Rosemary, obtained from the leaves of a small Mediterranean tree, is widely used in the recipes from that part of the world, especially stews and lamb dishes. It has a bittersweet flavor and a delicious aroma. The company was started by José Badía, a Cuban exile who fled the island nation in the 1960s. Though he had a hardware business in Cuba, started the spice business in a small shop in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami. In 1970, José hired his son, Joseph "Pepe", to manage daily operations, and "Pepe" is now the majority owner and president of Badia Spices, Inc.Today, Badia Spices sells over 120 products, including raw spices and herbs, blended spices, and dried chili peppers, throughout the United States and more than 70 other countries.