How One Family Brought the Flavour of Colombia to Vancouver, BC

Aji Gourmet Products – The Story of How One Family Brought the Flavour of Colombia to Vancouver, BC

Aji Gourmet Products is a Vancouver company that offers delicious and healthy condiments, dips, sauce mixes, and marinades. Owned and operated by the Gonzalez Biagi family, Aji is as rich in family history as it is in authentic South American flavors.

Back in 1999, the Gonzalez Biagi family moved to Canada from their home in Colombia. A culturally rich country, Colombia is known for its heartwarming people, festive celebrations, and exceptional cuisines, including a traditional condiment known as Aji. Upon their arrival to Canada, the Gonzalez Biagi family (Dyana, Carlos, and their kids Allison and Nicholas) settled into their new home in British Columbia, making sure to bring a recipe for Aji with them.

The Gonzalez Biagi family continued to enjoy Aji in the privacy of their family home until one day Dyana was asked to bring guacamole to her hockey party. However there was one BIG problem – she had never made guacamole in her life. With no time to find a recipe, Dyana decided to add some fresh aji into a bowl of mashed avocados and brought it to the party. Much to Dyana’s enjoyment, her dish was met with an overwhelming response. The other guests loved it – they had never tasted anything like aji before.

It was no surprise when Dyana began getting frequent requests for her famous Aji. To keep up with increasing demand, Dyana began to look at ways that she could grow her flavourful Aji into a family brand. The opportunity came when she created Ají Gourmet Products in 2006 and sold her first jar to a local store in South Surrey, BC.

Today the company continues to be run as a family business – with Dyana, her husband, and their two children. Beginning with one original Aji, they have now expanded their brand to feature 10 unique products, including a new line of Aji Guacamole Pouches, which makes for a fast bowl of delicious guacamole. Aji has grown from a Gonzalez Biagi kitchen specialty to being available in more than 150 stores across BC, Alberta, and Toronto.

Experience the flavours of Colombia for yourself and take home a bottle of Aji Gourmet Products for your kitchen. Made with zero sugar, zero preservatives, and no artificial flavours, Aji is a healthy way to add some zip to your home-cooked meals. Available at various locations across the lower mainland.