Abdul Ishmail

Name: Abdul Gani Ismail

Occupation: Runs Bristol Sweet Mart, Spices and Ethnic Foods.

Origin: Kenya

How long in Bristol: Since 1972

Abdul says...

"We also have in the shop things like tamarind and some regional spices from all over the world; you just don’t get curry powder from India! You get curry powder or spices; well, actually, ‘there isn’t an Indian word for curry powder’. These spicesare from different regions in India, from North India, from Punjab, from Madras, so we do all these different.

For example chilli sauces: the hottest chilli sauces comes from in Uganda, and called ‘Jabanero’ in America or Scotch Bonnet here in Bristol. The reason being the pepper looks like a scotch Bonnet hat! Extremely hot! We do 73 chilli sauces here in the shop, chilli sauces with mango, chilli sauces with green mango, chilli sauces with tamarind, with ginger, with garlic, chilli sauces with sugar, so there is a such a variety! We also do Mexican chilli sauce and from Malawi, in southern Africa.

As far ready-made sauces, we do South African sauces for cooking, Mexican, Indian, Malaysian. So once you come to the shop, here in St marks Rd, it’s more like an Aladdin’s cave! But the most important is that, at the same time, we are small, friendly and family enough, to give you this advice that you need: “if you want to cook some dish we will help you.

Alternatively, you can also e-mail us any recipe if there is something you are not sure of, and we will give you our advice. "

"Any advice or help you need as far as food or spices goes… we’re there!”

This is the full interview with Abdul in which he talks about the great wide variety of foods and spices from across the world that they import and sell from their shop and online at www.sweetmart.co.uk

Did you know that there isn’t an Indian word for curry powder?

And that the hottest chilli sauces comes from in Uganda and it is known as ‘Scotch Bonnet’ here in Bristol? That is because the pepper looks like a scotch Bonnet hat!

Click on the Play symbol to hear the interview