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Though aguas frescas have existed for generations, possibly since the Aztecs, Agua Bonita is the first ready-to-drink version that has achieved such widespread distribution in the United States. On the way to claiming that status, the company became the first Latina-owned beverage brand to raise more than $1 million in funding, Castañeda said.
Meanwhile, Agua Bonita’s healthy spin on aguas frescas challenges tradition by using far less sugar than typical recipes.
“One mantra that we have at Agua Bonita is ‘our culture, our way’ because this is a very traditional drink and a traditional part of our culture, but we're really doing it in a modern format,” Castañeda said.
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Plaudits From Forbes
Castañeda made the 2022 Forbes 30 Under 30 list after finishing her first year in business as a 29-year-old CEO and cofounder. Forbes editorial staff credited Castañeda and other food and drink honorees that year with “redefining the way we eat, drink and think about consumption.” Castañeda said on social media that appearing on the list was a “big dream in the making.”
Castañeda said she hopes to lead Agua Bonita for a long time—to shape how the brand is presented to the public and help maintain its cultural authenticity. She also wants to continue to demonstrate that business leaders don’t have to choose between profits and values.
In addition to using upcycled produce and healthier recipes, Agua Bonita dedicates a portion of every purchase to supporting nonprofits that advocate for migrant farm workers. She likes to remind people that, without farm workers, there would be no food and definitely no aguas frescas.
“You can build something that is good for the planet, good for the community and good for you and still be very successful with it,” she said.
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Castañeda marked Mother’s Day by announcing her pregnancy on Agua Bonita social channels, despite being initially “scared to share, thinking this would give people one more reason to doubt us.” But transparency has tended to deepen support for the brand. “And I know that being a mom doesn’t mean I’m not a badass jefa, too,” said Castañeda, using the Spanish word for boss.
Emphasis On Family