So picture this: You walk into L’Afrique Market expecting to grab cassava flour and leave quietly. But there he is. Behind a table full of glowing tea packs and nervous energy, Mamud Dako, the founder of Tropace Tea, was in the flesh.
And he’s smiling. Sort of. Like someone who’s just been told, “Don’t worry, you only have to talk to 47 strangers today.”
His Weapon of Choice? A Sample Spoon.
Wielding a plastic spoon like it was a mic at an Afrobeats concert, Mamud handed out tea samples with a kind of surgical precision. It was a mixture of:
- 🎤 “Would you like to try our Immunity Tea?”
- 😳 “Okay, I’ll just… leave this here while you decide.”
- 🤝 Accidentally bowing instead of shaking hands.
It was adorable. It was awkward. It was Tropace in human form.
But Here’s the Beautiful Part…
Despite being more comfortable behind spreadsheets than sample cups, Mamud showed up.
He connected with mothers. He made the aunties laugh. He stood next to our bright yellow tea stand like he built it from scratch (which, honestly, he kinda did).
And every customer who left with a pouch of Rooibos Chai or Nursing Tea left with more than just the product. They left with a memory.
Come Make Yours
You can now find us fully stocked at L’Afrique Market, Chicago.
📍 L’Afrique Market Website
2001 S. State Street
Chicago, IL 60616
Tropace shelf. Back left. Bright. Unmissable. Just like Mamud.
Come sip with us. Even if our founder’s still working on his eye contact.
