How this brother-sister duo brings in $105K making Mexican-American candy

Name: How this brother-sister duo brings in $105K making Mexican-American candy
Uploaded: 2021-07-20T13:29:01.000Z
Duration: 5 min 36 s
Description: JJ and Rudy Jimenez are a brother and sister team making Mexican-American fusion candy out of their parents' home in Brenham, Texas. After seeing dulces enchilados blow up on social media last May, Rudy was eager to try the sweet, sour, and spicy treats. So JJ and Rudy went to the store and whipped up a batch of their own. From there, the company Enchilositos Treats was born.

JJ and Rudy Jimenez are a brother and sister team making Mexican-American fusion candy out of their parents' home in Brenham, Texas. After seeing dulces enchilados blow up on social media last May, Rudy was eager to try the sweet, sour, and spicy treats. So JJ and Rudy went to the store and whipped up a batch of their own. From there, the company Enchilositos Treats was born.

05:36

Tue, Jul 20 20219:29 AM EDT

Emma Fierberg

Rudy Jimenez, co-founder

Originally, my brother did not agree with both of these flavors coming together.

JJ Jimenez, co-founder

I thought they would just not work out.

Rudy Jimenez

We literally took a trip to the closest grocery store that there was and we bought all of the ingredients, started making them and they were the best thing ever.

JJ Jimenez

My name is JJ, I am 26 years old.

Rudy Jimenez

My name is Rudy. I'm 19 years old, and we're brother and sister.

JJ Jimenez

And we're both the owners of Enchilositos Treats, and we brought in $105,000 this past year.

Emma Fierberg, CNBC Make It producer

Enchilositos Treats is a homegrown Mexican-American candy brand inspired by the flavors of Mexico. The brother and sister team started experimenting with sweet candy dipped in sour and spicy flavors as a side hustle. It quickly grew into a lucrative business. And its success is due in part to Rudy and JJ's parents.

Rudy Jimenez

My parents were born in Mexico. My dad came over at around 17, 18 years old, my mom at around the same age.

JJ Jimenez

Our parents taught us a lot about work ethic. They taught us to never give up.

Emma Fierberg

JJ has a lot of experience working in different industries. After college, he worked in manufacturing, food delivery, selling on eBay and other side hustles.

JJ Jimenez

I felt very confident that I could now run my own business because I've seen other people run their businesses. My sister sparked the idea. I did not agree with it.

Rudy Jimenez

Originally, I had seen dulces enchilados on TikTok and social media. And I really had been wanting to try them. I was so happy that I had finally had the chance to be able to try them and make them on my own. We kind of looked at each other and had that first little bite. We were like, let's start trying to sell it to our friends and family and the locals if we possibly can.

Emma Fierberg

In May of 2020, Rudy and JJ opened up shop in their parents' kitchen in California. Dulces enchilados or chilitos are made using American candies like Gushers and Skittles. These candies are dipped in chamoy, a tamarind-based sauce, and sprinkled with a dry spice blend, like Tajin.

JJ Jimenez

It was an American-Mexican fusion. That's the way I depict it.

Watch the video above to learn more about Rudy and JJ's candy business.