The Yogi Foundation Premieres First Film Series "The Theory of Spice"

The short film series, featuring narration by Jon Batiste and Rizo with original music by Gaby Moreno, is now available

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- "The Theory of Spice," a new short film series narrated by Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy winner Jon Batiste ("We Are," "Freedom"), Grammy winner Rizo ("Songs of Joy and Peace") and featuring original music by Grammy winner Gaby Moreno ("X Mi Vol. I"), unearths the stories and vibrant personalities of Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Ginger.

Directed by Gilly Barnes and produced by Straight From the Source Studios, The Yogi Foundation's in-house storytelling arm, the film is now available on the Oscar-winning documentary platform, LA Times Short Docs, as the first film in the new Brand Spotlight section, and on The Yogi Foundation's website.

"I'm honored to lend my voice to this series because it's more than a story about ingredients—it's a story about people, culture, and connection," said Jon Batiste. "Traveling through India, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala, we're uncovering traditions and histories that deserve to be celebrated. As a musician, I'm always searching for connection and soul in unexpected places, and this series captures that spirit beautifully."

The series transports viewers on a journey through India, Sri Lanka, and Guatemala, to bring these ingredients' hidden cultures, communities, and histories to life.

• Cardamom: Cardamom became a lifeline for a community in the mountains of Guatemala after a 40-year civil war, bringing much-needed economic renewal to the region. Told through the words of an original song by Grammy-winning Guatemalan artist Gaby Moreno, the story follows the town, its people and their quest to thrive, culminating in the crowning of a Cardamom Queen.
• Cinnamon: The film traces the history of cinnamon and the skilled agricultural practice of peeling through its bark to harvest it. Long mythologized, the spice carries a sense of mystery about its origins and journey to kitchen tables around the world.
• Ginger: Ginger is depicted as a mighty root whose history dates back to the time of Confucius. The film explores the regions where ginger grows and the people who cultivate it, highlighting rituals of strength and the power the plant provides.

"We are honored to have worked with grower communities around the world to capture the stories, sounds, and images in The Theory of Spice," said Lauren Wood, President of The Yogi Foundation. "We hope to inspire a sense of wonder and curiosity about where our food comes from and the communities whose lives and futures are intertwined with it."

The films are the first original commission by The Yogi Foundation, the nonprofit organization established by Yogi Tea. The Foundation supports projects in grower communities and in the creative, science, and technology sectors. Its vision is to make philanthropy a catalyst for new systems rooted in relationship, reciprocity, and care—demonstrating what's possible when communities and ideas come together.

Press materials are available online HERE. For more information, visit www.theyogifoundation.com or follow @theyogifoundation on Instagram.

About The Yogi Foundation
The Yogi Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, established by Yogi Tea to inspire our collective sense of possibility. For more information, visit www.theyogifoundation.com.

Media Contact:
Suzie Cornell
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Wendy Zipes Hunter
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Office: 954-815-2712

SOURCE The Yogi Foundation