Premium Ingredients

When it comes to flavor, there’s a stark difference between an old-fashioned, home-cooked meal and a TV dinner that’s spent the majority of its lifetime as a rock-hard hunk of frost. There’s something to be said for artisanship—and that something just can’t be mass-produced in large-scale factories.

With their tailored approach and scaled-back runs, small-batch products invoke the passion, nuance and distinct charm of homemade food. While mass-produced hot sauces and spice companies cut corners, we indulge in the details. At the end of the day, it’s those fine-tuned touches that elevate our products from standard to stand out.

Still not sold? Just try one—you’ll immediately taste the difference.

What started as David’s love for African cuisine and wildlife eventually became African Dream Foods—a purpose-driven, socially conscious food company that partners with organizations that lead wildlife conservation efforts to educate, raise awareness, research, preserve habitats, and foster grassroots community efforts.

Now, ADF consists of a multi-national team of hot sauce and chili salt enthusiasts who are wildly passionate about conservation and socially conscious food. Together, we’ve developed a line of all-natural African hot sauces and seasonings that give hot sauce addicts the opportunity to indulge their tastebuds while contributing to a cause.

The Product:

Authentic African Hot Sauce and Chili Salts

We can’t put the Serengeti in your backyard or bottle the shiver that runs up your spine when face to face with one of the world’s last black rhinos. What we’ve brought to the table through ADF’s flagship line of spicy salts and hot sauces, though, is just as raw and authentic.

There’s no place on Earth like Africa. And the spices and chili that grow from its soil are as vividly distinct as the continent’s landscapes themselves. That’s why our new line of African hot sauces and chili salts contain sustainably grown, all-natural African ghost peppers, birds eye peppers, habaneros, and jalapeños sourced directly from small South African farms.

We’ll put it bluntly: our hot sauces and spicy salts offer more than just rich, authentic flavor—they’re a culinary experience entirely their own. Sound like a lofty promise? We know. The good news is you don’t have to take our word for it.

Once produced, our first line of hot sauces and spices will be shipped from South Africa to USA distributors, where we’ll use them to fulfil your Kickstarter orders. Shortly thereafter they’ll arrive at your door—meaning you can sink your teeth into your favorite dish knowing that you’re helping to stop poaching, support conservation efforts, and protect Africa’s endangered wildlife.

Sound like a hot deal? We think so, too.

In the last thirty years alone giraffe populations in Africa have plummeted by a tragic 40%, leaving less in the wild than ever before. Unlike other African animals currently facing population declines, however, the giraffe has received extraordinarily little attention or aid. The lack of vocal support for giraffes when it comes to conservation initiatives has even led some experts to deem the animal’s tragic situation as a “silent extinction.”

This lack of support has created a dangerous absence of data and research about the animal. In comparison to the giraffe’s well-known endangered counterparts (such as the elephant, rhino and even zebra), conservationists have very little meaningful data on the creature. Nothing drives the point home harder than the simple fact that the first detailed study on the giraffe wasn’t conducted until 2016. Up until then, we didn’t even have an understanding of how many sub-species existed.

As population numbers rapidly decline, this gaping lack of research presents serious challenges, especially when it comes to saving the species from extinction. In terms of what we do know about the giraffe, only one thing seems certain: we simply don’t know enough.

Habitat Destruction and Poaching

When it comes to the contributing factors behind population declines, the giraffe’s story is tragically familiar. Like elephants, lions, gorillas and Africa’s other struggling species, these towering mammals struggle to survive under the weight of habitat loss and poaching. Unlike other endangered animals, however, there are far fewer initiatives focused specifically on giraffes—and with less awareness comes less funding and resources.

While Africa’s other endangered animals have dedicated programs, the giraffe’s conservation initiatives are largely unregulated. When it comes to habitat destruction, few measures exist to protect the giraffe. The lack of support for anti-poaching initiatives has also made the giraffe an easy target for poachers, who often slaughter the magnificent creatures just for their tails.

