Fun facts about me

I always write about spices and tea on my blog. I think that’s the most important thing on a spice blog.

But perhaps you would also like to get to know me?

Only those who see me regularly at the various markets know me a little. And of course, the participants in my classes on tea, spices, or themed cooking evenings.

Everyone else probably doesn’t know who is behind Sapori del Mondo. That’s why I’ve written down a few things from my life. It’s a mixed bag and by no means complete. But a little insight into who Daniela Beer (i.e., me) is:

1. I grew up in Bülach, which is the small town between Zurich and Schaffhausen where the green “Bülach preserving jars” were produced
2. since 1990 I have lived in Italian-speaking Switzerland – in Ticino
3. I learned Italian partly in Ticino, during my au pair year and partly in Florence at a language school
4. at the same language school, I met my husband – in 1984
5. to be precise, I met him in the cooking course at the language school
6. even as a child, I was a passionate filler and refiller. One of my favorite games was filling and sealing After-Eight single wrappers with odds and ends. (I didn’t like the mint-filled chocolate but loved the packaging). This obsession with filling is now coming in handy!
7. I trained as a nurse. After a 12-year break, during which I only looked after spices, tea, and our 2 children, I returned to my profession part-time in 2014. As a CCM coach in a medical practice.
8. since 2002 I have been involved with tea and spices, and since then I have been selling them at various markets
9. with the help of my husband, I like to create new spice blends. It’s important to me that the blends are harmonious so that no single spice predominates. I also don’t add salt to most blends. So, everyone can add salt however they like
10. My favorite color is yellow, closely followed by orange and red. That’s why I’m usually dressed in these colors – they just make me feel comfortable
11. yellow clothes have the advantage that the turmeric stains, which inevitably find their way onto my clothes when selling, are less visible
12. I don’t like black at all; I don’t own a single black item of clothing – honestly!
13. people often ask me if I cook with all my spices at home – yes, I do (except maybe with anything that tastes like aniseed, which I don’t like)
14. “I don’t like cooking that much in everyday life; I mainly enjoy it when I can try something new or when I need a photo for this blog.” Otherwise, I like to leave the cooking to my husband
15. but we attend cooking classes on all our travels – just to try out new things
16. and I’m responsible for desserts – and I like doing that
17. I love traveling, preferably near the equator
18. I love warm and humid climates – that’s why I travel around the equator
19. I love going to household appliance stores in faraway countries, rummaging through them, and discovering appliances I’ve never seen before (and bringing them home)
20. we regularly bring home spices from our travels. New, unfamiliar ones that we then try out
21. every spring I get the planting bug. My favorite thing to try is to grow exotic plants – spice plants. I currently (2024) have cardamom, curry leaves, kaffir lime and a Szechuan tree. My latest attempt is several papaya plants. But since I don’t have a green thumb at all, my planting attempts are usually not very successful
22. I drink about 7 dl of tea every morning for breakfast. I prefer oolong tea or green tea.
23. I’m camera-shy, so my company logo is not a photo of me, but of my products
24. But because of my work with spices, I’m often invited to interviews. I’m always very nervous then
25. Did I mention that I like to fill up my spice boxes at the market? So full, in fact, that my husband can’t close the boxes and then scolds me! (Just for fun of course – because I can close them)
26. I am extremely unathletic and have NO need for exercise. And yet I’m always doing something

That’s a small selection of facts from my life. Would you like to know anything else?

Just write to me and I’ll be happy to answer your question if I can.