What happens when a centuries-old recipe meets modern entrepreneurship? For Juan Carlos Alonso, the answer was simple: bring chilate, a traditional Mexican drink from Guerrero, to the rest of the country and eventually, the world. His brand, Acadeli, didn’t just win hearts on Shark Tank México; it made history by landing one of the fastest deals ever seen on the show. But the real story began long before the pitch, rooted in cultural pride and a desire to honor ancestral traditions through business.
What Is Chilate?
Chilate is more than just a drink in Guerrero; it is a deeply rooted cultural symbol, often passed down through generations. Traditionally made with roasted cacao, rice, cinnamon, and sugar, this beverage is served cold and has a thick, satisfying texture with a comforting, mildly sweet taste. It’s often enjoyed after meals, especially in hot climates, and is known for its soothing and refreshing qualities.
The drink originates from Ayutla de los Libres, a small town in the state of Guerrero, where families continue to make chilate in large clay pots, stirring with wooden paddles over open flames. The process is time-intensive, but it is also a community ritual. For many locals, chilate is a representation of heritage, hospitality, and healing.
What makes chilate particularly unique is its indigenous roots. The word “chilate” is derived from Nahuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs, which reflects its ancient lineage. Despite its strong cultural presence in Guerrero, chilate remained largely unknown outside the region until Juan Carlos saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between tradition and modern consumer needs.
From Family Recipe to Business Plan
Juan Carlos Alonso didn’t just grow up drinking chilate; he grew up living it. His family was among the many in Guerrero who produced chilate in small batches for local sale. He observed how important this tradition was to his community and how the drink brought people together. But he also saw the limitations: its reach was small, shelf life was short, and there was no scalable model to bring it to a wider audience.
With a background in business and entrepreneurship, Juan Carlos took a bold step. He decided to package chilate in a format that could preserve its authentic taste while being suitable for modern retail. The result was the creation of Acadeli, the umbrella brand under which he launched a ready-to-drink version of chilate and later transitioned into powdered mixes under the name Hanbho.
The brand was designed not just as a business, but as a cultural mission. Juan Carlos envisioned Acadeli as a vehicle for celebrating indigenous ingredients, traditional recipes, and sustainable practices, all while building a company that could thrive in a competitive beverage market.
The Fastest Deal on Shark Tank México
In 2019, Juan Carlos brought his vision to Shark Tank México and stood before the panel of investors with confidence and clarity. He pitched Acadeli as a brand that honors heritage while delivering on modern convenience. His request was modest: 200,000 MXN in exchange for 20% equity.
The Sharks were impressed almost immediately. Within moments of his presentation, all five Sharks expressed interest in his business. The pitch resonated deeply with the panel, not only because of the uniqueness of the product but also because of Juan Carlos’s clear understanding of branding, manufacturing, and distribution.
A rare bidding war followed, and Juan Carlos ended up closing a deal with three Sharks: Carlos Bremer, Arturo Elías Ayub, and Rodrigo Herrera. The final offer was 300,000 MXN for 30% equity, giving him both the capital and the mentorship to scale his business.
This moment was historic. It marked one of the fastest and most unanimous deals ever made on Shark Tank México, and it catapulted Acadeli into national attention.
What Happened After the Tank?
Following his appearance on Shark Tank, Juan Carlos experienced what is often called the “Shark Tank Effect,” a rapid boost in public awareness and demand. Acadeli quickly became a brand to watch, and sales began to surge. In 2019, the company recorded over 1 million MXN in revenue, with a net profit margin of around 50%, an impressive figure for any startup in the food and beverage industry.
With the funding and support from the Sharks, Acadeli rebranded its main product line under the name Hanbho, offering chilate in powdered form. This transition allowed for longer shelf life, easier storage, and wider distribution potential. The powdered version preserved the original taste and allowed customers to prepare it fresh at home using water or milk.
The team also began experimenting with new versions of the mix, including a sugar-free option to appeal to health-conscious consumers. This adaptation not only diversified the product line but opened doors to supermarkets, e-commerce platforms, and health-focused retail channels.
Today, Acadeli operates with a lean but growing team. Their operations remain focused in Mexico, but their branding and ambitions are increasingly geared toward international expansion.
Where to Buy Acadeli Chilate Today
If you’re curious to try chilate, you’ll find Acadeli’s products, marketed as Hanbho Chilate, available on several platforms. Their powdered mixes are now sold in Walmart México, which gave the brand its first major retail breakthrough. The product is also available online through Amazon México, Mercado Libre, and their official website Hanbho.com.mx.
Despite these achievements, customers have reported occasional issues with finding the product through search queries, particularly on platforms like Mercado Libre, where visibility could still be improved. Nonetheless, the online availability has significantly widened the brand’s reach beyond Guerrero and into other states.
