Meet the Mexican-American food company that is celebrating this Aztec power food
There’s nothing better than starting your morning with a good ol’ bowl of oatmeal. High in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, oatmeal is always a great meal to get you up and going. But one Latinx food company is taking oatmeal to the next level by taking a page from an Aztec superfood. Meet The Pinole Project. The Mexican-American brand gives the morning favorite a fresh take thanks to Pinole. Consumed for centuries throughout Mexico and Latin America and going back to the Aztecs, Pinole is high in Omega 3 fatty acids. The ingredient is respected for its ability to deliver energy and fuel endurance.
Maya Jacquez, the founder of The Pinole Project, created the food company to honor her Mexican ancestry, particularly her grandparents.
“My grandfather, Arsenio Jacquez, developed a close bond with the Tarahumara people of Northern Mexico, learning their language and serving as an interpreter for them for decades,” says Jacquez, adding, “The Tarahumara people are legendary for their long-distance running feats, but few people know that they eat Pinole for energy. My grandmother added Pinole to her avena (slow-cooked oatmeal) to give it an extra boost. I still salivate whenever I think about her recipe, which inspired Pinole Chia Oatmeal.”
We caught up with the Latina who spoke about the brand, her favorite way of eating her oatmeal, and more.
How did Pinole Chia Oatmeal come about?
I started The Pinole Project to pay homage to my Mexican roots, particularly my grandparents, who were the inspiration for this food company and our first product line, Pinole Chia Oatmeal.Growing up, I would visit my grandparents in Chihuahua, Mexico every summer and I still remember the feeling of waking up to my grandmother’s avena (slow-cooked oatmeal). She added Pinole to it which made it even more tasty and healthy! Pinole is an ancient nutrient-filled food made by grinding corn into a fine powder and then mixing it with other ingredients such as cinnamon.
Our Pinole Chia Oatmeal takes the best parts of my grandmother’s recipe and adds other powerhouse ingredients, such as chia seeds, into the mix for a supercharged breakfast. It comes in 3 flavors, Banana Cinnamon, PB & Cacao and Original.
For years, I was making myself this easy-to-make breakfast for my busy mornings. But it wasn’t until 2019 that I got the idea to share it with others. And I’m so glad I did. We launched in March 2021 and the feedback has been great. People love that it’s simple to make, high in fiber, packed with plant-based protein and filled with slow-release carbs for sustained energy!
What differentiates Pinole Chia Oatmeal from other oatmeal brands in the market?
Pinole Chia Oatmeal is unlike anything out there at the moment. Most oatmeals have a few grams of protein and fiber. By contrast, each of our Pinole Chia Oatmeal flavors has 10 grams of fiber and each is packed with protein. Our PB & Cacao flavor has 14 grams of protein!
Pinole Chia Oatmeal owes its strong nutritional profile to Pinole and chia seeds, both Aztec superfoods that are highly nourishing and provide sustained energy.
While other companies do add chia seeds to their oatmeal blends, we are the first to add Pinole, an ancient nutrient-filled food made by grinding corn into a fine powder. Our Pinole recipe is made with nutrient-rich ground Olotillo corn, harvested from the independent, sustainable farms of Oaxaca, Mexico.
What is your favorite way of eating Pinole Chia Oatmeal?
Pinole Chia Oatmeal can be enjoyed in a variety of ways! It’s great as hot oatmeal, overnight oats but it’s also excellent for baking! We love to make fiber-packed muffins and breakfast cookies with it.
For my oatmeal bowl, I love to add creamy peanut butter to it and blueberries. That is my favorite combo and my go-to when I am busy and just want something simple. For Saturday mornings, I love to make muffins using all our Pinole Chia Oatmeal flavors. This past weekend I made these Pecan Almond muffins using our PB & Cacao flavor. Sooo good!