Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashish Iyer.
Hi Ashish, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story starts in India, where I grew up in a middle-class family rooted in strong values, culture, and food traditions. In 2013, I became the first person in my family to move to the United States to pursue my master’s degree.
One of the things I missed most from home was the fresh, home made ghee my mother used every day in our kitchen.
To me, ghee was never just cooking butter. It was healing, nourishment, tradition, and connection. It had the ability to make the simplest meals unforgettable. Growing up, it was part of everything — from food to wellness to family memories.
After moving to the U.S., I spent nearly 10 years searching for a ghee that tasted like the one I grew up with. I tried countless brands and local markets, but nothing came close to the freshness, aroma, and authenticity of the ghee my mother made at home.
Eventually, I learned the art from the person who had perfected it for over 40 years — my mom.
That journey became the foundation of Art of Ghee, which I launched in 2023.
What makes ghee especially unique is that it transcends cultures and has been used around the world for generations — not only because of its rich flavor, but because of its incredible versatility and healing value. Whether you speak to someone from India, Africa, Lebanon, Morocco, Slovenia, Greece, or the Middle East, almost everyone has a version of Ghee tied to nourishment and childhood memories. Very few foods create that kind of nostalgia and emotional connection.
At the same time, modern consumers are rediscovering ghee because it fits so many different lifestyles and dietary approaches. Ghee has a naturally high smoke point, is lactose-free and casein-free, and is widely embraced by people following keto, paleo, carnivore, Ayurvedic, and wellness-focused diets. Ghee is also an incredible gut healing food.
From the beginning, I wanted Art of Ghee to focus on freshness, quality, and intention. We source organic, 100% grass-fed butter from regenerative organic family farms in California and make fresh batches of Ghee every week in Gilbert. Our goal has always been to create ghee the traditional way — fresh, local, small-batch, and cleanest ingredients.
The response from the community has been incredible. Me and my wife started at local farmers markets and quickly expanded into many of the Valley’s largest markets and select gourmet stores. It has been amazing to see people from so many different backgrounds connect through something as simple and timeless as ghee.
For me, Art of Ghee is not just about food — it’s about bringing traditional, nourishing ingredients back into modern kitchens. My vision is to make clean, authentic, high-quality ghee a staple ingredient in households, local retail and restaurants across Arizona and beyond.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it definitely has not been a smooth road — but that is what has made the journey meaningful.
As a first-time business owner and immigrant entrepreneur, building awareness without a large local network took patience and consistency. Early on, navigating licensing for a shelf-stable dairy product was also a challenge.
One of the biggest hurdles was sourcing the highest-quality butter while staying true to our mission. We work with organic, regenerative family farms in California, and although shortages and price fluctuations made things difficult, compromising on quality was never an option for us.
Education has also been a major part of the journey. Many people are still unfamiliar with ghee, its versatility, and how different fresh small-batch ghee tastes from mass-produced versions. Through farmers markets, social media, and customer conversations, we spend a lot of time helping people understand its uses and wellness value.
At the same time, I have balanced building the business while working full time and raising my 6-year-old, which has been one of the biggest personal growth experiences of my life.
What helped most was staying adaptable, learning quickly, and leaning on support from family and fellow small business owners. At the end of the day, our growth has been slow, organic, and consistent — and seeing customers discover and connect with our ghee makes every challenge worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Professionally, I come from a technology and analytical background. I moved to the United States in 2013 and earned my Master’s degree in Computer Science from Arizona State University in 2015. Since then, I have worked in the technology field, developing skills in research, problem-solving, systems thinking, and user interface development — all of which became incredibly valuable in entrepreneurship and building a thoughtful, customer-focused brand for Art of Ghee.
Those skills shaped how I built the business, from sourcing high-quality ingredients and navigating licensing to educating customers with long-term vision of scaling and consistency.
What sets me apart is quick learning, combining a structured, analytical mindset with a deeply healing and cultural connection to the product. While my professional background is in technology, food has always been tied to wellness, healing and community for me.
What I am most proud of is building an authentic, community-driven brand organically, with the long-term goal of fully transitioning into the business and continuing to grow Art of Ghee into a household name in Arizona and beyond.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Few important lessons:
1. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that preparation creates opportunity. Some people call it luck, but I believe opportunities are converted when you are prepared to recognize and act on them.
2. Most business challenges have already been solved by someone else, and networking with other entrepreneurs has been incredibly valuable in learning from both their successes and failures.
3. Building genuine relationships with customers has been equally important. Listening to their stories, interests, and needs not only helps build long-term trust, but also helps shape the business in a more meaningful way.
4. Coming from a technology background, I also believe strongly in research, problem-solving, and leveraging modern tools to learn and adapt quickly.
5. Most importantly, I’ve learned to stay connected to my purpose and lean on family support as they are my emotional anchor.
Pricing:
- 3.4 oz Jar – 9$
- 8 oz Jar – 19$
- 16 oz Jar – 35$
- 32 oz Jar – 66$
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @theartofghee
- Facebook: Art of Ghee
- Other: artofghee@gmail.com
