About us

The origin of Tamu-Tamu

A story of my childhood

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Growing up in Kenya back then meant that, in retrospect, my fondest memories often lay in the little things. At the end of a carefree day full of play and adventure, we would run to the street vendors and call out:

“Leta tamu-tamu!” – Bring the candy!

It was our cry of joy. A crowning finale to a day of unbridled fun with friends. The treats back then were simple: mabuyu (sweetly spiced baobab seeds), freshly sliced mangoes with sugar and chili, or a handful of roasted peanuts. For us, these street snacks held something truly special: we associated them with exuberance, togetherness, and the incomparable taste of sharing.

Many years later, I traveled to Kenya during the COVID-19 pandemic and saw images that haunted me: farmers unable to sell their high-quality harvests, losing yields and incomes. So much wonderful food, full of quality and potential, that would never reach the consumer.

At that moment, I realized I had to make a change. I wanted to build a bridge between the people who passionately produce in Africa and those in Europe who are looking for honest, high-quality, and natural snacks.

Thus , Tamu-Tamu was created as a tribute to the carefree moments of my childhood and at the same time as an undertaking that combines enjoyment and responsibility.

Today , Tamu-Tamu represents a new meaning of tamu (Swahili for sweet, delicious): nourishing enjoyment that creates meaning. Every nut, every fruit, and every spread is produced with care and responsibility and comes from African smallholder farmers out of respect for people and the environment.

Africa has always been a continent full of treasures. But all too often, the value of those treasures did not flow back to its inhabitants.

Tamu-Tamu was founded to change exactly that. Value creation takes place in Africa, with the aim of empowering local producers and celebrating the continent's diversity honestly and respectfully. From field to finished snack ( soil to snack ), we want to create a cycle of good . A cycle that fosters community, protects resources, and combines enjoyment with responsibility.

From the streets of my childhood in Kenya to your table today , Tamu-Tamu comes full circle : a celebration of flavor, friendship, and fairness. A reminder that every bite tells a story and every taste awakens a memory.

— Nimesh Karia, founder of Tamu-Tamu

Tamu-Tamu embodies connection – between origin and future, between meaning and pleasure, between the people who create and value goodness.

This story is more than just our beginning – it is the foundation of the values that shape everything we create.

Our values

authenticity

We want to create honest, flavorful products that are fair to everyone along the value chain – from the farmer to the connoisseur.

Because for us, authenticity means that everyone receives what they fairly deserve – value, respect and recognition.

Quality

Our commitment stands for genuinely tangible quality –

through conscious selection, gentle processing, clear origin and consistent craftsmanship.

For us, quality is not just the idea of naturalness, but its actual result:

Products that taste pure, balanced and authentic – enjoyment with character.

transparency

fair Trade

True fairness begins where value is created.

A key objective of Tamu-Tamu is to promote value creation directly at the source – for stable incomes, new perspectives and a better livelihood for the people in Africa.

We work with partners who share the same principles: fair pay, local employment and development through self-initiative.

This creates a cycle of giving and growth – together, fairly and with respect.

sustainability

From soil to snack, we think in cycles.

We carefully select our partners – based on principles such as responsibility, circular economy and the protection of people and nature.

Through direct trade routes between Africa and Europe, conscious product development and sustainable packaging, we keep our CO₂ footprint as small as possible.

For us, sustainability means taking responsibility – today, tomorrow and together.

A look behind the scenes – where our quality begins.

For us, true transparency means not just talking about it, but making it visible. That's why we want to give you insights here – into the places, people, and processes behind our products.

Our partners in Africa work with care, responsibility, and respect for people and nature. By supporting and raising awareness of their work, we live our values – from the soil to the snack.

Our small farmers

Nuts harvested with love and care are made available for collection by the small farmers.

hygiene

Hygiene is absolutely essential in manual labor. The employees are conscientious because the quality of their products is extremely important to them.

Drying

Before cracking, the nuts are gently dried to remove any remaining moisture. This makes them easier to open.

Handwork - cracking

Each nut is painstakingly and carefully cracked open by hand with loving care. It's important that the nuts remain as whole as possible, as this makes them easier to market.