From North India to North Idaho.
Before Lil Stag had a name, Lily was cooking and making tea for the people she loved. Today, she shares the spices and warmth of her kitchen with yours.
A childhood in the tea garden.
Lily grew up in a tea garden at the foot of the Himalayas in India. Her parents worked long days among the tea plants. As a young girl, she learned to cook meals and make tea for them during their breaks in the garden.
Meals were made from scratch with the ingredients and spices on hand. What began as a way to care for her family became a love of cooking that she carried into adulthood.
Tea was part of Lily’s life long before masala chai became one of the blends she would make for Lil Stag.
The care Lily learned in the tea garden still shapes the way she cooks, blends, and shares today.
Made to share.
After moving to the United States, Lily and her husband, Josh, started Lil Stag in North Idaho. They saw how much people enjoyed Indian food, but also how intimidating it could feel to buy and balance so many individual spices.
So they began making blends that bring those flavors within reach at home, paired with simple recipes. Many of their spices are roasted, ground, and blended in small batches. Masala chai has a special place in the collection because of Lily’s family connection to tea.
Lil Stag is an invitation to make a comforting cup, cook something flavorful, and share it with the people around your table.
Why Lil Stag?
“Lil” is a nod to Lily: a shortened version of her name and a playful reference to her small stature. “Stag” comes from Stagner, our family name. Put them together, and the name carries a little of Lily and a little of our family.