Wojapi, Reimagined
Wojapi is a traditional Lakota berry sauce or soup made from chokecherries or other wild berries, simmered slowly and served during ceremonies, winter feasts, and family celebrations. It symbolized abundance, healing, and the changing of seasons.
At Red Wing Spices, we didn’t recreate the dish itself — we reinvented its spirit. This rub channels the deep, bold flavors of Wojapi into something modern: an all-natural spice blend crafted for everyday meals, rooted in Oglala Lakota tradition and made to be shared.
Wojapi: A Dish of Ceremony
Wojapi wasn’t just food. Among the Lakota and other Plains tribes, it was made for sacred gatherings, offerings, and celebrations. The thick berry sauce — often crafted from chokecherries or wild juneberries — symbolized abundance, healing, and seasonal transition.
July Is for Gathering
Historically, berries for wojapi, a traditional Lakota dish, were typically gathered during the summer months, particularly in July. In Lakota culture, the month of July is even referred to as Čhaŋpȟásapa wí, or the "moon when the chokecherries are black (ripe).