Meet Erin of berry&thyme
About Erin
Erin Burrise is the owner and creator of berry&thyme, a botanically infused fruit preserves company out of Sacramento, CA. She is proud to be a Black and Filipino small business owner and is thankful for the variety of cuisine she grew up around, as she believes the variety of flavors helped shape her unique palate. Although Erin did not start making preserves until she decided to start berry&thyme in July 2020, she says that the art of jam making feels natural, like she must have done this in another lifetime.
Prior to preserving fruit, Erin was in the childcare industry, worked for a handful of federal and local government agencies, and was a recording artist with the success of her music on Billboard Charts.
With flavors like Plum & Chai Spice, Blueberry & Sage, Nectarine & Mint, and Pineapple & Habanero, Erin is fully invested in creating unique flavors, that are always vegan, for folks of many walks of life to enjoy for years to come.
Follow berry&thyme on social media: IG @berry.and.thyme
What inspired you to become a business owner?
I never thought I would be in the food industry for my career. I’ve always been a decent cook, nothing too special. But oddly enough, jam making felt natural. I am inspired by the beauty of edible flowers, herbs and spices, and the complexity they create in food, beverages, beauty products, everything they touch! My passion is more within the art of infusing, and jam is my medium.
Why did you want to highlight the food you are creating?
I really want to provide folks with a product that they may have grown up with, like strawberry jam, but elevated, like strawberry & lavender jam. I love being able to create unique flavors and share them with family, friends, and folks who enjoy jam.
What is your favorite dish? Is there a story behind it?
My mom’s lumpia. I don’t know how, but she makes it unlike anyone else! I may be biased, but her lumpia is better than any you have eaten haha!
What does courage mean to you?
When I think of being courageous, I think of setting boundaries and standing up for yourself. Especially in a position of being an entrepreneur, it takes courage to know your worth and not settle for less. Is that always easy? Heck no. But to have the courage to know when to step back, reprioritize, get back up when you fail, or take a leap of faith is so important, and could make the difference between being successful or falling short with your goals.
Where can we expect to see you in the next few years?
You can expect to see berry&thyme products in stores and more readily available for you! We love selling out, but the ideal situation is that you are able to buy our products in a local shop or online at all times. We are working on expanding the types of products we offer, so you can expect a variety of botanically infused berry&thyme products in the next few years!
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Thank you so much Erin for sharing her story with us! Tuk Tuk Box is proud to exclusively feature Southeast Asian ingredients and include refugee, migrant, and generational stories in every box.
If you or someone you know wants to share their story with us, send us an email: hello@tuktukbox.com. Stay tuned for future stories and the newest products by subscribing to our mailing list.
