Food And Drinks From Black-Founded Brands You'll Wanna Keep Stocked At Home

Buzz Feed

17-02-2025

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
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Text your pals and tell them you have some Black Girl Magic Red Blend, Pipcorn cheese balls, and an opening on your couch where they won't have to fight anyone for a barstool.
1. Pipcorn heirloom cheese balls may just become a movie night essential once you bite into these crunchy, non-GMO snacks in a variety of flavors. Oh yeah, you may have heard of these from Shark Tank.
Amazon
Pipcorn Heirloom Snacks is a Black-, family-, and woman-owned biz created in 2012 by Jen (sister), Jeff (brother), and Teresa (Jeff's wife) who were inspired by some heirloom popcorn kernels that popped up into just about the best thing they'd ever tasted. The brand now has popcorn and delicious snacks made of said heirloom corn (yep, they went to the same supplier!) in a range of flavors. They're all non-GMO and gluten-free!
I've had, well, I should say INHALED these cheese balls, and everything else from this brand. They're so delicious! And don't obviously taste like an "alternative" snack option when you're someone like me who wants to be buried in a casket full of Flamin' Hot Cheetos.
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $32.99 (available in cheddar or white cheddar).
2. McBride Sisters Collection Black Girl Magic Red Blend that'll be a smarter way to spend your Wednesday night happy hour than fighting for a spot at your neighborhood wine bar where you like the atmosphere but feel kinda meh about their wine list.
McBride Sisters was founded in 2005 by sisters Robin and Andréa. It's the largest woman-owned winery in the U.S., and is award-winning and carbon neutral certified. They also established the McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund in 2019 to advance women in the wine industry, address gender and race gaps, and create new opportunities.
I've tried the Black Girl Magic red blend and really dig it (I'm a reds girlie!).
Get it from Total Wine for $19.99 and check out more McBride Sisters wine.
3. Partake soft-baked cookie butter cookies are sure to please your palate, whether you're on the prowl for an allergy-free treat or not. These are free of all kinds of stuff, but don't skimp on the taste.
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Partake was founded by Denise Woodard in Jersey City, New Jersey, to fill help fill the void of snacks for her daughter who was diagnosed with food allergies as a toddler. All of the goods are baked with allergy-free ingredients, meaning there's no GMOs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, eggs, dairy, preservatives, artificial flavors, or preservatives.
Promising review:"I am totally addicted to these cookies. To me, they are better than almost any other cookie out there. The chocolate chip and lemon are my go-to sweets. I can't eat a LOT of things, so having a delicious option that I can actually have is exciting. Even my mom is buying these now." — Karen
Get the variety pack from Amazon for $24.99.
4. Grown Folks hard seltzers (or beer!) that'll have everyone asking you where you heard about them once they sip the soul food–inspired flavors like Peach Cobbler, Ambrosia, and Key Lime.
Grown folks is the first woman-owned and Black-owned brand for soul food-inspired hard seltzer and premium craft beverages. It was founded in Los Angeles by mom and entrepreneur Danica Dias.
Get the six-pack variety pack for $15.50.
5. A Dozen Cousins Refried Pinto Beans might just become a pantry staple for you (they have for me!) once you realize how easily these microwavable mains will fit into your meal rotation. But that's just where the beans start!
A Dozen Cousins is a small California-based business. All the beans are 100% plant-based, non-GMO, made with avocado oil, and gluten-free. I've tried all of their offerings. (The Cuban Black Beans are my fave, but the Trini Chickpea Curry is a close second!) Oh and I didn't even get to the best part, you just microwave the bag! Seriously, it couldn't get any easier.
Also, the brand provides an annual grant (and volunteer support) to non-profit organizations that are working to eliminate socio-economic health disparities in the US.
Get eight packs from A Dozen Cousins on Amazon $29.99.
6. Cornbread 26 Food Co.'s Cornbread Madeleine for the ultimate treat with your morning coffee, as a mid-day snack, or on a side of wine. Really just eat them how you want. And there are so many variations!
Cornbread 26 Food Co.
Cornbread 26 Food Co. is an NYC-based catering company owned by couple Claude and Craig (they met on Claude's birthday of May 26, hence the 26 in the name!) who grew a business for their love of entertaining. But lucky for everyone not based in NYC, you buy can their goods online!
Promising review:"The classic cornbread madeleines are a most delicious treat! Perfect sweetness, perfect texture and perfect corn taste!" — Alderfer
Get a six-pack from Cornbread 26 Food Co. for $9.98 (Shop Pay available).
7. Hot N Saucy hot sauces can transform all of the recipes you've grown sick of cooking at home. Just wait until your leftover grilled chicken meets the Sweet Potato N Habanero. Yes, I will officiate at their wedding.
