STANDOUT BLACK-OWNED FOOD AND DRINK BRANDS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT

The recent deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd (to name just a few) have spurred nationwide protests against systemic racism and police brutality, and it’s time to take action and demand justice for Black lives. The media world is in the throes of a much larger, important cultural reckoning of sorts (and — at some particular publications — a BIPOC staff-led revolt) about the importance of diverse voices and brands in food and beverage.

We want to do our part to further this message of tolerance, fair pay and representation, and equality, specifically in food media. To support BIPOC in the food space, we want to highlight the following standout Black-owned food and drink brands that you should have on your radar and in your permanent culinary rotation.

If you’re an advocate for inclusivity, we think it’s time to quite literally put your money where your mouth is and support these small, incredible Black-owned food brands.

1A DOZEN COUSINSA Dozen Cousins Trini Chickpea Curry

$39.99

Founded in 2019 by Ibraheem Basir after years of working in the natural food space at General Mills, A Dozen Cousins brings much-needed cultural representation to the ready-to-eat meal space. Connecting the flavors and foods that he loved from his childhood, A Dozen Cousins provides healthy, ready-to-eat simmer sauces for quick weeknight meals that are all inspired by traditional Afro-Caribbean and Latin cuisines.

This Trini Chickpea Curry is one of our favorite simmer sauces from the lineup, loaded with flavorful curried garbanzo beans, turmeric, and cilantro. 

A Dozen Cousins has also implemented a social impact mission and picks a new nonprofit to support each year. Last year, the brand partnered with The Happy Kitchen (aka La Cocina Alegre) to sponsor two 6-week health and nutrition courses in the greater Austin area.

2KOIAKoia Vanilla Bean Plant Powered Nutrition Drink

$3.99

Cofounded in 2013 by Maya French, Koia plant-powered protein drinks provide a delicious, vegan alternative to whey-based energy drinks.

Made with almond milk, plant-based protein, vanilla, and cinnamon, this delicious, vanilla-flavored protein drink from Koia is packed with a healthy dose of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Almond milk and a proprietary blend of plant protein from real foods like brown rice, peas, and hemp provide an impressive 18 grams of protein, along with 10 grams of fiber and only 4 grams of sugar. This tasty, better-for-you vegan protein drink will keep you full all afternoon.

3CAFÉ RUE DIXCafé Rue Dix Senegalese Hot Sauce

$25.0

If you live in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, chances are that you’ve heard good things about the local Senegalese gem called Café Rue Dix. This restaurant serves traditional Senegalese dishes like yassa guinaar and stewed maffe, but our personal recommendation is this fiery hot sauce made with mustard, jalapeños, habaneros, and spices, which you can buy online. It’s seriously delicious and will also make your eyes water (in a good way).

Consider also checking out their concept lifestyle shop Marché Rue Dix next door (and online) and say hello to their very sweet owners, a married couple (hi Nilea and Lamine!)

Availability note: This Senegalese hot sauce is currently sold out, but keep checking back for more availability.

4GOLDEGolde Matcha Turmeric Superfood Latte Blend

$29.00

Cofounder and CEO Trinity Mouzon Wofford created Golde in 2017 with the mission of bringing good vibes to the wellness industry. This independent, Brooklyn-born brand is dedicated to making superfood-boosted essentials for health and beauty, and we love their superfood powder blends.

This Turmeric Superfood Latte Blend will boost your morning smoothie or coffee with its power-packed ingredients list of matcha, turmeric, coconut, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper. 

5IYA FOODSIya Foods Dried Hibiscus Flower Powder

$4.90

Black-owned brand Iya Foods was founded with the belief that food should nourish the body. Their unique spice mixes, seasonings, flours, and whole food powders are all inspired by African flavors and traditions. 

These hibiscus flowers are harvested by hand in the tropical farms of West Africa and then sun-dried to naturally preserve their flavor and nutrients. Use these dried hibiscus flowers to make your own Bissap (a tart Senegalese hibiscus tea) or add to your baked treats.

6GINJANGinjan Organic Ginger Drink (6-Pack)

$30.00

If you love ginger root but still haven’t tried Ginjan, you’ll love this West African ginger drink and the family-owned brand behind it. Founded by brothers Rahim and Mohammed Diallo, Ginjan is a delicious wellness drink made with fresh organic ginger, cold-pressed organic pineapple, fresh-squeezed organic lemons, vanilla, anise, and cane sugar.

Inspired by the flavors of their native Guinea but frustrated by store-bought wellness beverage options in the U.S., the Diallo brothers created Ginjan to pay homage to their West African roots. It’s now sold in over 40 Whole Foods locations across New York City.

