Skip to Content

AAPI Month Is Ending But You Should Shop These Brands Year-Round

A diverse, flavorful pantry doesn't come with an expiration.

By
aapi products

Delish editors handpick every product we feature. We may earn commission from the links on this page.

Some people might travel the world via plane—or, for those restricted by budget, an hours-long scroll on TikTok—but if you want to taste those far-flung corners? It often starts in the kitchen. Thanks to a handful of AAPI-owned, foodie-approved brands, it's possible to incorporate a little bit of culture into your culinary routine, all without leaving the house. However, just because Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is officially coming to a close doesn't mean you should stop supporting these small businesses. After all, a diverse, flavorful pantry doesn't come with an expiration.

If you're looking to reserve a permanent spot in your kitchen for a little bit of culture—be it your own or someone else's—we hand-picked several AAPI-owned brands to shop now and, quite frankly, always. The list below runs the gamut of editor-favorites and viral sensations in the food, beverage, and entertaining categories. (The crème de la crème of culinary crazes, if we do say so ourselves.)

Want to restock your kitchen with the essentials? Brands like Bean & Bean, the Qi, and Brightland have you covered. Spice savants will find a lot to love about fiery ingredients like chili crisp, peppery "water," and coconut lemongrass curry noodles. Or, those who are hoping to spruce up their table setting will want to stock up on plates, glasses, and cooking tools. Regardless of which items whet your appetite, you're just a few clicks away from giving your kitchen a global gourmand edge.

1

Material Kitchen

Material Kitchen

If you're starting from square one, Material Kitchen has you covered. When Eunice Byun and David Nguyen co-founded the direct-to-consumer darling in 2018, they sought out to make our kitchen a more streamlined and stylish place. After all, nobody needs three sets of tongs and five spatulas when one of each will do. The company offers a handful of carefully curated cooking tool sets—like the knife bundle seen here—to fill your kitchen with everything you need and nothing you don't. Turns out, less really is more.

2

The Qi Inner Connection Blooming Tea

Inner Connection Blooming Tea

Start your day on a slow, serene note with one of the Qi's floral teas. When placed in water, these blooms open up and create a little bit of beauty in a mug. That said, founder Lisa Li's floral tea has more to offer than good looks: Calendula, for example, reduces inflammation, boosts your immune system, and supports skin, eye, and digestive health.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
3

Bean & Bean Coffee

Bean & Bean Coffee

Craving something a little stronger? Enter Bean & Bean. Mother-daughter duo Rachel and Jiyoon Han are Q Arabica Graders—or, as they say, "sommeliers of coffee"—and they treat their java with the same nuance and care as a glass of vino. This medium roast blend is the Goldilocks of coffee beans, offering the perfect kick to kickstart your day.

Shiza Shahid firmly believes that food brings people together—so much so that she founded her cookware brand, Our Place, around that sentiment. Though Our Place has plates, glasses, and "Traditionware"—a series of steam baskets, flipping platters, and tagines to create a mouth-watering, multicultural dish—its most popular offering is hands-down the Always Pan.

This non-stick, indisputably stylish pan has a deeper silhouette and an accompanying basket so you can use it to cook virtually anything. Simply put, the Always Pan is always there for you.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
5

The Only Bean The Only Bean

The Only Bean

For a guilt-free way to enjoy a big bowl of pasta, check out the Only Bean, which Brian Lai, Jason, Ko, and Kristine Yang founded in 2017. This company reimagines pasta with edamame and black beans, which are low in carbs and sugar but high in fiber and protein.

6

Rooted Fare

Rooted Fare

Anyone with a sweet tooth will find a lot to love about Rooted Fare's spreadable butters, which founders Ashley Xie and Hedy Yu say bridge the gap between their American and Chinese roots. Made in small batches in Los Angeles, these butters offer a unique, worldly flavor profile. Oh, did we mention they're plant-based and free of dairy and gluten? Sold.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Homemade curry is delicious, but it can also be a time-consuming dish to make. To simplify the process, reach for Homiah's curry sampler. Founded by Michelle Tew, these packets are a breeze to make. Simply add coconut milk and protein to this mix, which is non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan, and you'll have a yummy meal in under 15 minutes.

8

Poketo

Poketo

Poketo has been making "art for the everyday" since its founding in 2003, and it also manages to serve up some joy-sparking dinnerware. Case in point: This curvaceous cup that will offer a gorgeous, multi-sensory sip. (As for the brand's name? Founder Angie Myung says it's a sweet homage to her Korean grandmother.)

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Get ready to spice up your life—literally—with Fly By Jing, which was founded by Jing Gao. These Chinese chili sauces get their kick from a healthy mix of shallots and crispy garlic. Go ahead, you have our permission to drizzle this over everything.

10

Poi Dog Poi Dog

Poi Dog

Calling all sauce savants: You'll want to add Poi Dog to your collection. Kiki Aranita founded her Philadelphia eatery, Poi Doga, to help amplify Hawaiian cuisine. However, since the restaurant closed in 2020, she has kept the brand alive with its shoppable sauces. Made with a mix of ginger, rice vinegar, and espelette peppers, this fiery fare brings a hint of Hawaiian straight to your kitchen.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
11

Hamkke Home

Hamkke Home

For serveware that really serves, check out Hamkke, a Korean word that means "come together." Currently available in three versatile colorways—off-white, blue, and olive green—this brand's collection of plates, bowls, and mugs are made with recycled clay locally sourced in Portugal. Not only are they beautiful, but you can also place 'em in your dishwasher, microwave, oven, or freezer. Form, meet function.

Easy to make and effortlessly delicious, ramen is definitely a pantry staple. Of course, for a slightly more elevated bite, Omsom's at your service. Founded by Vanessa and Kim Pham, sisters and daughters of Vietnamese refugees, this brand pairs is ramen with thoughtful spice blends and sauces that certainly pack a punch. Topping our list of must-buys? This coconut lemongrass curry, naturally.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Founder Steph Chen created a bit of microwave magic with Anyday. This brand makes durable glass dishes that are ideal for reheating leftovers, steaming vegetables, and cooking a frozen snack. Plus, each dish come with a vented glass lid, making it a suitable, sustainable swap for those plastic containers.

14

Wild Wonder

Wild Wonder

Think of Wild Wonder as a sweet sip that's both nutritious and delicious. Founder Rosa Li (who made an appearance on Shark Tank, no big deal) carefully concocted it to be packed with probiotics and fiber. But if Wild Wonder's gut-friendliness hasn't sold you, the flavors will. Strawberry Passion? Guava Rose? Peach Ginger? Yum.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

If you ask Aishwarya Iyer, every kitchen should have a bottle of high-quality, traceable, and delicious olive oil. So, why was it so hard to find in the US? That's exactly why she set out to create Brightland, which sells California-made olive oil, vinegar, and honey. Not only does the brand make olive oil batches that taste good, but their design-minded bottles make this a great gift idea.

Watch Next 
preview for Watch Our Newest Videos
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below