A house, a region
Carmencita was born in Novelda (Alicante) in 1923, founded by Jesús Navarro Jover and his wife Carmen Valero. In early-20th-century Novelda, spices were traded — above all saffron, which arrived from La Mancha to be exported to Asia and Africa.
Jesús Navarro made paper sachets filled with saffron by hand, selling them door to door in the surrounding villages. His wife, his sister and neighbours turned “a kilo of saffron into ten thousand paper sachets”.
The name and logo come from Carmencita, the first daughter of Jesús and Carmen. In 1923, to set his sachets apart, he had the child photographed in a Cordoban hat, dressed as an Andalusian with a Manila shawl and a carnation. That image still appears on the packaging. In 2023, the house celebrated its centenary.
How they work
Saffron remains the founding product and the emblem of the house. Carmencita was the first Spanish company to pack spices in glass jars — a move that protects the aroma and ensures traceability.
From 1955, the introduction of new machinery sped up packing and broadened the range to other spices and formats.
Why we chose them
The leading brand of the Spanish spice market, Carmencita is also known for its Paellero, the spice blend (with saffron) that became a symbol of Spanish cooking.
An identity of over a hundred years, built around saffron and a family craft passed down over three generations.
Their products
8 items from Carmencita
