First published in the October 9 print edition of Glendale Press. Ani Duzda Banyan

One day last week, Anna Abelian, co-owner of Novin Herbs & Spices in Glendale, took a moment to help one of her customers find the right pepper. She placed it in a row of colorful containers filled with loose spices, and placed it on the wall under the shelf. The shelf contained symbols of ancient culture-antique grinders, wooden statues of Indian elephants, hookahs and An old coffee machine. Abelian's husband, Aaron, pointed out that the store smelled like "magic", with sweet, spicy and pungent aromas exuding every corner. "Spices have magic power," he repeated. "The ways to use spices in cooking and baking are limitless!" The modern spice dealer Abelians opened in 2017 and revolutionized the peculiar corners of Seaview Boulevard and Verdugo Road with bright orange coffee chairs and a hopeful journey from afar . The couple immigrated to the United States in 1998 and have continued to import saffron from their native Iran for many years. With some success over time, they added more condiments to the import list. With the new inventory, they started renting a booth at Montrose Harvest Market once a week. Demand is growing rapidly, and people are beginning to ask for a specific location-a store they can visit at any time. This became the perfect moment for the couple to realize their long-term dream-to open a store. "There are no other spice shops here, and I know this culture is disappearing," Aaron Abelian said. "I try to revive it and teach our customers how to use these spices." Novin means "innovation" in Persian. Now it mainly imports products from southern India, but also from Indonesia, where the Abel people often travel. Once a year, they attend a conference to meet with different companies specializing in the production and distribution of spices. After visiting the facility, the couple will choose suitable products for their store and take them home. Flavor companies must meet the strict requirements of the Abelians. First, the flavor must be fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The next step is to ensure that the company agrees to all procedures in the store. "I grew up in a country that grew up with spices," Anna Abel explained. "In Tehran, we used to go to the bazaar, where the spices are publicly displayed. Middle Eastern and Persian food uses a lot of spices. That’s how we grew up. Now, we want to rebuild this tradition for our customers here. "Abelians said their next goal is to help customers recycle spice containers through reuse. “They brought any jars in the kitchen, and we filled them with spices instead of using [disposable] plastic containers,” Anna said, adding that about 30% of Noven’s customers follow this simple method Reduce plastic waste. When it comes to their favorite spice-Kashmiri pepper, the couple's taste is the same. They say it reminds them of both pepper and chili powder. "If you want to add the color and spiciness of paprika to your food," Anna said confidently, "then this is the best mixture you can have. It goes well with chicken, meat, vegetables, almost All food.” Over the past four years, the couple have established many strong connections with spice producers and have been able to run their businesses without traveling long distances. This became very useful during the COVID-19 pandemic, when personal travel was of secondary importance. Just before the pandemic, Novin started working with restaurants to purchase herbs and spices, but the subsequent blockade forced the store to close and lost valuable customers. During the work stoppage, Anna used the income from her main job to help run the business; the emergency loan provided by the Small Business Administration, together with the grant from the City of Glendale, almost made up the gap. "This is a new start for the store," Aaron pointed out hopefully. Before the pandemic, Novin had a cooking demonstration on Saturday, teaching customers how to add different spices to the dishes. "We are sharing recipes and providing tea for everyone. People are having fun and are learning," Anna recalled with a smile. "Maybe we should continue the class." Novin's customers are usually long-term home chefs who are familiar with spices, or young couples who want to explore new flavors. This helps to develop new habits of cooking at home, eating healthy, and establishing family traditions-this is an important milestone for the Abel people. "They all like to freely buy the quantity they want," Anna said. "They even get the spices in ounces." Arabic coffee with cardamom and freshly baked corn kernels is Nowen's daily delicacy. The coffee selection goes a step further, combining historical favorites with a touch of exoticism. Looking ahead, Aaron said he is considering expanding the scope of the joint venture by offering new products such as DIY ice cream, as well as real fruits and spices. "This will be something no one has done before," Aaron said with a wry smile. "It will be a surprise."