I Love Chamoy Founder Annie Leal Shares Her Latina Roots and Launches a Giveaway That Brings the ‘Taste of Monterrey’ Home

I Love Chamoy Founder Annie Leal Shares Her Latina Roots and Launches a Giveaway That Brings the 'Taste of Monterrey' Home

Annie Leal shaped I Love Chamoy through instinct and memory, guided by the flavors she grew up loving in Monterrey and by the determination to create something her father could enjoy after a diagnosis that changed the rhythm of her family’s days. The brand grew from a kitchen experiment into a movement carried by Latinos who saw their own stories reflected in her effort to bring sweetness and culture together without compromise. Her path captures the spirit of a generation that builds opportunity through heritage, creativity and purpose. She spoke about this journey in a conversation with BELatina News.

A Latina Founder Who Listened to Her Gut and Created a New Category

I Love Chamoy began with one moment of fear that turned into an act of devotion. Her father’s diabetes diagnosis forced difficult adjustments, and the thought of him losing the flavors tied to their roots felt impossible to accept. Annie turned it into fuel.

“This whole journey has been beyond my wildest dreams,” she said. “The goal was always simple: create something my dad could safely enjoy.”

She searched for an option that honored the taste of home without risking his health. Nothing existed. That absence pushed her to act.

“When I couldn’t find a sugar free chamoy option anywhere, I realized there was a real gap in the market. And the thing about Latinos is that if it doesn’t exist, we’ll make it! And that’s exactly what I did.”

Her kitchen became a small laboratory. She mixed, measured, tasted, and tried again. Mexican candy was rising in popularity across the country, and healthier alternatives had momentum, yet nobody had bridged those worlds. She trusted her instinct that families like hers needed this product and that her community would recognize its purpose.

“I knew the popularity of Mexican candy was at an all-time high and so was the trend for healthier options, but no one had thought to combine the two before.”

The bet worked.

A Viral Bloom Rooted in Latino Culture

The brand took off through the power of the people. There was no corporate backing, no marketing blueprint engineered in a boardroom. It spread because Latinos saw themselves in the bottle.

“It was crazy!” she said. “This all began with me in my kitchen, truly experimenting with ingredients and taste testing for months.”

Videos erupted across social platforms. Families shared clips of their first taste. Some remembered chamoy as a childhood ritual. Others tried it for the first time and folded it into their routines. Annie watched the wave rise with gratitude.

“I felt so fortunate people understood the heart behind the brand.”

Her product carried nostalgia, belonging, childhood memories, and new traditions into kitchens far from Monterrey. That connection set the stage for the collaboration that felt destined.

Monterrey Becomes the Center of the Story Again

The partnership with Topo Chico pulled Annie back to her hometown in a way few projects ever could.

“It means everything,” she said. “Monterrey is my home in every sense of the word.”

She first tasted chamoy and Topo Chico there. They were part of family gatherings, celebrations, and simple afternoons that built her identity. Working with the beverage icon created a complete emotional loop.

“To honor my hometown through a project with Topo Chico feels like writing a love letter to my roots.”

When the initial outreach landed in her inbox, she questioned whether it could be real.

“I even checked to make sure the email was legitimate! Then I called my mom, my dad and my sister to tell them.”

Knowing a global brand recognized the value of what she built felt electric.

“Topo Chico is a brand that has been in my life since childhood. There’s never been a carne asada in my life without Topo Chico also being there.”

The collaboration became a tribute to Monterrey and a celebration of what regios carry with them wherever they go.

A Father’s Diagnosis Becomes a Creative Partnership

The “Taste of Monterrey” kit includes a non-alcoholic michelada recipe created with the man who inspired the brand.

“It is emotional in the best way,” she said. “Collaborating with my dad, laughing, enjoying the recipe he’s made for as long as I can remember, it always reminds me of why I Love Chamoy exists.”

This moment reflected the full arc of her story. A daughter trying to protect her father’s health created a national sensation. Now they were building together again, grounded in memory and tradition.

“The brand was born from his diagnosis, and now we’re creating something fun, flavorful and that celebrates so much of what makes us regios.”

A Giveaway Rooted in Community Pride

The Instagram giveaway brings this collaboration into the homes of fans who poured belief into the brand since its earliest days.

“I think that’s the best part,” she said. “We’re resonating with people who supported my brand from day one and also with new customers from Topo Chico’s audience.”

Seeing the kit on kitchen tables across the country feels intimate for her.

“It’s like inviting them into my home and saying, ‘here, this is a piece of me and where I come from.’”

The hope behind each kit is simple and heartfelt.

“I hope they feel joy and excitement,” she said. “I hope it brings Mexican consumers a beautiful sense of nostalgia.”

For those discovering chamoy for the first time, she wants them to feel curiosity and delight.

“I invite them to explore all the bold and fun flavor pairings with our sweet-yet-tangy chamoy and Topo’s signature bubbles.”

Annie Leal Is Building Her Own Lane

Her journey as a Mexicana entrepreneur carving out a place in a competitive market carries weight for the entire Latino community.

“It has been the ride of a lifetime,” she said. “Challenging, empowering, exciting, sometimes a little bit scary.”

She never softened her identity to make her path easier.

“As Latinas, I think we can feel pressure to adapt or fit a certain mold, but I’ve learned my unique identity is my greatest strength as a founder.”

Her heritage created the foundation for every decision she made.

“Being proudly Mexicana, proudly regia, proudly Latina in everything I do is what makes the brand resonate.”

She carries that focus into every new chapter for herself and for I Love Chamoy.

“I see I Love Chamoy expanding its universe of flavors and products, rooted in Mexican tradition but reinvented for today’s lifestyle.”

Her dream is nothing small.

“I hope we can become a brand that creates experiences, recipes and cultural moments that bring people together.”

The journey began in a kitchen, powered by a daughter’s instinct to care for her father. Today it reflects the ambition and creativity of a Latina founder shaping space for her community with courage, flavor, and an unmistakable sense of home.

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