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This Black woman-owned small business is based in NYC and made in small, flavorful batches to bring the heat.
This set includes: Collards N Ghost (seen on Season 18 of Hot Ones); Garlic N Peperoncini (the brand's #1 seller and seen on Season 14 of Hot Ones); Black Garlic N Peri Peri; Carrot N Chipotle; and Sweet Potato N Habanero.
Promising review: "Unique flavor profiles, and with getting five for the price is a great deal when it comes to quality hot sauce. You can put this on ANYTHING! Favorite is the Black Garlic N Peri Peri one!" — Sheirsha
Get the five-pack of sauces from Amazon for $45.
8. Sol Cacao vegan chocolates are ready to snap to it when your chocolate craving hits and you crave something *good.* We love and support our local bodega, but sometimes you need a stash at home instead of buying a Snickers for the third time this month.
Sol Cacao is a Bronx-based small business started by the Maloney brothers who grew up in Trinidad and Tobago where they were surrounded by cacao trees and the delicious chocolate made from them. They started their chocolate company after they moved to the U.S. and couldn't find chocolate that compared to the amazing stuff back at home. They currently sell three types of single-origin chocolate bars in gorgeous packaging, as you can see!
Get the bars from Sol Cacao for $8 each (available in 72% Madagascar Chocolate, 70% Peru Chocolate, 70% Ecuador Chocolate).
9. Zach & Zoe Sweet Bee Farm Unfiltered Raw Honey may just be the sweet thing to level up your afternoon tea when you're tempted to drop by a cute tea spot but you know you've got the good stuff at home.
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Zach & Zoe Sweet Bee Farm is family-owned and operated in Hunterdon County, New Jersey where they skip pasteurization and filtration in their honey production to keep the naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and amino acids intact.
Promising review:"So now no one in my house wants any other honey! We bought this wildflower and another with ground ginger, and the children and adults look for excuses to use honey now. They spread on everything and the 6-year-old drinks tea now when she never would before.
I was not excited at first to see that the honey seemed solid — I am used to ultra processed dripping viscous liquid honey from the supermarket. But I quickly learned this is far better tasting. Not sure how I stumbled across this but I am glad I did. We are spoiled now, it is either Zach and Zoe, or we start to keep our own bees!" — Tich
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (also available in eight styles and two gift boxes).
10. A 10-pack of Me & The Bees Lemonade (while we're on the subject of bees) that'll quench your thirst without stuff like high-fructose corn syrup.
Founder Mikaila was only 5 years old when she started her lemonade business which, BTW, has been going strong for 16 years! The lemonades are shelf-stable and based on a family flaxseed lemonade recipe. But I'll let her tell you her story.
Promising review:"It was an honor to order this product after learning about Me & The Bees from the Roland Martin Show. I appreciate the idea of supporting a company that supports a cause such as the preservation of bees. I will definitely order on a regular basis. The honey gives the lemonade a distinctive taste. The 12 oz.-cans are visually attractive with a slender design, great for packing in a lunch." — Debra T.
Get 10 cans of lemonade from Me & The Bees Lemonade for $32 (Shop Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Amazon Pay available).
11. BLK & BOLD coffee for a certified fair-trade version of the good stuff with more than 1,000 5-star reviews to convince you to *add to cup.* Dark roast coffee lovers say that theirs is more nuanced than other brands they've tried!
BLK & BLD was founded by lifelong friends Rod and Pernell. The brand carefully sources and micro-roasts their coffee. Plus! They contribute 5% of their profits to support youth in need both locally and nationally.
Promising review:"For a bolder brew, this is full of flavor nuances. Unlike other strong coffees, it's not just dark and heavily roasted. There are sweeter notes that compliment the rich flavor. Like its name states, it's smooth and creamy. To my taste, it's not acidic at all. Also love that each purchase supports a great cause. Only coffee I'll buy now." — shoe fiend
Get a 12 oz. bag from Amazon for $12.99 (available in five roasts; also available in K-cups).
12. It's Nola bite-size snacks are a delish vegan substitute for crumbly, cumbersome granola bars that make you feel like a farm animal.
It's NOLA
Brooklyn-based It's Nola was founded by Margaret Barrow after eating subpar (and super crumbly) granola bars for three decades. The vegan ball snacks are meant to support healthy eating.
Get a party bag pack from It's Nola for $26.99 (Shop Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal available).
13. Chef Kenny's Raging Cajun spice blend that'll deliver major flavor to your scrumptious meals without the GMO or gluten — plus it's low sodium!
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These spices are from celeb chef Kenny Gilbert. They're freshly ground and like I mentioned above, low-sodium.
Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (also check out his Moroccan seasoning, fried chicken seasoning, jerk seasoning, and cinnamon coffee rub).