Preserving Culture with Sustainability
At the heart of Acadeli’s mission is a commitment to cultural preservation and sustainable development. The company sources its core ingredients, especially cacao and purple rice, from small-scale farmers in Guerrero. By working directly with these communities, Juan Carlos ensures fair compensation and helps keep ancestral agricultural practices alive.
Acadeli also emphasizes the use of natural ingredients, avoiding preservatives and artificial additives. The powdered mixes are packaged to retain freshness without compromising on nutritional quality or taste.
However, it is worth noting that as of today, there are no official third-party sustainability or organic certifications associated with the brand. While the sourcing practices are described as ethical and local, formal certification could add another layer of credibility for international markets and environmentally conscious consumers.
Cultural and Legal Risks
While Acadeli thrives commercially, the brand also faces potential cultural and legal vulnerabilities. The chilate recipe is a form of traditional knowledge passed down informally through generations. Without legal protections such as trademarks or designations of origin, there is a risk that larger corporations could replicate or commercialize similar drinks without acknowledging or compensating the original communities.
To date, there is no record of Acadeli having secured intellectual property protections specific to its branding or the cultural heritage behind the product. As the brand scales, this could become a critical area to address, especially if it intends to enter international markets where product copycatting is common.
Marketing & Social Media Strategy
Acadeli, under the Hanbho label, has established a modest but consistent presence on social media platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. Their content often features customer testimonials, behind-the-scenes production clips, and recipe tutorials for how to enjoy chilate in different forms, like frappés, desserts, or even lattes.
However, despite the visually appealing product and cultural story, the brand’s social reach remains limited. The potential to go viral, especially on TikTok where food heritage content frequently attracts millions of views, remains untapped. With more investment in digital storytelling and influencer collaborations, Acadeli could significantly grow its following and reach younger audiences across Latin America.
Challenges & Opportunities Ahead
Acadeli faces several challenges as it moves forward. The brand is still relatively unknown outside of Mexico, and it lacks a clear roadmap for international distribution. Visibility issues on e-commerce platforms, limited social media engagement, and the absence of certifications or legal protections also present roadblocks to scaling.
Yet, the opportunities are vast. Acadeli could:
- Expand into Latin American and Hispanic U.S. markets, where nostalgia-driven food products perform well.
- Partner with restaurants, cafés, and boutique beverage shops to offer chilate-based drinks like cold brews, smoothies, and seasonal lattes.
- Collaborate with cultural organizations and tourism boards to promote Guerrero’s traditions.
- Develop stronger branding, certifications, and intellectual property frameworks to secure its market position.
Final Thoughts: A Cultural Drink with Commercial Power
Acadeli is not just a business; it’s a cultural revival in a bottle. By transforming a humble, homemade drink into a market-ready product without compromising its essence, Juan Carlos Alonso has created a brand that bridges past and present.
The journey of Acadeli shows what can happen when respect for heritage meets smart entrepreneurship. While the brand still has challenges to navigate, it has already succeeded in what many startups fail to do—create emotional resonance while solving a real-world problem.
From the Shark Tank stage to supermarket shelves, Acadeli has brewed more than just chilate; it’s brewed a movement.
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
Acadeli took the traditional Mexican drink chilate and turned it into a modern ready-to-drink brand that captured the attention of Shark Tank México investors. With strong cultural roots, natural ingredients, and a scalable business model, Acadeli is now thriving as Hanbho, offering chilate powder across major retailers in Mexico.
FAQs
What is Acadeli and who founded it?
Acadeli is a Mexican company that commercializes chilate, a traditional drink from Guerrero, under its product line Hanbho. It was founded by Juan Carlos Alonso.
Did Acadeli get a deal on Shark Tank México?
Yes, Acadeli secured a deal of 300,000 MXN for 30% equity from Sharks Carlos Bremer, Arturo Elías Ayub, and Rodrigo Herrera in 2019.
What happened to Acadeli after Shark Tank?
After Shark Tank, Acadeli rebranded to Hanbho, shifted focus to powdered chilate (including a sugar-free option), and achieved over 1 million MXN in revenue with a 50% net margin in 2019.
Where can I buy Hanbho chilate?
You can purchase Hanbho powdered chilate through Walmart México, Amazon México, Mercado Libre, and the official Hanbho website at hanbho.com.mx.
Is Hanbho the same brand as Acadeli?
Yes. Hanbho is the commercial product line used by Acadeli to sell its chilate mixes in powdered form.
Is chilate a traditional drink?
Yes, chilate is a centuries‑old beverage from Guerrero, made from roasted cacao, rice, cinnamon, and sugar, often associated with community and heritage.
Does Acadeli support indigenous communities?
Acadeli sources its ingredients from small‑scale producers in Guerrero and emphasizes fair pricing and local economic support, although it does not yet have formal fair‑trade certifications.
Has Acadeli protected its chilate recipe legally?
As of now, there are no public records of Acadeli holding trademarks or legal protections for its ancestral chilate recipe or indigenous knowledge.