Cinco de Mayo Is Fake, but These Mexican-Owned Brands Are the Real Deal

Cinco de Mayo isn’t actually fake. Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that celebrates Mexico’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. It is, however, not a popular holiday in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo in America, on the other hand, has become a huge deal.

While some Mexican-American families use the day to celebrate their heritage (which is awesome), other people have turned the day into a chance to drink margaritas and wear sombreros (a thing you should not be doing).

If you want to buy food for Cinco de Mayo and actually honor Mexican culture and heritage, buy products from these five Mexican-owned brands. But don’t just buy them for Cinco de Mayo. Buy them year round! They’ll make your kitchen much more delicious.

Tia Lupita Foods

Tia Lupita Foods is founder Hector Saldivar’s love letter to his mom (the Tia Lupita of Tia Lupita Foods). He started the company in hopes of bringing his family’s recipes to others and we are so glad he did! I have loved every single product I’ve tried from Tia Lupita Foods. My favorite thing they sell is their cactus tortilla chips. 10/10, would definitely recommend. You can buy their products at specialty stores, Whole Foods, and on Amazon!

Siete Family Foods

You’ve probably seen their gluten-free items at your local grocery store, but did you know that Siete Family Foods is actually a Mexican-American-owned company? When co-founder and president Veronica Garza was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune conditions in her teens, she and her family began eating a gluten-free diet. The gluten-free lifestyle helped her immensely in her personal health journey and led to the creation of an incredible line of gluten-free Mexican products. Gluten-free or not, you should give their stuff a try!

Guelagetza

Guelagetza is a Mexican-American-owned Oaxacan restaurant in Los Angeles. Don’t worry, though! You can buy their delicious moles no matter where you live. And when I say delicious, I mean delicious. These moles are incredible. They have three different kinds (coloradito, negro, and rojo) that come together in just minutes and taste restaurant quality. I’m absolutely obsessed with these.

Juanita’s Foods

Juanita’s started out as a canning company in California and has since become the world’s largest producer of menudo (a traditional Mexican soup made with tripe). They also sell one of my favorite products of all time, canned hominy. If you’re looking for traditional ingredients to make traditional Mexican dishes, look for Juanita’s at your local grocery store. Thank you, De La Torre family, for sharing your culture with us!

SOMOS

Friends Miguel, Rodrigo, and Daniel grew up together in Mexico and eventually moved to America and started SOMOS to share their love of their cultural cuisine with the world. I love their vegan “main dishes.” I regularly use the smoky chipotle mushrooms as a taco filling for a quick and easy dinner.


About the Author

Jordan Myrick

Jordan is an L.A.-based writer and comedian who believes all food should come with extra sauce. When they're not writing for Sporked, Jordan is at the movies or sharing an order of french fries with their elderly chihuahua.

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  • Hola
    Hi Dear Jordan Myrick
    I am Naeem from Pakistan member of Lahore Chamber of commerce & industry Pakistan, I am truly very impressed from your success experience and yours ideas about food products, you are absolutely Amazing beautiful Lady , me and my wife have a plan to visit Mexico, I want to business from Mexico regarding these products import in my country, I am really interested to share with you regarding business,
    I will appreciate your best reply and cooperation
    Thank you
    Naeem ur Rehman
    WhatsApp # +923214926717

    Reply