Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off on Sept. 15, and we're highlighting Hispanic-owned businesses you should know about — and continue to shop long after the month-long celebration comes to an end on Oct. 15.
Entrepreneur Ana Flores previously stopped by TODAY to list some of her favorite Hispanic-owned businesses — and their bestsellers — to have on your radar this month. Below, you'll see a handful of options from hand painted totes and modern takes on traditional spices, all the way to treats you and la familia will laugh all night with.
Keep reading to learn a little bit about these small businesses, plus discover even more brands we love.
Hispanic-founded small businesses on TODAY
Progeny Coffee
Maria Palacio and John Trabelsi traveled to Colombia for four years to better understand the coffee chain. There, they discovered the traditional chain was outdated and prevented farmers from making a good living. That’s where they got the idea for Progeny Coffee: a company that prioritizes farm-to-cup. In essence, Progeny Coffee is inspired to bring affordable coffee to consumers while supporting its farmers — no impact-driven or middle-man, simply quality in all aspects.
Ambición
Ambición is described as a sweet and vibrant harvest from farmer Ana Maria Mejia. The peach, caramel and honey flavors inside this cup are recommended for “those seeking a mellowness” in their coffee.
Contento
This blend combines the comforting notes of chocolate and peach for a sweet and balanced duo. The roast is in collaboration with farmer Gerardo Patiño.
Armonia
A comforting taste of nutty flavors and hints of cherry, Armonia, another roast by of Progeny’s farmers, Francy Elena Osorio. A coffee that offers both creamy and fruitness to your cup,
Loisa
“The New Latin Kitchen” is what Loisa likes to identify themselves as. Why? They’re creating organic versions of all the standard spices and sauces found in Latin pantries. All of their products are inspired by the ingredients found in their own homes in New York City, focusing on family, tradition and culture.
El Flavor Trio
One of their bestsellers features the three essentials for Latin cooking: sofrito, organic sazón and organic adobo. These add a powerful punch to stews, meats, beans, fish, rice and other traditional dishes.
La Funky Mexicana
A spontaneous trip back home to Mexico reminded Fernanda of the homemade accessory designs she made as a teen. It was around this time that she was also missing home, which opened a door for her to bring a little piece of her roots to share. That’s when she was inspired to build La Funky Mexicana: a brand that embraces Mexican pride and textile art.
La Tote Bag
This tote bag is hand painted by La Funky Mexicana’s partnered artists in Mexico. Decorated on the front is one of four designs picked by you, ranging from powerful phrases to monochromatic prints.
Miss Rizos
The name “Miss Rizos” came from creator Carolina Contreras’ afro-curly hair-centered blog. The growth of her site eventually developed into her opening her first salon in the Dominican Republic in 2014, which created a space for those with coils, curls and waves to find additional resources and products fitted towards their hair types. And in 2023, Miss Rizos went another route and created a line of products based around Contreras’ Caribbean roots.
Rise and Shine Sapote Oil
This oil treats your style, scalp and ends with moisture from beloved Caribbean ingredients, including sapote oil: a fruit commonly used by Dominicanas for its nutritional benefits.
Deeply Healing Restorative Hair Treatment
To protect and strengthen damaged ends, Miss Rizos designed this hair mask as a reparative treatment for your curls.
Nopalera
Nopal cactus is an important plant in Mexican culture for many reasons, one being for its health and skin benefits. That’s where founder Sandra Velasquez found inspiration for her beauty and bath brand Nopalera, which centers on using the nutrient seeds and skin found in and around the plant for lasting use. And most of all, to champion Mexican rituals and Latino goods.
Dulce de Cuerpo Cactus Cream & Cactus Shower Gel Set
Paired together, this set should engulf your senses with the scent of prickly pair, and of course, cactus. The duo’s benefits revolve around deeply cleansing and hydrating the body in silky and buttery goodness.
Soap & Dish Gift Set
This gift set comes with a handmade cactus soap and a custom soap dish. Expect the soap, once lathered, to clean, purify and exfoliate the skin.
Millennial Lotería
Lotería (translated as lottery), or widely known as “Mexican Bingo,” is a popular party game amongst Mexican households. The game’s premise is to fill a portion or the entirety of your board with a chip or uncooked bean. But instead of numbers, the game uses images, words and numbers to identify each picture. This version of Lotería, however, has a 21st century twist with playful upgrades to the characters.
Millennial Lotería: Family Fiesta Edition
This edition of Millennial Lotería incorporates nostalgic and ironic humor you hear on social media without forgetting the traditional aspects of the generational game.
Millennial Lotería Y2K Edition
All of the trends during the early 2000s peek through every image in this set, including low-rise jeans, mega pop stars and flip phones.
More Hispanic small businesses to shop from
TODAY contributor and lifestyle expert Alejandra Ramos previously joined TODAY with Hoda & Jenna to put six Hispanic-owned businesses on your radar that you can shop for everything from candles to makeup. Whether you're in need of the perfect gift or simply want to try something new, Ramos' picks won't disappoint.
Albisa Candles
Founded by husband-and-wife duo Isabel and Albert (which when combined, make Albisa), Albisa Candles is all about delivering nostalgia through scents and smells. The first-generation Latino immigrants have designed candles that represent staples from their upbringing, such as Cuban bread or Fabuloso, a popular cleaning product in Latino homes.
