The Spring-Summer collection holds four mixes. They were chosen from seven.
We always start with more than we ship. Nageshwar develops each mix against a brief that is part flavour, part season, part ambition. Some come together quickly. Some need three rounds. Some never resolve. By the time a mix reaches a tasting panel, it has already been through us.
The panel
Then it goes to ten people who do not work for us: small enough to know by name, broad enough to disagree. Each mix is scored three ways. A rating out of five. A vote for the one they enjoyed most. And whether they would buy it on its own, at full price. We add the three together, because no single number tells the truth by itself.
The test
Three of the seven did not clear the line. The most instructive had good components that never became one thing. The sweet element was sweet, the texture was interesting, and together they did not read as a single idea. Two good notes, no song.
That is the test every mix has to pass. A mix is a small, complete idea. You should be able to say what it tastes like in one sentence, and feel the sentence is true.
The four
Smoked Amber. Macadamia at the heart of it, with tamari almonds and caramelised pecans. Smoky, caramelised, slow. For the end of a long day.
Warming Rituals. Marcona almonds, caramelised hazelnuts and candied ginger. Sweet-spiced and golden, for the second half of an afternoon.
Velvet Hours. Sour cream and onion cashews, roasted pecans and tamari almonds. Creamy and unhurried. Harder to make than it sounds.
Tuscan Harmony. Tuscan-spiced cashews, roasted pecans and tamari almonds. Herby and sun-warmed: the savoury counterweight the collection needed.
We were not looking for four mixes we liked equally. We were looking for four that read as a season when they sit side by side.
