Palesa Nkabinde doesn’t just sell spices, she sells a story. One filled with grit, faith, and bold flavour. A mother of two and a third-year BCOM student, Palesa launched Palesa Wadi Spice after walking through the fire of divorce, uncertainty, and financial strain. Her response? She sold her beloved Lee Morgan pots to fund a dream that now sits on kitchen shelves across Johannesburg, infused salts and spice blends crafted for the health-conscious, the flavor-hungry, and the heart-led.
“I decided to sell my Lee Morgan pots to start the business,” she says with the kind of conviction that can’t be bought or taught.
What makes Palesa Wadi Spice different isn’t just the turmeric or chili or the special herb used by the Amazulu. It’s the intention behind every blend. “People who are always sick with chronic illnesses, they’re always advised not to add salt,” she explains. “So I decided, why not add everything in one so that the consumption of salt will be less?”
It’s that kind of thinking that’s earned her raving feedback.
But it didn’t come easy. “I started in 2022 in June when I started mixing; they were so horrible,” she laughs. “I tested with my family… then I kept on changing the recipe, trying new things. Finally, this year in January, everything came together. Now, it tastes nice.”
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Good Flavour with a touch of wellness
It’s not just taste she’s after, it’s trust. “My spice brand does not have your MSG, does not have wheat, does not have all the nasty stuff that makes people sick.” She makes this clear at every market stall where she hands out small samples, her own form of grassroots marketing. “The feedback I’ve been getting has been great.”
Yet for every bit of praise, there’s been a challenge to match. Storage space is tight. Packaging is done by hand. “I’m currently using the dodge plastics,” she admits. “But I’ve just won a competition at DLO, I got a business starter kit of R20,000. That will help me a lot to rebrand.”
A graphic designer is now helping her redefine the look of the brand. The plan? Sleek glass bottles. New logos. A look that matches the heart behind the hustle. “I wanted my name to be a household name,” she says.
And what a range she owns. Infused salts in hibiscus, moringa, hot chili, and a customer-favorite all-in-one. “So when you buy the salt,” she says, “it has everything. It’s an all-in-one.”
But for Palesa, this isn’t just business, it’s purpose. “I have a passion for health and wellness. I work with people that are banting. That’s what sets us apart as Palesa Wadi Spice.”
Her dream? A storefront at Deep Square.
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What can we learn from this?
For other young entrepreneurs, especially black women facing similar barriers, she offers simple but powerful advice: “If you love what you’re doing, even if you’re not making sales, you’ll still wake up the next day to work on it.”
In a market saturated with flavor, Palesa Wadi Spice doesn’t just promise a good taste, it delivers soul food.
From heartbreak to healing, from Lee Morgan pots to market stalls and now rebranding kits, Palesa’s journey is proof that what you sprinkle into your life matters.
She wants people to feel happy. She wants them to feel the love that is packed with the spices. And really, isn’t that what the best meals are made of?
Image: Master Class
