Want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in ways that really honor Mexican culture? If so, it might be time to part ways with the questionable sombrero and try some traditional foods for Cinco de Mayo instead. Check out these Mexican food brands we simply adore—and hey, we know you’re probably here in search of Cinco de Mayo party food, but there’s nothing stopping you from keeping these stocked year-round.
Dahlia Coffee
Natalia Alcazar, the founder of Dahlia Coffee, fell in with the bustling coffee culture of the Pacific Northwest that she grew up in—so much so, that she made the bold decision in 2022 to leave her corporate job behind and start a coffee roasting business. Wanting to carve a space for Latino representation and authentic Mexican food brands in the coffee industry, she created Dahlia Coffee, an homage to Mexico’s national flower. Her coffee derives from specific regions across the Americas (like Chiapas, Mexico, and Antioquia, Colombia), and every batch is packaged with a story inspired by the coffee bean’s roots.
Tia Lupita
Tia Lupita is Hector Saldivar’s tribute to his mother, Lupita, and her phenomenal abilities in the kitchen. When he moved to San Francisco from Monterrey, Mexico, his mother, known in the family as Tia Lupita, sent him bottles of her homemade hot sauce to give Hector a taste of home in his new city. Over time, as more and more friends started asking when the new shipment of Lupita’s hot sauce was coming in, Hector decided, with his mother’s blessing, to bottle the hot sauce for everyone to enjoy. Tia Lupita now sells the family recipe hot sauce, as well as gluten-free tortillas, tortilla chips, and Mexican chili crunch all made from upcycled, sustainable ingredients. They even sell the hot sauce in little sachets…genius!
HERNÁN
Isela Hernandez, founder of HERNÁN, grew up in Del Rio, Texas, a small town on the U.S.-Mexico border, only minutes away from Cuidad Acuña, Coahuila. After a successful career in NYC’s fashion industry, she pursued her lifelong dream of starting a business to promote traditional Mexican cuisine with a modern twist. Her company HERNÁN sells premium Mexican culinary products that range from kitchenware to specialty foods. All of their products come from artisans and producers in Mexico, many of which have never sold beyond their local communities before. We love their Mexican hot chocolate (pictured above), made with organic cacao from a plantation in Chiapas. They come in chocolate “tablillas,” or tablet squares that you melt in water or milk. Isela continues to reinvest profits in a foundation in her hometown of Del Rio. She’s earned several awards from the U.S. Specialty Food Association and even recognition from the U.S. State Department for her work with producers in Mexico. If that’s not queen energy, we simply don’t know what is.
SOMOS
SOMOS was started by three friends—Miguel, Rodrigo, and Daniel—who were bummed out by the lack of grocery store options for good at-home Mexican food. Miguel Leal told NBC, “Most of the food that exists in [consumer packaged goods] is Cal-Mex or Tex-Mex, not the food that we grew up with. We just thought that there was a big opportunity to bring ingredients, techniques, real Mexican food made in Mexico, cooked the Mexican way into the market.” None of the products in SOMOS’s lineup, ranging from chili crisp (which we love) to microwavable packets of rice and beans, contain any meat, gluten, or genetically modified ingredients. SOMOS prides itself on cooking their products the traditional Mexican way, whether that means fire roasting vegetables for salsas or slow-cooking beans. You can taste every bit of care they put into their products.
Nemi Snacks
“I remember going into the ‘ethnic aisle’ and feeling lost,” writes Regina Trillo, founder of Nemi Snacks. “I didn’t see anything that portrayed the Mexico I knew. There were rows of old school ‘Mexican’ brands—sometimes U.S.-owned—rooted in clichés of food and culture.” She envisioned Nemi Snacks as a brand that makes creative and authentic Mexican snacks that break the stereotypical mold. Take, for example, their Chile Turmeric Cactus Sticks, which blend guajillo and red chiles with Mexican oregano and spices to create something unique, even among Mexican food brands. These make a perfect party food for Cinco de Mayo, especially if you already like to throw Takis in a big bowl and call it a day. Nemi Snacks partners with small independent Mexican farmers and, per Regina’s mission, is dedicated to elevating women of color into male-dominated roles.
Doña Vega
Doña Vega is a modern, artisanal mezcal brand that is owned and operated by Mexican women. Sonya Vega, a former PR executive, founded the company after realizing that although she deeply loved mezcal, the traditional Mexican spirit made from agave, most were too intensely smoky for her liking. She set out on a years long tour of the Oaxaca region of Mexico to research and develop her perfect blend—smooth, playful, and slightly sweeter than most mezcals on the market. Hortensia Hernandez Martinez, a fifth generation mezcalera, and her two daughters lead the production team in Santiago Matatlán, Mexico and maintain hands-on involvement in the creation of all Doña Vega mezcal. Check out what liquor stores near you stock Doña Vega with their store locator.
Hot Mama Salsa
Founder Nikki Guerrero has always been a fanatic about fresh chili peppers and hand-produced salsa. When she moved to Portland, Oregon, and searched for the bold Mexican flavors she grew up with, she found the market for fresh, authentic salsa to be seriously lacking. She started her business with only three flavors, the very first one (still the bestseller today) copied from her family recipe, Gramal’s Chili—a traditional Mexican-style table salsa with stewed jalapeños, tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, and onions. Today, Hot Mama Salsa sells more than just salsa; they also make chili oil and hot sauce sourced from specific chiles from different regions, all while using local farmers to do it. If you’re trying to find traditional foods for Cinco de Mayo, put away the Pace and order some Hot Mama Salsa.
Chuza
Daniel Schwartz was born in Monterrey, Mexico, where spicy food was an essential part of his daily life before he moved to the states. “Chuza” means to hit a strike or, in this context, achieve something great—which is exactly what Danny did in 2020, when he created a brand of spicy dried fruit snacks infused with the flavors and flair of his favorite childhood food. Chuza’s spicy dried fruit snacks include mango, apricot, pineapple, strawberry, and cranberry. They also sell their own line of chili seasoning. Fun fact: Chuza is also the name of the beloved owl that would visit them every day when they were first forming the company, who they now refer to as the Chuza’s COWL-founder. What a hoot!
Other Mexican food brands we love: SOMOS, Juanita’s Foods, Guelagetza, Siete Family Foods
