Back in 2021 we brought a little bit of Mexico to the Scottish Borders when we started stocking Cool Chile Co. products in our Deli. Since then, we have kept reordering and exploring their range.

Founded in 1993 by Dodie Miller, the company began as a little market stall on Portobello Road selling dried Mexican chillies. The idea was simple, they wanted to import a wide variety of the best dried chillies and share a whole new range of flavours for authentic Mexican cooking in the UK. 30 years later and it is clear to see that they have succeeded, becoming one of the leading suppliers and manufacturers of Mexican food in the country.

The business is still family-run and is committed to leaving as small a carbon footprint as possible. All of its products are shipped by sea and they use recyclable packaging as much as they can. Their corn tortillas are made fresh to order and, as well as all of their sauces, are made with no preservatives. As a company they ensure unparalleled quality and sustainability. 

Nearly all Mexican recipes call for dried chillies, they are a key ingredient needed to make authentic, everyday dishes. The UK mostly gets its dried red chillies imported from India so it is rare to find a Mexican variety on our supermarket shelves. This is where Cool Chile Co. is a game changer.

Cool Chile knows what they are doing and the chillies they import to sell and use in their products have a great deal of depth to them. This is one of the joys of having them on our shelves. It allows our customers to go home and experiment with the taste and flavour instead of just the heat in their dishes.

The trailblazing brand has gone on to develop their own salsas, sauces and pastes, all made using traditional Mexican recipes. As a simple and quick bite, the salsas are great to pair with the Totopos or Tostaditas. If a bag of those corn tortilla chips gets opened, it does not last long!

We recommend using some of their sauces and pastes to add extra layers easily to your own marinades and sauces. Or use them to elevate your baked potatoes or cheese on toast simply with an extra hit of flavour! None of us here at MST are experts in Mexican cuisine but it just shows the versatility of the Cool Chile Co. products that we are able to experiment with them in our own ways. For those who adore authentic Mexican cooking and the labour of love that it is – these products should be a larder staple. 

Since Cool Chile Co. began, the appreciation for the cuisine has grown and as a nation we have become more familiar with Mexican dishes. In February this year, Speciality Food Magazine labelled Mexican cuisine as a trend to watch in the UK this year. One of the main reasons for this is the creativity and adaptability it holds. Its dishes can shift to suit most dietary requirements and includes delicious and uncompromising options for both meat-eaters and vegetarians/vegans. It is exciting and authentic but remains accessible.

If you are not local and would like any of the products highlighted in our Featured Supplier blogs, please contact us. We can try to arrange to ship them to you. Please note: We ship to the UK only.

You can find Mexican cuisine recipes and more information over at the Cool Chile Co. website. Click HERE.