Wholesale Partner Highlight | Kora
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Time to read 1 min
Kora is owned and operated by Kimberly Camara and Kevin Borja, but its story began with a grandmother’s legacy and a batch of ube cream-filled donuts.
In June 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown, Chef Kimberly had recently been laid off from her position at Union Square Hospitality Group. With plans to host dinners from her apartment suddenly put on hold, she turned to baking—drawing inspiration from the recipes and flavors passed down by her grandmother and finding a way to keep those traditions close during an uncertain time.
Then came a batch of ube cream-filled donuts. Made simply to pass the time, they quickly found an audience. Soon Kimberly was baking to order, frying donuts in her apartment kitchen while Kevin took on deliveries. What began at home gradually became a small but growing operation, with each pastry offering a taste of Kimberly’s heritage through her own creative lens. Within just a few weeks, demand had grown into a long waiting list, and inquiries from The New York Times and Eater signaled that what the two had created was resonating far beyond their immediate circle. It became clear that Kora was more than a pandemic side project. There was something worth building and sharing with a much wider community.
Kora’s connection with Kettl began while Kimberly was developing a Jackfruit and Banana Houjicha latte. Remembering an earlier conversation in which a friend had recommended Kettl for Japanese tea, she acquired a bag of houjicha powder to experiment with. One bag soon led to a wholesale partnership, and what began with a single drink has grown into a broader collaboration, with Kettl teas now featured across Kora’s beverage menu.
What sets Kora apart is the care woven into everything they create, from the creativity behind their baked goods and beverages to the experience they hope to create around them.
With the intention of making the bakery feel less like a destination and more like a gathering place, evoking the warmth and familiarity of being among family, the Kora team has built something distinctly their own.
“The intention behind our start is what makes us unique. We didn’t start Kora with money or notoriety in mind, but with the intention to connect with people and create an experience that feels welcoming and ongoing.”
Today, Kimberly and Kevin are proud to be realizing their dream of building something entirely their own: a full-scale bakery where they can continue to push the boundaries of their craft while giving back to the family that they have created at Kora.
