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White Moustache Yogurt
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Fast Company Article Mentioned: How One Woman Survived A Bad Career Break, Then Launched A Life-Changing Business
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Today, we’re learning why yogurt is more than just protein and probiotics, but is the final result of an intricate and ancient yogurt-making practice that creates ease and cultivates belonging. Homa Dashtaki founded The White Moustache, a yogurt company that honors traditional Persian techniques and her Iranian descent. After a law career, Homa has published Yogurt & Whey: Recipes of an Iranian Immigrant Life and her yogurt has garnered acclaim from the New York Times, Vogue, Bon Appétit, and Food & Wine.
More about Homa Dashtaki:
Homa Dashtaki accidentally found herself starting a yogurt company with her father. Being born on the eve of the Iranian Revolution, via a police escorted ambulance after curfew, Ms. Dashtaki has a deep appreciation for chaos. What started as a quiet bonding activity with her family and the Zoroastrian immigrant community in Southern California, has turned into an advocacy effort in small food production and “wasted food”. After three months of business in California, The White Moustache was asked to shut down or be threatened with a $10,000 fine and jail time. Though wildly fond of jumpsuits, Ms. Dashtaki fought the law for two years to acquire permission to make her traditional family recipe. The law won. Bouncing the whole world over, from Portland to Tanzania, White Moustache Yogurt co. found a home in Brooklyn. Now, White Moustache sees its very existence as both a miracle and a platform for reform.
Homa is a UCLA 2001 alumni with a B.A. in Comparative Literature. She went on to receive a JD/LLM from Cornell Law School. Her book, Yogurt & Whey: Recipes of an Iranian Immigrant Life was published by W.W. Norton in March 2023.