When it comes to saving the leopard, there’s no overnight fix. But together with your contributions, we can spot hope on the horizon for these beautiful big cats.

When it comes to difficulties, the lion has plenty. In just the last 100 years, population numbers have decreased by around 90%. What’s worse? The few lion populations still roaming Africa’s wild now occupy just a fraction of the land they once did. These glorious beasts, evolutionarily built to roam vast grasslands in order to source prey from large land areas, are now confined to shrinking pockets of wilderness.

In many regions of the continent, including West Africa, lion populations have vanished completely. In a heartbreaking 26 countries across Africa, they have already been declared extinct. All that remains? A select few in so-called “stronghold” areas. But these strongholds are far from safe sanctuaries—they’re troublesome warzones where lions face prey shortages, a lack of suitable mates, and violence at the hands of neighboring humans.

Looking to the future, experts fear the problem could only worsen. Each year, wild lions lose more and more precious land to industrial developments and agriculture. In the next 30 years, the human population of sub-Saharan Africa is expected to more than double, which will further shrink the lion’s ever-disappearing habitat.

The Big Problem: Human Conflict

Of the many factors currently threatening Africa’s lion populations, habitat loss, lack of available prey, and human-lion conflict have the most devastating impacts. According to experts, the three are intrinsically connected in a vicious cycle.

How? Walled-in by civilization on all sides and faced with a lack of sufficient prey, lions must look elsewhere to feed themselves. Often, they’re forced to prey on cattle or livestock—a desperate measure which quickly earns them a death sentence at the hands of local farmers who poison big cats in a bid to save their herds. According to research conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), retaliatory attacks are the number one threat to the species as a whole.

When we started crafting our small-batch hot sauces and spices, our goal was to finally bring authentic African flavor to the mainstream market. The result? A collection of bold artisanal products unlike anything you can find on your local grocery store shelf.

Though rich and distinctly African in flavor, our premier line contains a little something for everyone. With a focus on versatility, ADF’s products are specifically crafted to elevate old dishes into new and exotic favorites.

Their versatility makes them delicious, sure. But it’s also what makes them a great gift for anyone looking to add a little spice and variety to their life. While booking a one-way flight out of the country probably isn’t on the table for you right now, ADF’s authentic African hot sauce and chilli salts definitely can be.

If you’re a free spirit who’s craving excitement and could use a healthy dose of ADF hot sauce, the #SendHotSauce is here to save you. Think of it as an SOS signal for flavor enthusiasts. We’ve got to stick together.

How to #SendHotSauce

Karma works in circles—sometimes you gotta give some to get some. The good news? Choosing to #SendHotSauce is a killer way to kick off the good vibes and deliver a dose of unexpected joy to the flavor enthusiasts in your life.

Ready to save your loved ones from the dull churn of routine? A hot sauce gift set is the perfect way to introduce a little adventure into the boring day-to-day. It’s also a super sweet way to tell friends you’re thinking of them when you can’t just pop by and say hi.

The best part? Deciding to #SendHotSauce is a low-effort way to score some major points with your loved ones because it’s incredibly easy to do. Just head on over to ADF’s product page and start designing a gift box.

Each one is customizable, which means you’ll get to pick a variety of products that perfectly suit the recipient. Not sure what to get? Opt for one of our pre-selected packages and we’ll tackle the picking and choosing.

You don’t even have to worry about gift wrap—we’ve got you covered.

The leopard’s luxurious spotted coat is eye-catching, but it often costs the cats their lives. According to conservation activist Guy Balme, the animal’s fur is its biggest downfall. These felines are up against all the same tragic setbacks faced by other big cats (habitat loss, trophy hunting and scarcity of prey to name a few) but they also carry a unique threat on their own backs: their spotted pelts.

Thankfully, international markets have become less vested in exotic furs since the 1980s when authentic pelts fell out of vogue in the Western World. The plot twist? Despite the drop in global demand, Africa’s domestic fur trade still carries on strong.

