We Asked Members of Our AAPI Employee Resource Group for Their Favorite Products from AAPI-Founded Brands

In honor of AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Heritage Month, we set out to find the very best Thrive Market products that showcase AAPI-founded brands or cuisines. 

Luckily, we knew just where to start: with our G.O.A.T. Employee Resource Group. This employee-run group (which stands for “Group of AAPI Thrivers”) aims to advocate for the rights and interests of our AAPI employees, helping Thrive Market to build a diverse community of individuals all working together toward our mission to make healthy and sustainable living easy and affordable for everyone.

Below, you’ll find the must-have pantry staples, snacks, beauty products, and meal starters that our employees can’t live without. From sparkling waters with Asian-inspired flavors to authentic sauces that bring the taste of Thailand or South Korea to your kitchen, these are the products you should click “add to cart” for this AAPI Heritage Month. 

Best Thrive Market Products: AAPI Heritage Month 2024

Sanzo Pomelo Sparkling Water 

“One of my favorite AAPI-founded brands we carry at Thrive Market is Sanzo. I love that they offer different flavors than the typical box-store sparkling waters and even my 5-year-old enjoys the ‘spicy-ness’ of the drink. We like the Pomelo flavor, but the variety pack in general is a hit!” —Carina De Santiago, HR Business Partner 

Learn more about this AAPI-founded brand:
Sanzo Founder Sandro Roco on Culture, Community, and Calamansi

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Yai’s Thai Sweet Chili Sauce

“I’m not a master chef by any means, but meal prepping has become my go-to. My meals can often be boring—a rotation of protein, veggies, and rice. That’s where Yai’s Thai sauces come in clutch. It transforms my “boring” dishes into culinary delights. The sweet chili sauce stands out as my ultimate favorite. It  has a burst of sweet and spicy goodness with clean ingredients. The only downside? It’s addictive and you might find yourself wanting to drizzle it on everything (haha!)” —Michael Ramillano, Senior Recruiter

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Nguyen Coffee Loyalty Vietnamese House Blend Whole Bean Coffee

“I really admire how the founder of Nguyen Coffee Co., Sahra Nguyen, constantly uplifts Vietnamese coffee growers. They’ve opened me up to the world of robusta coffee beans and how delicious it can be!” —Abigail Park, Content Creator 

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OMNI Plant-Based Meat-Style Luncheon

“I love Spam, and Omni makes a very good plant-based version! I just heat up the slices in my air fryer till they get crispy and make musubi with it. I also cube it up and pan fry it to add to my fried rice. They do plant-based pork very well, and I would recommend any of their other products.” —Thuy Nguyen, Category Manager for Dairy, Deli & Refrigerated Grocery  

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Partake Soft Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies

“Partake’s chocolate chip cookies are addictive! I love how they’re not too sweet.” —Abigail Park, Content Creator 

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Copper Cow Pour-Over Kit in Vanilla Latte 

“For when I can’t get down to my favorite local Vietnamese restaurant, this Copper Cow pour-over kit really hits the spot! I always have this one iced during my afternoon slump at 3pm.” —Jeffrey Chan, Design & Organic Social Media Manager 

Learn more about this AAPI-founded brand:
Perfect Pour-Over Coffee Made Easy with Copper Cow Coffee

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Nona Lim Instant Noodle Cup, Sichuan Spicy Mala

“This has become my go-to meal when I’m crunched for time but want something tasty. I love that the seasoning packet is freeze-dried—when you open the container, you can tell that the ingredients are high quality. I just add water, some veggies and chicken and I have a filling lunch in under 10 minutes!” —Thuy Nguyen, Category Manager for Dairy, Deli & Refrigerated Grocery  

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Thrive Market Organic White Miso Paste 

“I’ll go through periods of eating miso soup everyday for a month because there’s so much room for variety, and it’s so easy. I batch make dashi (kombu + katsuobushii) to always have on hand, so I can just bring the dashi to a simmer, toss in some veg, and a couple minutes and a whisk of white miso later, I am happily slurping away. If I want it to be more filling, I might add tofu, noodles, an egg, or some random leftovers from my fridge — it’s hard to go wrong. I also adore miso because it’s great to experiment with. It has a delicate flavor that pairs well with all kinds of cuisines, and is a blend of rich umami and smooth sweetness that works for both savory and dessert dishes. I’ve used it in salad dressings, pasta sauces, compound butters, marinades, cookies… and can think of a hundred more things I wanna try with it.” —Lina Kamb, Organic Social Strategist  

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Cocokind Revitalizing Eye Cream

“Cocokind’s eye serum is so cool and refreshing, perfect to apply right before bed!” —Abigail Park, Content Creator