Five Black-owned food businesses to check out in Toronto this fall

Now is the time to support your neighbourhood restaurants, cafes, pop-ups and local markets. Small businesses are hurting, Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs are hurting even more. Supporting these businesses is one actionable way to show we stand together as a community against systematic racism. Here are the five local Black-owned food businesses that are putting out some delicious and exciting new food experiences.

 

Neale’s Sweet N Nice

 

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Charles Neale developed Sweet N Nice ice cream recipes in the 1940s, where he would bicycle across Southern Trinidad selling his product. Today, Sweet N Nice is a Canadian company operated by Neale’s grandkids. This family-owned brand lines up a collection of Caribbean-inspired ice cream flavours including Coconut, Rum and Raisin, Pineapple Coconut, Guava Passionfruit and Mango, sold in major grocery stores across the country. Currently, you can also find their pop-up store at Stackt Market. Look forward to tasting real fruit, 100% Canadian dairy, all-natural tropical flavours that linger in mouth 10-15 seconds after it’s swallowed. (28 Bathurst St.)

 

Lignum Honey

 

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Ken Benjamin found it impossible to get pure Jamaican honey in Canada, so he created a business around it. Lignum works with small, independent farmers in Jamaica to source its 100% natural, raw and unpasteurized honey from the apiaries in Jamaica. The honey is shipped from Jamaica and packaged in Toronto. They offer four raw products: Mango Blossom, Multifloral, Blue Mountain Coffee, Logwood and one infused product; Scotch Bonnet Pepper Honey; a sweet honey with a burn of scotch bonnet peppers. Each region provides unique honey that is a direct result of the terroir in which the bees are located. While Lignum Honey currently ships to major cities across Canada, you can also find them at markets around Toronto, like Kensington. (info@lignumhoney.com)

 

Royaltea Coffee

 

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This company farms their teas and coffee beans in Kericho, Kenya. They’re not only in the business of bringing pure African grown coffee and tea to Toronto, but also to shed light on the quality of products coming from Africa. Royaltea’s signature house blend is created from an exotic bean native to South Central Kenya. It’s a medium roast with notes of crisp bold blackberry citrus with a caramel smell. We think this would pair well with one of @issa.treat, also sold at the store. (880 Ellesmere Rd.)

 

Butter and Spice

 

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This online bakery is known for the super fudgy gourmet brownies. Beyond the classic OG brownies, Butter and Spice sells Brown Butter Pecan Pie brownies, Tahini and Maldon Sea Salt brownies and new additions like Matchanut; a white chocolate blondie loaded with matcha and coconut. Chef Marchelle McKenzie does more than brownies, she also specializes in cakes, pies and pastries for the Toronto area and will cater to your dietary needs.

 

Classic Juice Co.

 

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Inspired by the Rastafarian Ital lifestyle, Classic Juice Company is all about making healthy choices in the rawest, purest and natural form. Handcrafted in small batches, these cold-pressed juices go straight from the extractor to glass bottles to the fridge. Flavours of Soursop, Jamaican Sorrel or a blend of mango, pineapple passionfruit will make you think of the tropics on those not so tropical Toronto days. Beyond individual serving, Classic Juice Company sells 1-litre family-size smoothies and 2-litre crew size so sharing isn’t an issue. (287 Coxwell Ave.)

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