While we don't need to dig into why they're needed sometimes needed, it being prepared to deal with any unforeseen substitutions if (and when) they come up is a part of kitchen life. Now, some flavor substitutions are easier than others; for example, if you need to replace one licorice-like ingredient for another, there's licorice itself, fennel, anise, star anise, tarragon, and more. But what about something like turmeric, which plays such an indispensable role in Indian cuisine and other dishes?
Ground turmeric is simple. They need three things to survive: darkness, dryness, and a very tightly sealed container. That's it, really - after you've got it home, put it in an airtight jar or tin, then stuff it in a drawer far away from your cooking zone where temperature can fluctuate wildly throughout the day. Just doing this, and the spice will maintain its brilliant sunset hue for one to two years instead of fading to a depressing beige just weeks after.
Since Kadri started the Diaspora Company in 2017, selling only turmeric at first from Kasaraneni's farm, she has scaled the business to 30 spices from more than 140 farms, she now has retail customers like Amazon, and is on track to hit profitability by the end of 2025.