Meet our Founder & CEO
Aquanita U. Brown
Founder & CEO, Zahra Savory & Olive™
At the heart of Zahra Savory & Olive™ is a simple belief: food has the power to bring people together, create lasting memories, and nourish both the body and the soul.
Founded by Aquanita U. Brown, Zahra Savory & Olive™ was born from a lifelong passion for cooking, gathering, herbal wisdom, and creating meaningful experiences around the table. What began as cherished family traditions has grown into a brand dedicated to celebrating food, heritage, hospitality, and connection.
As a mother, grandmother, herbalist, and entrepreneur, Aquanita understands that some of life's most treasured moments happen not during grand occasions, but in the everyday gatherings where stories are shared, laughter is abundant, and meals are prepared with love.
Through seasonal recipes, beautiful gatherings, thoughtfully curated cookbooks, and a commitment to intentional living, she hopes to inspire others to slow down, reconnect, and create traditions of their own.
Zahra Savory & Olive™ reflects her vision of a life rooted in faith, family, generosity, and the belief that every table has the potential to become a place of comfort, celebration, and belonging.
"Because in the end, food is not only about what is served on the table. It is about who gathers around it."
My Story
From the Heart of Zahra Savory & Olive™
Some of my earliest and most cherished memories were made in the kitchen.
As a little girl, I loved watching my mother cook meals and bake cakes. I was fascinated by the way simple ingredients could become something beautiful and comforting. Before long, I wanted to help. Whether it was stirring batter, measuring ingredients, or simply watching from a nearby chair, the kitchen became one of my favorite places to be.
My sister and I spent countless hours baking our own cakes, cookies, and brownies in our little Dolly Madison oven. To us, those tiny creations were masterpieces, and each one carried the excitement of learning, creating, and sharing something made with love.
Some of my fondest memories are of visiting my Grandma Brown. She would make a yellow cake with homemade chocolate icing that, to this day, remains my "Angel Cake." I can still remember the anticipation of waiting for that first slice and the joy that came from gathering around her table.
Then there was Grandma Watson's kitchen.
She taught me that recipes were more than instructions on a page. They were traditions, stories, and expressions of love passed from one generation to the next. I spent time with her making zucchini bread, mincemeat pie, picking fresh berries, and turning those berries into homemade jams. Those moments were never just about the food. They were about spending time together, learning, laughing, and creating memories that would last a lifetime.
Growing up in the country gave me an appreciation for the land long before I understood how important that connection would become.
I remember visiting neighbors with Grandma Watson to harvest fresh beans, greens, and sweet corn. We would sit together shelling peas, laughing as we filled bowl after bowl. My mother kept a small garden in our backyard, and every year I would eagerly wait for the green tomatoes to ripen just enough to become my favorite treat—fried green tomatoes.
Those simple moments taught me lessons that have stayed with me my entire life.
I learned to can and preserve food at a young age. I learned that a well-stocked pantry was more than convenience—it was wisdom. Living in areas where tornadoes and severe weather were a reality taught me that we often don't realize the value of self-sufficiency until circumstances force us to rely on what we've prepared and what the land provides.
Long before I ever heard the word "homestead," I was living many of the values that define it.
As I grew older, I became fascinated with the idea of homesteading—not simply as a lifestyle, but as a way of preserving traditions, honoring God's provision, and creating a legacy for future generations.
Those early experiences shaped the woman I would become.
As a mother and now a grandmother, I have shared many of those same traditions with my children and grandchildren. Watching them discover the joy of gathering around the table, harvesting from a garden, baking family recipes, and creating memories together has been one of life's greatest blessings.
I have always dreamed of becoming a chef—not simply to prepare meals, but to teach others how to create the foods they love in ways that nourish both the body and the soul. I believe healthy food should never mean sacrificing flavor, comfort, tradition, or connection.
That dream became Zahra Savory & Olive™.
More than a cookbook collection, Zahra Savory & Olive™ is a celebration of family traditions, seasonal living, herbal wisdom, beautiful gatherings, and the memories created around the table. It is where old recipes meet fresh inspiration, where heritage meets hospitality, and where every meal has the potential to become a cherished memory.
As a Master Herbalist, this journey continues to evolve. In the years ahead, Zahra Savory & Olive™ will expand beyond cookbooks to include handcrafted herbal seasonings, essential oil blends, flower essences, and products inspired by the healing power of nature.
The cookbooks are only the beginning.
They are the first chapter of a journey I have been moving toward my entire life.
The vision extends beyond recipes and gatherings. One day, Zahra's Homestead will stand as a reflection of everything this journey represents—a place where gardens flourish, traditions are honored, herbs are cultivated, people gather, and memories are made beneath open skies and warm lights.
For me, this is more than a business.
It is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
It is stepping fully into the purpose God placed on my heart many years ago and trusting Him as that dream comes to fruition.
Every recipe, every gathering, every garden, and every page within the Seasons of Zahra Savory & Olive Collection™ is rooted in those early lessons from my mother, Grandma Brown, and Grandma Watson.
Their love lives on in everything I create.
Welcome to my table.
With Gratitude,
BHA, LSSBB-HC, CSSC-SSBBCES
Founder & Creator
Zahra Savory & Olive™
Contact
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