Instagram / shopilovechamoy
McAllen-based I Love Chamoy won H-E-B’s Quest for Texas Best contest, snagging a $25,000 cash prize.
When Mexico native Annie Leal learned her father had been diagnosed with diabetes, she set out to create a sugar-free alternative to one of his favorite condiments: chamoy. Her monkfruit-sweetened version of the sweet and spicy sauce isn't just sugar-free, however. It’s also free of artificial dyes and contains 40-80% less sodium than most chamoys on the market, according to H-E-B officials.
Leal is joined by finalists from Lakeway, Houston, Dallas and Guthrie, who have together received a combined $80,000 in cash prizes during this year’s contest.
$20,000 First Place Winner:
Ashley Cameron - Love & Cookies, Frozen Cookie Dough of Lakeway, Texas
$15,000 Second Place Winner:
Karim and Mansour Arem - ZWITA, Spicy Traditional Harissa of Houston, Texas
$10,000 Third Place Winner (Tied):
Brent and Juan Reaves - Smokey John's, Smokey John’s BBQ Rub of Dallas, Texas
$10,000 Third Place Winner (Tied):
Burnett Ranches LLC - Four Sixes Ranch, Chuck Wagon Chile Mix of Guthrie, Texas
Since launching Quest for Texas Best in 2014, H-E-B has reviewed more than 5,300 samples of Texas-made food, beverages and merchandise. The San Antonio-based grocer has awarded nearly $500,000 in prize money to contest alumni.
Puro Nitro Coffee was the sole Alamo City food item picked for this year’s contest. The company markets a canned cold coffee as a better-tasting, less-bitter alternative to those already on the market. Though Puro Nitro didn’t win place, creator Daniel Mezza appears to be in good spirits about it all.
“The H‑E‑B ‘Quest for the Best in Texas’ competition was [an] amazing experience and packed with incredible entries,” read an Aug. 25 Puro Nitro Coffee Instagram post. “Alas, we did not take home one of the top 4 spots, but one of the top ten out of 560 entries ain’t bad, right? We are still the top coffee brand chosen in Texas and the only brand in San Antonio!”
Puro Nitro still reaped benefits from being in the contest, announcing future plans to be put in over 160 H-E-B stores in the coming months, according to the post.
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