Alumnus Is Revolutionizing Snacking as Founder of AshaPops
Alongside his mother, Jai Farswani, E’12, industrial engineering, created AshaPops, which sells popped water lily seeds in multiple flavors inspired by family recipes. Their goal is to revolutionize snacking habits nationwide by continuing to bring ayurvedic plant-based foods to major retail chains such as Whole Foods and ShopRite.
This article originally appeared on Northeastern Global News. It was published by Erin Kayata. Main photo: Northeastern grad Jai Farswani and his mother founded AshaSuperfoods which sells flavored popped water lily seeds. Asha Pops
How AshaPops, founded by a Northeastern grad and his mom, are revolutionizing snacks with popped water lily seeds
In the natural medicine system of ayurveda, water lily seeds are recommended as part of one’s diet. However, they’re not a diet staple here in the United States.
AshaSuperfoods is looking to change that with AshaPops, popped water lily seeds in flavors like chili and turmeric garlic.
Founded by Northeastern grad Jai Farswani with his mother, the brand came to life when the elder Farswani packed some water lily seeds as a snack for her son while visiting him in Los Angeles. The younger Farswani broke the snack out during a meeting in his work as a venture capitalist.
“One meeting, I was kind of hungry, so I took (the seeds) out and offered it to the entrepreneur I was meeting with,” Farswani said. “He started eating it, but he finished the bag.”
The entrepreneur asked Farswani what he was doing with the seeds and suggested he sell them at farmers markets. Farswani went back to his mom with the idea and the brand was born. They began making AshaPops, popped water lily seeds, in several different flavors, with the recipe coming from Farswani’s mother’s home kitchen.
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AshaPops come in different flavors like Himalayan pink salt and have a texture similar to popcorn. AshaPops
The pair began selling AshaPops at farmers markets around Los Angeles in the fall of 2017. A few months later, Farswani got a noted Los Angeles health food store, Rainbow Acres Natural Foods, to start stocking AshaPops.
Seven years later, Asha Superfoods’ water lily snacks are now stocked in retailers across the nation such as Whole Foods, ShopRite, Central Market, and Fresh Thyme and even made a cameo in the background of “Family Affair,” a Netflix romantic comedy starring Zac Efron, Nicole Kidman and Joey King.”
‘It just organically happened—no pun intended,” Farswani said. “I feel like people really love the product, but more importantly, they just really resonate with my mom. … We’re both CEOs and chief executives, but she’s the chief energy officer. It’s phenomenal how much she’s been able to attract with her positive energy. It’s been an amazing experience.”
Read Full Story at Northeastern Global News