Uzair Anjarwalla and Talib Fakhri want the American palate to get more accustomed to flavors found in South Asian foods with the launch of a specialty snack called Zouq.

Distributed by Bridgepoint Foods in Gardena, the product was launched this month. It resembles trail mix and comes in four flavors – Curry Crunch, Golden Lentils, Fiery Sticks and Jubilee Mix.

“It’s meant for a new generation of foodies,” said Fakhri. “The idea behind Zouq was bridging cultures through the medium of food.”

For example, Fiery Sticks are crispy potato fingers seasoned with Indian chilies and mango powder. The white and red package features an illustration of an ancient Hindu war god.

Fakhri said the interest in exotic specialty snacks is ripe, pointing to the mainstream popularity of other Asian snack foods like dried and flavored seaweed.

The Zouq line took more than two years to develop, he said. Prices are $3.99 for a can and $1.49 for a single-serve pouch. The snacks are currently sold in specialty and gourmet markets in California, but the company is in talks with major market chains, too.

Bridgepoint is an import and export company that also manufactures and packages Zouq at its facility in India. It was co-founded by Fakhri and Anjarwalla in 2012 and has a staff of six. The co-founders are also developing other ethnic products such as seasonings and sauces.

“Hopefully, the snack line will be a front-runner in all of this in opening a lot of doors,” said Fakhri. “In food, you need to have a well-rounded portfolio and that’s the objective.”

– Subrina Hudson