In 2016, LaFortune Jeannette Djabea founded Mola Foods, which features seasoning blends, snacks, marinades, barbecue sauce, hot sauce, chili relishes and other items that incorporate tastes and flavors from across the world. A native of Cameroon, Djabea said the real story behind Mola Foods, however, is her fight against stigma.
“The stigma around Africa is that Africans are less than anyone else in the world,” she said. “People have been taught that Africans are semi-primitive and ignorant, and there is nothing good that can come from the continent.” This idea serves as the conceptual backdrop behind Mola Foods.
“I want to revolutionize the way people use spices by introducing a culture in a bottle so adventurous eaters can experience diverse cuisine without needing multiple ingredients at hand,” she explained. Djabea said she hopes this revolution can serve as a means to break down other barriers. “If I can open people’s minds to African taste through my products, I believe I can encourage people to reconsider African culture,” she said.
In addition to products available both online and in numerous retail outlets throughout southern New Hampshire, Mola Foods offers Grab N Go Foods. A fusion of African and European cuisine, Grab N Go Foods features freshly prepared, warm and frozen meals that may be picked up from Mola Foods’s storefront at 9 Simon St., Nashua. Local delivery is available everyday through DoorDash, while orders may be shipped anywhere throughout New England.
“I hope Mola Foods can revolutionize the way we use spices in our dishes and open people’s minds to the real Africa, the one that does not get talked about in the media,” said Djabea.