Cafetera Candle (Large)
This candle embodies what Albisa thinks café con leche smells like, the brand says. It comes in a cafetera-inspired holder, which is made from ceramic.
Cafetera Candle (Small)
You can also shop the candle in a smaller size, which has a burn time of up to 15 hours.
Cuban Bread Candle
Fresh baked bread was a staple in both Albert and Isabel's childhoods. This large candle is meant to embody the scents of the crispy loaves and their buttery, doughy centers.
Violetas Candle
This scent is inspired by a popular baby cologne in Latino culture, Violetas. As Albisa puts it, "It's what any proper Cuban baby smells like....and some of us Adults too!"
Café con Leche Candle
This candle embodies the tradition and importance of coffee in Latino culture. Isabel recalls her grandfather and Tia Norma making it for her to enjoy at any time of day.
Maravilloso (Fabuloso-Type) Candle
Every Latino knows that when you smell Fabuloso on a Saturday morning, that means it is cleaning day. This candle is meant to smell like that iconic cleaning solution, without you having to use any elbow grease.
Franca Ceramics
Jazmin de la Guardia was born and raised in Paraguay to Uruguayan and Cuban parents. From a young age, she was passionate about travel and art, and found that the two mesh with pottery. All of de la Guardia's products — which range from dinnerware to garden essentials — are handmade in Brooklyn and are available at a variety of price points.
Pride Cara Mug (Set of 6)
These bold and bright mugs don't just look good — they do good, too. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Trevor Project, a US-based organization that offers support to LGBTQIA+ youth, the brand says.
Pride Cara Coffee Cup (Set of 6)
Available for pre-order, these coffee cups boast a similar bright design to the mugs. A portion of the proceeds will also go to The Trevor Project, according to the brand.
Pillar Vase
These hand-painted mugs come in a number of different sizes, ranging from short to extra large. You can use them to hold everything from flowers to kitchen utensils.
Agua Bonita
Agua Bonita founder Kayla Castañeda lost her job during the middle of the pandemic and decided to pivot. Since she is Mexican-American, she decided to use her family's traditional agua fresca recipes to make Agua Bonita's drinks. Unlike traditional aguas frescas, Castañeda's are canned, but are made with fresh fruit and with 80% less added sugar (inspired by the fact that her grandfather was diabetic).
Variety Pack
Want a little taste of everything Agua Bonita has to offer? The brand's variety pack includes five different flavors: Hibiscus, watermelon chile, mango habanero, pineapple cucumber and sweet melon.
Alamar Cosmetics
Alamr Cosmetics is independently owned by its Cuban-born founder, Gabriella Trujillo. She wanted to create bold and beautiful palettes that pay tribute to the town of Alamar, where she was born. Trujillo, a self-taught makeup artist, always dreamed of creating her own cosmetics and defied the odds to create a line in a saturated market, Ramos says.
Destino Eyeshadow Palette
Looking for a highly pigmented palette? This 10-pan palette has bold mattes to shimmery shades that can be blended for the perfect look.
Viva Las Cheekas Full Collection Bundle
This bundle is 11% off and includes all different shades of blushes for all skin complexions. Each trio includes a base, for eyes, cheeks and lips, a blush, and a glittery shade that you can add for extra glow.
Besitios Balm Bundle
Grab all of these shades of rich glossy balm. All shades have a shimmer to them and they even smell like pineapple soda too!
Lights & Lacquer
Gearing up for your next manicure or pedicure? Try out some of the polishes, press-ons or nail art from this Latina-owned brand. Founded by Cuban-American Kathleen Fuentes, (better known as KathleenLights), a popular beauty vlogger and influencer on YouTube, Lights & Lacquer creates vegan and cruelty free products that are free of chemicals, according to the brand.
Lights & Lacquer Nail Polishes
Whether you prefer bright reds or subtle nudes, you're bound to find a shade that suits your fancy from Lights & Lacquer's collection.
Lights & Lacquer Press-On Nails
Short on time? The brand also makes press-on nails that look just as chic as any salon job.
Jam + Rico
Jam+Rico's pieces are intended to connect shoppers to the culture of founder Lisette Scott's homelands (Jamaica and Puerto Rico). Scott, an Afro-Latina based in New York City, says she found inspiration for her jewelry brand after traveling to the places where her roots were established.
Camila Cuff Earrings
These ear cuffs are a great staple to any look. They're of brass with 14K gold plating and contains a mix of stones like Amethyst, Chrysoprase, Turquoise, and Lapis Lazuli.
La Isla Necklace (Large)
On this pendant, you'll find a few iconic symbols that represent Puerto Rico: the national flower, the fort, the cuarto guitar, banana leaf and plantain. It's a chic way to pay tribute to La Isla del Encanto.
Cowrie Bangle Gold
These gold bangles are more than just arm candy. Scott says the Cowrie shell design is a tribute to the form of currency used in West Africa during the transatlantic slave trade, and the bangle itself is a tribute to her grandmother, wore bangles all the time while.
Carmen Earrings Turquoise
Make a statement in this chic earrings! They're one way to add some color to any outfit in your wardrobe.
Maria Earrings Multi
These gold plated hoops are adorned in multi-colored semi-precious stones, each unique in shape and color. Scott says they are Inspired by her trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica.
Santia Earrings
The shape of these earrings are inspired by the banana leaf, Scott says. They are also adorned with semi-precious stones for a pop of color.