14. Rockin J R Ranch spicy jam for treating your taste buds not once (with Peach Raspberry Habanero Jam) but twice (with Strawberry Jalapeno Jam). We have brunch at home.
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It's vegan, gluten-free, and made in small batches.
Promising review:"I think this is the first time I've ever bought from Oprah's list, but her people were right on with this one! The peach habanero is, of course, the spicier of the two, but it's not so hot that you lose the flavor. The same with the strawberry jalapeno — the flavors really come through. I can't wait to cook with these and just eat them in a sandwich! So glad I got these!" — Yvaine4
Get them from Amazon for $20.
15. Lillie's of Charleston "Hab Mussy" Hot Mustard BBQ Sauce to help transform the stuff that's been hiding in the back of your freezer. It's already award-winning, but you'll likely make up some awards of your own for it once you've used it as a marinade. Time to grab that bowling trophy and a Sharpie.
Amazon
Lillie's of Charleston is a South Carolina-based biz. This sauce was first introduced by the owner's dad in 1985 at his restaurant, The Rib Shack. But you don't have to travel to the *excellent* food city to enjoy it! (Seriously, go to Charleston and eat a lot of food.) It was awarded two prestigious Scovies in 2010 and 2021 for balanced heat and flavor profiles. You can use it on ribs, burgers, chicken, tofu, veggies, and even salad. It's natural, vegan, and made with no high-fructose corn syrup.
Promising review:"This is THE BEST BBQ sauce I've ever tasted. Warning: If you don't like spicy, you won't like this! But I LOVE THIS. 🤩 100000/10 stars! It's smokey, it's spicy, it's sweet. I add this stuff to literally everything. Sandwiches, Persian food, pizza, pasta, you name it, it's good!" — T.Krug
Get it from Amazon for $11.62.
16. Adjourn Teahouse Slow Rise blend that'll deliver a ~moderate~ level of caffeine in a creamy, comforting black tea (it has vanilla, bergamot, calendula, blue cornflower, and a creamy essence) so when you feel like you deserve a little treat you only need to open a kitchen cabinet instead of finding parking near your fave coffee shop.
Adjourn Teahouse is an artisanal looseleaf tea company founded by LaTonia, who had the vision to start a small tea and wellness brand as a teen growing up in Richmond, Virginia. Winning a business competition was the kickstart for this brand that encourages people to recenter and find balance via tea-drinking rituals.
Get a mini pouch (enough for 15 servings) from Adjourn Teahouse for $15.
17. Exau Olive Oil can help make everything feel a bit fancier. Oh, what's that? You have a nice loaf of bread? You know what to do...
EXAU Olive Oil
Exau Olive Oil was founded by husband and wife, Giuseppe (a third-generation olive oil producer from Calabria, South Italy) and Skyler (a third-generation Californian with a passion for design and agriculture who worked in the wine industry). They moved to Calabria for seven months to start the biz (jealous).
Preorder the 2023 Harvest Lina from EXAU Olive Oil for $43.75 (PayPal available; can order once or set up a subscription).
18. OH-Mazing Food lemon bar granola might actually get you pumped to peel yourself out of bed in the mornings. BIG maybe.
OH-Mazing
OH-Mazing Stephanie Williams developed her own granola recipe for her family and friends (which was a hit, to say the least). She was able to quit her day job and bring us this delicious stuff in her small biz which is based in Washington DC!
Get the lemon bar granola from OH-Mazing Food for $3.49 (Apple Pay and PayPal available).
19. Michele's Syrups will have you planning for pancake night a few nights a week. Which, honestly, sounds genius.
Michele Hoskins (yep, Michele's founder) followed the family tradition of homemade syrup made of honey, cream, and butter for family breakfasts in the 1980s after her own mother passed it down to her. The original recipe was by America Washington, who was formerly enslaved and Michele's great, great, great grandmother. She whipped up the recipe as an alternative to molasses for her plantation owner's family. After Michele divorced, she moved her children into her mother's attic and pursued her dream of making these syrups. In 1984 Michele Foods was born!
This set includes 1 Butter Pecan Syrup, 1 Maple Creme Syrup, and 1 Honey Creme Syrup.
Get them from Michele Foods for $29.97.
20. Don Carvahal Cafe Costa Rica single origin coffee beans could create a situation where your barista does a wellness check on you.
Don Carjaval Cafe
Don Carvahal Café is a Bronx, NYC-based biz whose team maintains relationships with farm co-ops throughout Central and South America, creating a supply chain that emphasizes putting ethical labor and environmental stewardship behind each cup of coffee. Which also means you get access to all kinds of good stuff shipped right to your door.
Get the Costa Rica beans from Don Carvahal Café for $20+ (available in several grinds and two weights, and in more flavors).
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