ZAAZEY

A few years ago over Nantucket Stroll (before all of our events were cancelled) I was walking around the vendor market in town and I came across a Zaazey table. A young boy working the stall started telling me about this incredible extra virgin olive oil. I noticed the last name on the business cards on the table read, “Qureshi”. You can imagine my surprise because “Qureshi” is also my family name on my Mums side (also not a name you see everyday, especially on Nantucket!) the young boy told me his family is from Pakistan - another moment of surprise as my Mum and Dad were both born in Pakistan. We instantly started bonding over all of these crazy coincidences, how two “Qureshi families” with roots in Pakistan ended up on Nantucket. I met Laura who is the owner of Zazeey and the mother of the young boy who happened to be her 19-year-old son. It was such a memorable experience, I remember talking to them while tasting the olive oil on breads and various other things over the course of conversation. I remember very clearly thinking to myself… “holy crap, this is seriously the BEST olive oil I have EVER tasted.”

Fast forward a few years later I’m thankful to call Laura not only a wonderful client, but a warm-hearted friend. ZAAZEY (pronounced ZAA-ZEH) is named after Laura’s little girl Zaahra Zeytune. Laura is mother of five, and wife of 22 years to her supportive husband Dr. Abrar Qureshi. She embodies so much of what I respect and strive to become in business. She’s created a product that is exceptional all while promoting sustainable farming methods, equal wages for women in the extra virgin olive industry, and has sharing many a story of courageous women who farm, pick and process #LADYBOSS

A quick history on the olive tree for all you curious and inquisitive minds out there, Zaazey tell us that the olive was domesticated for the very first time in the Eastern Mediterranean, roughly 8,000 years ago and has been a status symbol that stands for sacredness, unity, and peace. During ancient times, the use of the Extra Virgin Olive Oil was primarily dedicated toward various religious ceremonies owing to the fact that it was exceedingly hard to harvest. Moreover, it was also expended due to its medicinal properties. The production technology of the 21st century has very well made harvesting Extra Virgin Olive Oil and its quality much better than ever before. Although traditional methods are still being used such as the stone crushing of olives that dates back to ancient times. In the latter part of the 20th century, extra virgin olive oil has received attention mainly for its health and wellness properties

ZAAZEY® mission? They strive to incorporate high ethical standards and socially responsible business practices to produce the finest quality extra virgin olive oil in the world while promoting sustainable agriculture, enhanced return on investments for our farmers, and an honest transparent and open relationship with their growers.

Buy yourself a bottle of this liquid gold, I promise you’ll never go back… you can thank me later friends!

xo H