Today we’d like to introduce you to Norma Quintanilla.
Hi Norma, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started Cheladeras in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. After being laid off from my job in the oil and gas industry, I suddenly found myself with something I hadn’t had in a long time: time. While everyone was quarantined, I spent countless hours experimenting in my kitchen, determined to create something unique that would stand out from everything else on the market.
I launched Cheladeras with seven different chamoy flavors and started getting the word out through Instagram and local vendor markets around Houston, introducing people to the brand one sample at a time. From there, social media, word of mouth, and especially our loyal customers helped us continue to grow.
What started with seven flavors has now grown to more than 60 different flavors and combinations. We like to joke that we’re the “Baskin-Robbins of Chamoy.” We rotate our menu weekly depending on seasonal ingredients and availability, which keeps things fun and gives our customers something new to discover.
Six years later, Cheladeras has taken us to breweries, markets, and events throughout Houston, Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. It’s pretty amazing to look back and realize that something I started experimenting with in my kitchen during such an uncertain time has grown into a brand, a community, and something I’m incredibly proud of.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but every challenge has helped us grow. Like many small business owners, I wear many hats, and building Cheladeras has been a constant learning experience.
One of our biggest challenges has been growing the business while maintaining the quality and bold flavors our customers know us for. As demand increased, we had to learn how to scale production without compromising our products.
In 2023, we also expanded beyond our original chamoy drip sauces and introduced our own line of chamoy dripped out candies. We wanted to give our customers something new and exciting while continuing to build on the flavors they already loved.
Every challenge has been worth it. Seeing our loyal customers continue to support us, share our products, and grow with us over the years has made the journey incredibly rewarding.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Cheladeras is more than just chamoy. It’s a flavor experience built around creativity, quality, and community. We specialize in handcrafted chamoy sauces and chamoy candies made with bold, fruit flavors that are designed to elevate everything from beer, micheladas to margaritas, fresh fruit, candy, and aguas frescas.
What truly sets us apart is our commitment to flavor. We don’t believe in simply labeling a bottle “Mango” or “Pineapple” and hoping you get a hint of it. We formulate each recipe so that the flavor on the label is exactly what you taste from the first taste to the last. That attention to detail is what keeps our customers coming back and introducing Cheladeras to their friends and family.
Over the years, we’ve expanded our lineup to include more than 60 different flavor combinations, allowing customers to find something that matches their own taste. Whether someone prefers sweet, spicy, tangy, or a combination of all three, there’s a Cheladeras flavor for them.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the community we’ve built and the relationships we’ve created with other small businesses along the way. We truly believe in supporting and growing alongside other local entrepreneurs. One partnership we’re especially proud of is with Michelada 76, who has been using Cheladeras Drip for the past six years on their delicious handcrafted micheladas. Growing together and seeing our product become part of another small business’s signature creations is something that means a lot to us.
What started as a small kitchen project has grown into a loyal customer base that has supported us for the past six years. Their word-of-mouth recommendations, social media shares, and continued support have helped us grow far beyond what I ever imagined.
We’ve had the opportunity to participate in festivals and vendor markets across Texas, and introduce thousands of people to our products. Those experiences have allowed us to create memorable moments centered around food, drinks, and bringing people together.
At the end of the day, Cheladeras is about creating products that people genuinely get excited about. We want every bottle we make to spark conversation, bring people together, and leave customers thinking, “I’ve never tasted chamoy like this before.” That’s the standard we hold ourselves to every single day, and it’s what continues to drive our brand forward.
You can also find us on Instagram at @cheladeras2020, where customers can currently place orders directly with us. We’re excited to continue expanding Cheladeras with the launch of our online store in September 2026, making it easier for customers outside of Houston to order and have their favorite Cheladeras products shipped directly to them. We’re excited to bring a little taste of Houston to even more cities!
Find Cheladeras products at several local Houston businesses, including the Michelada 76 Hut, Santo Remedio, Taqueria Del Sol, Rbee’s Liquor, Val-Mar Spirits, and Island Dream Daiquiri locations. We love being able to partner with local businesses and make Cheladeras easier for our customers to find throughout the Houston area.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories was traveling to Mexico to visit family. I always knew one of the highlights of the trip would be going to the candy store and stocking up on tamarindos, chamoy, spicy paletitas, and all the Mexican candies we loved to bring back home.
Those flavors are such a big part of my childhood and bring back so many memories. Now, I get to take that nostalgia and recreate it in my own way through Cheladeras. A lot of the flavors and products I create are inspired by those memories, but with my own twist. I love being able to give someone that same feeling I had as a kid when I opened a bag full of Mexican candy and couldn’t wait to try everything.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @cheladeras2020
- Facebook: @cheladeras2020
