Messicana – Where Mexican flavours meet local Canadian ingredients

Tashi Farmilo

Messicana, a vibrant new addition to Aylmer’s culinary scene, is the brainchild of Estephanie Ramirez and Ruy Medina, entrepreneurs from Mexico who have made Quebec their home. The couple, who immigrated to Aylmer in 2019, have channelled their passion for authentic Mexican cuisine into a thriving business, creating a line of unique sauces that blend traditional flavours with a Canadian twist.

Ramirez, a trained chef from León, Mexico, and Medina, with a background in administration, moved to Aylmer in search of new opportunities after first settling in Trois-Rivières. The couple's journey into the sauce business began during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when many were forced to rethink their careers and livelihoods. Faced with the closure of the restaurant where Ramirez worked as a sous-chef, the couple decided to experiment with traditional Mexican recipes using locally sourced ingredients from Quebec.

Initially, they started small, testing their sauce creations with family and friends. “We began by sharing our sauces with those closest to us,” Medina recalls. “Their feedback was invaluable, and it gave us the confidence to think about taking our passion further.” Encouraged by the positive response, they realized they needed to scale up if they wanted to turn their culinary experiments into a viable business.

To make this leap, Ramirez and Medina secured a business loan through a government-backed entrepreneurial program. This financial support was crucial in enabling them to move beyond their home kitchen. “The loan was a turning point for us,” says Medina. “It provided the resources we needed to take our ideas seriously, from sourcing high-quality ingredients to planning for larger production.”

Armed with the loan, they moved their operations to the Provigo Kitchen at 375 Chemin d’Aylmer, a professional test kitchen where they could refine their sauces on a larger scale. “Having access to the test kitchen allowed us to experiment more extensively and ensure the quality and consistency of our products,” says Ramirez. This space became the birthplace of Messicana’s signature sauces, blending a variety of peppers like habanero, jalapeño, and chipotle, and creating a product that quickly gained traction among local consumers.

The name "Messicana" itself is a thoughtful blend, combining "Mexico" and "Canada" to symbolize the fusion of authentic Mexican flavours with locally sourced Canadian ingredients. This marriage of cultures is reflected in every bottle, offering consumers a versatile product that can be used in various ways—as a salad dressing, marinade, or sauce for sandwiches, tacos, and more.

Messicana’s products can now be found online and in stores, including at Provigo, where they are proudly featured among a selection of trusted local brands. “We wanted every detail, from the label to the sauce itself, to represent who we are and what we value,” says Ramirez. For those interested in exploring these flavours, Messicana's full range of products is available at www.messicanagourmet.com.

Messicana’s success is a testament to the couple’s dedication and their ability to blend their cultural heritage with the opportunities provided by their new home here in Aylmer. As their business continues to grow, Ramirez and Medina remain focused on sharing the flavours of Mexico with their community in Aylmer and beyond. “We’re proud of what we’ve created,” says Ramirez. “Messicana is our way of bringing a piece of our culture to our new home, and we’re excited to see where this journey takes us.”

Photo caption: Estephanie Ramirez and Ruy Medina, Mexican immigrants in Aylmer, have successfully blended their cultural heritage with Canadian ingredients to create Messicana, a thriving sauce business that offers versatile products like salad dressings, marinades, and taco sauces, available online and at local stores like Provigo. 

Photo credit: Tashi Farmilo