Angelica Tejeda is fulfilling her dream of introducing Dominican-style desserts to the Greater Hazleton area through her new business, Sweet Coconuts.

Specializing in traditional Dominican desserts made from coconut and sweet potatoes, Tejeda aims to connect people with her culture and create lasting memories through food. The entrepreneur has the potential to reach even more customers thanks to the Hazleton Kitchen Incubator, a shared kitchen program which provides resources to regional culinary-based startups.

Restarting a Beloved Venture in the U.S.

“I’ve been running this business for about six years back in the Dominican Republic,” Tejeda said. “When I moved to the U.S., I decided to restart the venture I knew and loved. The Hazleton Kitchen Incubator provided the support I needed to bring Sweet Coconuts back to life here.”

Sweet Coconuts offers a variety of coconut-based desserts, with plans to expand its menu to include other Dominican sweets such as jalao, a confection made of coconut and honey. For Tejeda, the business is a way to celebrate her Dominican roots and share her love of food with her new community in Hazleton.

Support from the Hazleton Kitchen Incubator

Tejeda found out about the Hazleton Kitchen Incubator through a friend, and it’s been a crucial resource in helping her bring Sweet Coconuts to market. The incubator, located inside the Hayden Family Center for the Arts in downtown Hazleton and co-managed by the CAN BE Innovation Center, provides affordable access to a fully equipped commercial kitchen, offering local entrepreneurs the chance to start and grow food businesses without the high cost of setting up their own facility.

“I love that the kitchen is professional and has everything I need to make my desserts, all at a very reasonable price,” Tejeda said. “Nico Makuta, the Business Financing Specialist at CAN DO, has been incredibly helpful throughout the process, making sure everything went smoothly as I worked to get my business organized and licensed.”

Where to Find Sweet Coconuts

With the support of the Hazleton Kitchen Incubator and the community, Tejeda is excited about the future of Sweet Coconuts. She hopes to grow her customer base and expand her product offerings while continuing to bring a taste of the Dominican Republic to Hazleton.

For more information on Sweet Coconuts, follow @sweetcoconuts24 on Instagram.

For more information about the Hazleton Kitchen Incubator or starting a business in the Greater Hazleton Area, visit canbe.biz or contact Nico Makuta at nmakuta@hazletoncando.com.