motivation came from, he shared, "It started when I was in Japan, cooking and the people I was serving were telling me how great the food tasted. At the time I was bringing spices with me and creating my own blends. They told me when I got back I had to send them videos of how I was preparing the blends so they could use them". This planted the seed for Keith. After his stay in Japan next he visited the UAE for a stint. The same type of admiration was felt when he was preparing and serving food. Keith was getting the feeling he was on to something big.
Shortly after he mentioned he had listened to Rich Dad, Poor Dad and right then and there made a promise to himself that he would never work for anyone again.
Keith credits two unique experiences that played a role in the creation of his spices. First, was traveling the world gave him a broader view of cultures, flavor profiles, creativity, and appreciation. Those moments helped guide the sensations and feelings he wanted his customers to exhibit when ultimately tasting one of his creations. The second element was when he was in the UAE he worked for a perfume manufacturer. Here he learned the benefit of essential oils which he has since incorporated in each of his spices.
Passed Down
Keith told us that food has always been in his family. It started with his Grandfather who had a famous restaurant in St. Augustine, (he rattled off a who's who of A-List Celebs from back in the day who frequently attended!). The spices were passed down from generations until Keith had the global experience to perfect his craft. Keith told us that he knows what ingredients and elements are required for a dish to make it magical. He is able to pair that expertise with implementing the cultural aspects. Keith advised us, "I know what cultures are looking for certain flavor profiles. I take the scientific and culinary aspect and combine it with the culturally desire and create this magical blend".
Below is where The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings are found, including over 5,000 stores!
Social Engagement
Bringing innovation to the products isn't enough for Keith and his company, but he is pushing the envelope by also innovating the delivery and promotion of The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings. It started with teaching and educating. Keith explained he has been making cooking videos for over 10 years. Keith told us, "It is imperative to deliver the same message, but finding different ways to share it". Once again Keith found the opportunity to blend.
This time it was Cooking Videos + Music.
Gonna Get You Rite - courtesy of their YouTube channel.
Music became an outlet and another way for Keith to reach the masses while expanding the reach of his company. The music is a way to teach people to cook, but in a fun and interactive way. This was another component of telling the story of what makes The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings unique.
A bottle from The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings are curated with over 14 herbs/spices in each bottle while maintaining low in sodium, all natural, packed with omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids, and over 72 trace essential minerals. With the product and the delivery of the company's message is combining all the elements. Good food, music, fun, education, community...Keith lives and breathes these goals for himself and his company. Keith shared that his company was first to market with combining music and cooking videos which have resulted in others trying to emulate this style of innovation. He mentioned dhow it is flattering to see others try to copy their style. But Keith always goes back to the product as he told us, "We provide an amazing fragrant aromatic experience that is curated specific flavor for that dish, one of a kind, a unicorn".
Inspiration
We asked Keith where the inspiration comes from for creating his products. He told us they recently released a Lemon Pepper Parmesan blend, "I got tired of going to Wingstop and it tasted so artificial and metallic. There was no depth, no savor, no artistry. I chose to craft a brand new flavor. It gives you all the flavor you crave, that taste exceptional while being more balanced". The inspiration comes from every day Keith said, while always reminiscing on his travels around the world as well. He also keeps a pulse on what people are consuming and how he can solve a need for them with his ability to create the perfect, curated spice blend.
Another set of innovation Keith has curated is a Cannabis line of spices and seasonings that partner food flavors with cannabis. Constructed to be 100% legal across all states in the US. Keith believes this will be a huge player in the future.
The challenges Keith advised us of were financing and funding paired with growth. He said he has been fortunate to work with good manufacturing partners. Also local CDC in South Florida has seeks out to help with small businesses that has contributed to supporting Keith and The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings.
We asked Keith to take us through the doubts and fears he had back in in 2011, he elaborated, "It was very scary because leaving a lucrative job for all the risks associated with this new idea. How is it going to work? How do I move it from the idea stage. I have this big grandiose idea which ultimately took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. I remember the first sale I was mixing in my kitchen and putting in bags while at culinary school".
He told us he had to learn about co-packing, working with manufacturers. Constantly looking to improve all aspects of the business, not just his products. Learning how to work with the factories to scale and then the entire selling process. Keith explained when he started out it was strictly D2C, but then had to pivot and create a new strategy to sell to distribution and retail companies.
Culture and Goals
The culture, if it wasn't already obvious, is simply having a great time when eating food, but sprinkling in a memorable flavor experience. The inclusive culture which dates back to his work history around the globe includes all cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds. When combining fun, laughing, enjoyment, smiling, and finally a memory that you can continue to remember for a long time is the ultimate goal. This has enabled Keith to make fantastic products that people can not only enjoy but also depend on. He even shared that when he is pitching his product the first thing he does is offer the buyer to hold the product, then smell it, before tasting it. Throughout that sequence he explains the aromas, the subtilties and nuances, and all the notes that will hit creating almost a symphony. This magic is how he sells his blends. Everyone remembers great flavor, which is the ultimate goal for Spice King to reach that level.
We asked Keith, the favor aspect of his job and he told us creating. Initially it was new flavors and improving on old flavors with his unique twist, but now also the entertainment element that The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings. Keith told us that anything is possible and we all have the opportunity to follow our passion, doing what we love, making a great living, and making a difference in peoples' lives. Getting to wake up daily and be inspired to chase that dream is such a blessing for him. He told us, "When your main competition is yourself, that is the greatest thing".
Keith ended our conversation telling us his goals and visions for his brand and company which include a huge national partnership with a resort. He also wants to enter into the snack space as there is such a demand for snacking here in the US. Keith also wants to incorporate various Caribbean flavors into the future products that will be released. He ended with the biggest goal that he wakes up and chases every day is to create a billion dollar brand for The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings.
Buy one of these incredible curated spices here and enjoy the coupon code below!
TOGETHER - 10% off
In Closing
KLS wants to thank The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings and Keith Lorren for today's "Together Talks" feature. Follow along for The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings' journey with their social handles below!
Also check out where The Spice King Gourmet Seasonings has been featured in the following publications below!
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