Leopards in particular are at risk because their pelts are traditionally used as capes, robes and religious garments for select groups like the Shembe Church. They’re also still commonly worn by Zulu royalty. Despite criticism on the practice, the current Zulu king regularly makes appearances wearing the cat’s pelt alongside traditional medals and insignia, encouraging others to do so as well.

In recent years, African organizations like Furs for Life have sought to save the continent’s leopards by providing local religious communities with synthetic fur substitutes. But even with their promising advancements, leopard populations in southern Africa have declined 80% in recent decades.

Farming Practices and Loss of Habitat

Leopards are beautiful but they’re not so easy to live with. Over the last several decades Africa’s communities have expanded to accommodate growing populations and larger cities. But as these communities grow, they claim more of the leopard’s precious habitat. Pressed by development, the continent’s regional communities have found it difficult to live peacefully alongside neighboring leopards.

While some wild animals are able to adapt and live harmoniously in close contact with human settlements, the leopard’s hunting spirit and undiscerning diet make it a likely predator for livestock. Frustrated by their loss of animals, local farmers often retaliate by slaughtering the big cats in a desperate attempt to prevent future losses.

When it comes to saving the leopard, there’s no overnight fix. But together with your contributions, we can spot hope on the horizon for these beautiful big cats.

African Ghost Peppers

African Bird’s Eye Chilli

African Habanero Peppers

Africa accounts for 15% of the world’s remaining forestland, but this forestland is under threat. Mass deforestation is reaping tragic consequences on Earth’s environment as a whole. Need proof? Just in the last 50 years, humanity has wiped out more than 60% of the planet’s animal populations.

In Africa, these consequences are multiplied by other harmful human activities. For example, the Wildlife Conservation Society reports an average of 96 elephants are killed for their ivory in Africa each day and the African Wildlife Foundation has recently warned that the continent’s lion population has decreased by more than 40% over the last 20 years.

Even outside of the devastating environmental impacts felt in Africa and beyond, population declines and deforestation also have far-reaching consequences for the world at large. Tropical forests alone (which are disappearing at record rates) contribute to the livelihoods of more than 1.2 billion individuals.

Given that many of the world’s key industries rely on tourism and natural resources, loss of biodiversity in Africa could cost the global economy up to $4.5 trillion annually in coming years.

The worst part? We’re inflicting all this damage ourselves. In the last decade alone, human beings have pushed animals like the Western black rhino, the Carribean monk seal, the Taiwanese snow leopard, the pinta tortoise and the Japanese river otter to extinction as a direct result of poaching and habitat destruction.

So what are some ways African Dream Foods plans to do our part? Beyond donating a percentage of our product sales to conservation efforts, we’re also raising awareness through special partnerships with organizations like Wild Shots Outreach and Paws Trails.

Wild Shots Outreach was founded in 2015 with the conviction that effective conservation must start locally. Through photography, the Wild Shots seeks to connect disadvantaged South African youth with the continent’s unique wildlife, inspiring them to engage more meaningfully in local conservation efforts. Though some of these youth live within walking distance of Kruger National Park — home to some of Africa’s most magnificent wildlife — many have never even seen these animals in real life due to lack of resources and opportunities. In connecting these students with their heritage and educating them on the region’s animal populations, Wild Shots Outreach aims to inspire organic, grassroots movements to help end poaching, protect habitats and preserve biodiversity.

Paws Trails was also founded in 2015 and spreads wildlife awareness to the entire world by bringing together photographers and other creatives to produce a range of publications on endangered species and critical wildlife issues. And now, Paws Trails photographers are providing the wildlife photos that you’ll find on African Dream Foods product labels!

Conservation is truly at the heart of African Dream Foods. We want to be one of the few socially conscious hot sauce brands out there. Want to support us on this important journey? You can find African Dream Foods and all of our hot sauce and spicy salts products on our website and, soon, Amazon.