Food Production - Wiga Wagaa Sauces
We are now very familiar with food and tastes from around the world, but one of the areas I'm sure most of us know less well is the cuisine of West Africa. Chilli peppers, of many varities, play a large part in the preparation of sauces, together with spices and seasonings, such as coriander, nutmeg, bay leaves that we are quite
used to. Others are less familiar, such as uziza which is both berries and leaves, and a blend of spices used for meat called suya. Another mix of spices used for meat is called jerk. Although usually associated with Jamaica, the origins of this go back to West Africa and the slave trade.
Victor of Wiga Wagga on No.1 Industrial Estate comes originally from Nigeria but has lived in the North east from school days. He did not plan on being part of the food industry. He achieved a degree and then a Ph.D in Biochemistry. He then worked in the pharmaceutical industry before teaching in Higher Education. He
made food at home based on Nigerian recipes and was persuaded to start to make sauces for friends. It was when somone was testing out a chili sauce, that the name of his company came to him. They tried a little too much of a hot sauce and exclaimed “Wiga Wagaa, that was hot!”, so it has no real meaning.
He started out in his home kitchen, then a unit at Tanfield and now a bigger one at No.1 and he has achieved a number of Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Foods.
More information can be found at [email protected]
used to. Others are less familiar, such as uziza which is both berries and leaves, and a blend of spices used for meat called suya. Another mix of spices used for meat is called jerk. Although usually associated with Jamaica, the origins of this go back to West Africa and the slave trade.
Victor of Wiga Wagga on No.1 Industrial Estate comes originally from Nigeria but has lived in the North east from school days. He did not plan on being part of the food industry. He achieved a degree and then a Ph.D in Biochemistry. He then worked in the pharmaceutical industry before teaching in Higher Education. He
made food at home based on Nigerian recipes and was persuaded to start to make sauces for friends. It was when somone was testing out a chili sauce, that the name of his company came to him. They tried a little too much of a hot sauce and exclaimed “Wiga Wagaa, that was hot!”, so it has no real meaning.
He started out in his home kitchen, then a unit at Tanfield and now a bigger one at No.1 and he has achieved a number of Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Foods.
More information can be found at [email protected]