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Yolélé Debuts African Spice Rubs

Specialty Food Association

New Line of Spice Blends, Created by Yolélé Founder, Senegalese Chef Pierre Thiam

Brooklyn, New York (February 28, 2022) – Yolélé, the Revolutionary African Food company, introduces a line of four bold and vibrant spice rubs. Each spice rub is inspired by the seasonings of iconic West African dishes and flavor profiles. The spice blends can be used as dry rubs, dip mixes, marinades, sauces, wet rubs, seasoning sprinkles, and more. The four spice rubs are:

- Yassa (Scotch Bonnet, Onion, Thyme): Inspired by one of Senegal’s most iconic dishes, Poulet Yassa. Spicy and earthy.

- Rof (Parsley, Chili, Scallion): An herby mixture that is stuffed in fish for thieboudienne (Senegalese national dish) and also served tableside as a condiment. Lively and herbaceous.

- Dibi (Mustard + Smoked Paprika): This blend evokes the slow-roasted meats served in the Senegalese equivalent of a BBQ shack. Smoky and robust.

- Afro-Funk (Dawadawa, Garlic, Mushroom): Features dawadawa (fermented locust bean), a complex seasoning that is the backbone to many West African dishes and known as “the original bouillon cube.” Umami, earthy, moreish.

“I’m immensely proud to share the vibrant, bold tastes of home with cooks around the world,” says Yolélé co-founder Pierre Thiam.  “African flavors are finally taking their deserved (and long overdue) spot on the global culinary stage, and we’re elated to be a part of that movement.”

Since 2017, Yolélé has been sharing the climate-smart ancient West African grain fonio with kitchens around the world, via their Fonio, Fonio Pilafs, Fonio Flour, and Fonio Chips. The company’s mission also includes sharing African foodways to promote recognition of Africa as an intellectual as well as a physical resource for the world’s future.

Yolélé Spice Rubs will be available for wholesale sales as well as direct-to-consumer at Yolele.com in April 2022. Other Yolélé products can be found at retailers including Whole Foods Market, Amazon, Target, The Fresh Market, Thrive Market, and others.

For more information visit Yolele.com and follow them on Instagram.

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Yolélé was created to share delicious, vibrant West African ingredients with the world, beginning with fonio. Yolélé was co-founded by Phil Teverow, industry veteran, and Pierre Thiam, chef, cookbook author, global ambassador for African cuisine and culture, and longtime advocate for sustainability and biodiversity. Yolélé’s purpose is to create economic opportunity for smallholder farming communities; to promote biodiverse, regenerative farming systems; and to introduce Africa's ingredients to tables around the world.