The brothers behind Ginjan recently opened their own cafe in East Harlem, serving premium African coffee by La Colombe, freshly pressed juices, and independent, healthy Harlem-made eats.

7PIPCORNPipcorn Truffle Mini Popcorn

$4.99

In case you don’t already have minority-owned sustainable snacking brand Pipcorn on your radar, it’s time you add them to your summer snacking arsenal. We highly recommend this truffle flavor of the mini popcorn.

Crowned as one of the queer black women founders to watch, cofounder Jen Martin and her brother, Jeff, built Pipcorn from the ground up in Brooklyn, New York, actively pioneering for more diversity in the natural foods space.

Noteworthy: Pipcorn recently donated 50% off their website sales to the George Floyd Memorial Fund.

8BROOKLYN TEABrooklyn Tea Kyoto Cherry Rose Sencha

$5.99

Launched in 2017 by Black co-owners Alfonso Wright and Jamila McGill, Brooklyn Tea is on a mission to elevate tea-drinking culture with their loose-leaf teas and Brooklyn cafe. Brooklyn Tea offers a wide range of teas sourced directly from China, Japan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya and Taiwan, in thoughtful, health-centric flavor combos.

Check out this Kyoto Cherry Rose Sencha if your green tea selection could use an antioxidant-loaded, tasty upgrade.

9ADDA BLOOMSAdda Blooms Tigernut Wholefood

$15.00

Committed to bringing consumers natural and ancestral foods from Africa that have high nutrient density, Adda Blooms is helping to diversify the health food space with their line of wholesome and indigenous snacks, whole food powders, and flours.

This ground tigernut flour is a great example of the brand’s mission and offerings. Fiber- and protein-rich tigernuts have been grown in West Africa for (literally) centuries, but they’re just now gaining more popularity in the consumer food world.

10DOPE COFFEEDope Coffee Bagged Set

$31.00

From the brand: “We came here to show the world that premium coffee and Black culture go hand in hand.”

Atlanta-based, Black-owned coffee brand Dope Coffee sells four varieties of fair-trade ground coffee blends, as well as some K-Cup varieties, too. Headed up by CEO Michael Lloyd (a former U.S. Marine), this brand makes delicious organic coffee for everyone. 

11MCBRIDE SISTERSMcBride Sisters Collection Black Girl Magic 2018 California Rosé

$19.99

Disrupting the predominantly white, male winemaking landscape in groundbreaking ways, African American winemaking sisters Andréa and Robin McBride are producing premium wines in Marlborough, New Zealand and California’s Central Coast.

After spending their childhoods on separate continents and re-connecting as young adults, the two sisters have a truly special story, and they now lead the largest Black-owned winery in the U.S.

This tasty dry Black Girl Magic Rosé has aromas of raspberry and orange blossom, a good amount of acidity, and a fresh, juicy stone fruit and citrus palate. 

12BERHANBerhan Brown Teff Flour

$29.99

A naturally gluten-free, ancient Ethiopian grain packed with nutritional value, teff should be on your radar and swapped into your recipes, stat.

Founded by an Ethiopian Canadian family, Berhan is on a mission to elevate teff as an ancient grain, honor their Ethiopian ancestors that have been cultivating teff for thousands of years, and help spread teff and its health benefits to the international grains market.

13UNCLE NEAREST WHISKEYUncle Nearest 1856 Premium Aged Whiskey

$64.00

Distilled in Lynchburg, Tennessee, Uncle Nearest Whiskey is filtered through sugar maple charcoal before it’s aged in charred oak barrels — a technique called The Lincoln County Process — that helps develop its signature smooth flavor.

Launched in 2017, Uncle Nearest honors the first African American master distiller, and the whiskey can now be found in stores across 50 states, 10 countries, and shipped to over 148 countries in the world. It’s the fastest-growing independent American whiskey brand in U.S. history, and this brand also took home 45 awards last year, making it the most-awarded American whiskey of 2019.

14ME & THE BEESMe & The Bees Lemonade Variety Gift Pack

$29.00

You might remember now-15-year-old entrepreneur Mikaila Ulmer from her Shark Tank appearance 2 years back when she first introduced the judges to her eco-friendly lemonade, which is sweetened with sustainably sourced honey from local honeybees.

Ulmer has since established herself as a serious role model for other young brand leaders, speaking regularly at entrepreneurial summits and even introducing former U.S. President Barack Obama at The United State of Women Summit in 2016. How’s that for refreshing?

15BLONDERYBlondery Sample Box of Blondies

$10.00

Blondery opened in 2016 due to overwhelming demand for Brooklyn, New York-based pastry chef Auzerais Bellamy’s tasty confections. Whodoesn’t love classic Blondies? If you can’t decide on a favorite flavor, try this sampler of flavors from the brand to figure it out.