Pamela Marquez, Puzz E Gata Jamaica

This story was originally published in cacapital.org.

Ask Pamela Marquez about the first time she drank agua de jamaica in Mexico, and the answer will span generations. “It did elicit ancestral memories in me,” says the Sacramento local, reflecting on her travels across the country. “It empowered my body.”  Pamela founded Puzz e Gata Jamaica in 2020 to share the benefits of the sweetened, cinnamon-spiced hibiscus flower tea across Northern California. For a long time, she had been unable to find any product that matched the traditional recipes she had encountered in Mexico. This year, she began working with the California Capital Women’s Business Center to develop strategies for the sustainable growth and innovation of her mission. 

As Pamela learned during her research, the hibiscus flower is not native to North America. The flower and its tea came to Central America from West Africa by way of the Caribbean. Variations of the beverage are still enjoyed widely across those regions. In fact, the differing recipes from regions within Mexico were a major inspiration for Pamela to bring a traditional brew to Sacramento. Traveling twice a year to different states, she spoke with the women selling their home-brewed agua de jamaica. She absorbed the rich cultural significance of the drink as well as their unique recipes.   

“I learned the cultural healing properties, the folk medicine uses of the past, and even the current medicinal qualities,” Pamela explains. She points out that hibiscus tea is rich in antioxidants, can fight inflammation and has been associated—in her personal experience—with alleviation of symptoms of depression. Benefits, she adds, that aren’t present in the sugary drink mixes that merely mimic the flavors of jamaica that she found outside of Mexico. “My purpose is to get real, authentic, hibiscus flower tea to the Sacramento community.”   

She developed her own recipe, a combination of methods and ingredients she learned during her travels. Then Pamela successfully launched Puzz e Gata Jamaica through the Alchemist Community Development Corporation’s Alchemist Kitchen Incubator Program. This gave her access to a commercial kitchen where she could brew and bottle her recipes. She made her product from flowers grown organically in her home garden.  

With this early success, Pamela was able to begin selling at local grocery stores. These included the Sacramento Natural Foods Cooperative and the Davis Food Cooperative. But without a background in running a business, creating a pathway to sustainability and growth was a separate challenge. She turned to the California Capital Women’s Business Center and began working with business counselor Prashante Bailey-Lewis.  

“I accept as much help as I can with my business, so whenever I see an opportunity to ask for help, I do,” says Pamela. She adds that with Bailey-Lewis’s guidance, she raised her prices and developed new strategies for marketing her product to restaurants. “She’s just a well of knowledge.” Pamela has also received support with grant proposals and pitch deck creation. Additionally, she has attended WBC networking events to build her community connections.  

The whole of Pamela’s operation seeks to elevate the culture and flavors of Mexico. From the name Puzz e Gata, her favorite Spanglish phrase for “pussy cat” with a feminized twist, to the recipe variations she offers. In addition to traditional agua de jamaica with cinnamon, Marquez also offers other flavors. These include a less-sweetened “tart” brew, a jalapeno infusion, and an infusion with cactus or nopales.  

As a Chicana founder, Pamela’s impact on the empowerment of Mexican heritage goes beyond her personal mission. Studies have cited Latino-owned businesses as the fastest growing segment of small businesses in the country. The number of Hispanic women entrepreneurs grew 137 percent between 2007 and 2016. By bringing her product to the marketplace, Pamela is contributing to the celebration of a staple of Central American culture. She also bolsters the visibility of Latina entrepreneurs in our small business economy. 

In the years ahead, Pamela’s main goal is to secure her own brick and mortar store where she can create new recipes. She also wants to test innovative uses for hibiscus flower and feature local artists. “I know I’m going in the right direction,” she says. “I can see all of the creativity that’s going to come out of this business.” 

And an insider tip? Try any of Puzz e Gata’s bottled blends poured over ice with a rim of Tajin or Chamoy, says Pamela. And keep your eyes peeled for hibiscus rim sugar for holiday specialty beverages.