Soom Foods is a Philadelphia-based company founded in 2013 by sisters Shelby, Jackie, and Amy Zitelman. The idea for Soom Foods originated when Shelby visited Jackie in Israel and tasted a tahini-infused carrot cake made by Jackie's mother-in-law. This experience highlighted the superior quality of tahini made from Ethiopian sesame seeds, leading the sisters to recognize a gap in the American market for high-quality tahini. Jackie's husband, Omri, who was involved in the tahini industry, introduced them to the potential of importing premium tahini to the U.S.
Soom Foods exclusively uses White Humera sesame seeds sourced from the Humera region in northwestern Ethiopia. This area is renowned for producing sesame seeds with a high oil content and a balanced flavor profile, making them ideal for tahini production. The seeds are procured through the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, ensuring quality and traceability. Once sourced, the seeds are sent to a manufacturing facility in northern Israel, where they are cleaned, hulled, roasted, and ground into tahini. Jackie, residing in Israel, oversees this process to maintain consistent quality.
