Our Story
Once a upon a time...
The spark ✨
It all began with a serendipitous moment in 2016 while Sara M. Tang was enjoying a bowl of instant Laksa noodles (we know, the simplest joys in life, right?), and suddenly, poof! An idea was born. The craving for the deep, comforting flavours of her family’s Laksa paste ignited a lightbulb moment: "Why not bring these incredible, authentic Southeast Asian flavours into everyone’s kitchen?" Because food isn’t just about filling your belly; it’s about sharing culture, love, and memories from different backgrounds.
Sara and Tao Yee Lim, two friends and food lovers, found themselves experimenting with their favourite Southeast Asian recipes in their kitchens in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. But, here’s the catch! Authentic Southeast Asian flavours were hard to come by unless you were whipping them up at home. And let’s be honest, who has the time for that every day?
So, fueled by a love for food and a passion for product development, they got to work, bringing Kopi Thyme into existence. They wanted to make it easier for busy folks to enjoy the mouthwatering tastes of Southeast Asia right in their own kitchen.
And just like that, the journey began! 🚀
The grind 💪
With many years of experience in the culinary world and food science industry as product developers, Sara and Tao Yee rolled up their sleeves and got to work. It wasn’t easy, but with every test batch and flavour experiment, their dream started to take shape.
But what about the name, you ask? After many tries, Kopi Thyme was born! The name had a special connection, both of Sara and Tao Yee’s grandparents owned a Kopitiam (a traditional coffee shop), so the name felt like a warm hug to their roots. It’s also a playful nod to the idea that bringing Kopi Thyme into your kitchen is like adding a little “time” of your own to savour the richness of Southeast Asian flavours.
For those who have come to know Sara personally, she expresses her passion through food and big spreads at the dining table. From big, joyful dinner spreads for friends to casual lunches shared with coworkers, cooking has been her way of connecting with people by sharing her beloved dishes that tickled her cravings. Kopi Thyme became her love letter to the dishes that made her heart sing. Each jar of sauce is a reflection of her childhood favorites, new discoveries, and the culinary adventures she’s had on this tasty journey in Canada.
Up, up, here we go 🚀
Like any great adventure, the journey to where Kopi Thyme is today wasn’t all smooth sailing—but it was totally worth it! There were obstacles, setbacks, and even the occasional “should we give up?” moment. But through it all, Sara and Tao Yee stayed true to their values: no artificial preservatives, just the natural, bold flavours that make Southeast Asian food so irresistible was a huge hurdle. Persevering through the notion of “if this is not good enough for me, why would I share it with others?” kept this duo going in their quest.
The magic truly began to happen when they moved to Toronto. That’s when the vision really came together. Sara and Tao Yee nailed down the perfect blend of authentic flavors, bringing the comfort of classic Southeast Asian dishes right to your home. And just when they thought things couldn’t get more exciting, they found themselves developing recipes, even during the unpredictable challenges of a global pandemic. Talk about determination! 💪
After years of perfecting their sauces in their homes and refining the process, Kopi Thyme was finally ready to share with the world! ✨