We’re looking forward to introducing you to Angel Lopez. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Angel, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about your customers?
One of the most surprising things we’ve learned about our customers is that 90% of them are women. This insight has taught us just how much women value not only the taste and quality of what they consume, but also the story behind it, the ingredients, the process, and the people who make it. We’ve also been amazed to discover that many of them enjoy spicier flavors even more than some men! It’s been a beautiful surprise to see that women make up the majority of our community, shown incredible loyalty, and even after nearly eight years, they continue to support us with heart and enthusiasm.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello! We are Muma Paxil, a salsa macha brand born in 2017 in Tijuana, Mexico — and today, you can also find our products in select locations in San Diego or have them delivered straight to your door.
When we began this flavorful journey, our goal was more than just creating a spicy sauce. We wanted to craft something people could truly connect with — a recipe that would carry stories, memories, and the rich traditions of our culinary heritage.
The roots of our salsas lie in the heart of Mexico — in the small towns we’ve traveled through, and in the traditional kitchens where we’ve learned from incredible women cooks. Muma Paxil is a living archive of those moments — of flavors that taught us to live in deeper connection with ourselves, our culture, and the spirit of the land.
We’re not just offering a sauce; we’re sharing pieces of a journey filled with meaning and soul.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that truly shaped how I see the world was traveling through rural communities in Mexico and spending time in traditional kitchens with local women. These experiences changed me deeply. I witnessed how food isn’t just nourishment — it’s memory, identity, resilience, and love. It taught me to slow down, to honor the roots of what we eat, and to value connection over convenience.
Inspired by that journey, we made a life-changing decision: to leave the city and move to the countryside, to a rural area where we now grow much of our own food. Every one of our products is made here, in a place where nature and a love for cooking come together as one. This way of life has become the soul of our brand — and everything we create carries the energy of the land, the people, and the traditions that continue to inspire us.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Something I changed my mind about after failing hard is the idea that failure means defeat. For a long time, I believed that if something didn’t work out, it meant I had taken the wrong path. But now I see failure as a threshold a place of shedding, of discomfort, yes, but also of deep transformation.
We all go through moments that break us open, only to discover that we’re being called to grow into a new version of ourselves. I’ve learned to pay close attention to what my surroundings are trying to tell me to listen not just with my mind, but with my body, my intuition, and my dreams. Sometimes life whispers through silence, through fatigue, through loss and when we honor those signs, we begin to walk more honestly, more freely.
Failure taught me that starting over isn’t the end it’s a sacred invitation to begin again, with more truth, more humility, and more heart.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies in the food industry is the belief that industrialized, mass-produced products are more convenient or necessary for modern life. This mindset disconnects us from the origin of our food, from the people who grow it, and from the traditions that give it meaning. In the rush for speed and efficiency, we lose quality, sustainability, and the emotional value that food can carry.
Another common misconception —and one we gently challenge through our own lifestyle is the idea that living in the countryside isn’t a viable or fulfilling path. Many see rural life as limiting, but for us, it has been the opposite: a return to presence, to simplicity, to intention. Here, surrounded by nature, we grow part of our own food and create our products in a space that honors the rhythms of the earth and the joy of cooking with heart.
Through Muma Paxil, we hope to inspire others to rethink these assumptions
and to discover that there are other ways of living and eating that are more connected, conscious, and deeply rewarding.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m creating with my hands whether it’s painting, working with ceramics, doing printmaking, or tending to the garden. Art has been a true ally for navigating life’s deeper emotional processes. It allows me to explore, to express, and to heal in ways words often cannot.
There’s a quiet magic in those moments the silence of a brushstroke, the texture of clay, the rhythm of carving a print. That same peace is present when I’m outside in the garden, barefoot in the soil, or feeding the animals we care for. Being close to nature and creating beauty, both through food and through art, is where I return to myself. It’s in those spaces that I feel most grounded, most alive, and most at home.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @mumapaxil
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mumapaxil
