San Antonio-Based Beverage Company Expands Its Footprint

San Antonio-Based Beverage Company Expands Production, Adds New Flavor & Celebrates Recognition

San Antonio-Based Beverage Company, Puro Tepache, goes from upcycled pineapple rinds to national ambitions. This beverage company is proving that a centuries-old drink can offer tantalizing refreshment, not to mention probiotic benefits, in today’s world! Owned and led by food scientists, Emmanuel Casasola and Kevin Rodriguez, Puro Tepache combines sustainability, scientific ingenuity, and cultural creativity to bring a modern, zero-waste beverage to life.

Original Mexican Soda

Categorized as a “functional beverage,” Puro Tepache has quickly become a San Antonio favorite, thanks to its contemporary take on tepache—a lightly fizzy, probiotic-rich, pineapple-based drink that traces its roots back to pre-Columbian Mexico and the Aztecs. Billed as the “original Mexican soda,” tepache has long been enjoyed across Latin America, but Puro Tepache has modernized the tradition with a proprietary brewing process that is safe, consistent and packed with flavor.

Crafted with just six all-natural ingredients—locally-sourced upcycled pineapple rinds, cinnamon, cloves, piloncillo, monk fruit, and a lactobacillus blend—Puro Tepache delivers all the flavor and all the function, without the funk. At only 90 calories, it’s an effervescent, guilt-free alternative to soda, made right here in San Antonio at the Local Sprout Food Hub, a hub for entrepreneurs and sustainable food brands.

“When we first started, it was about making the best tepache you could find in Texas,” said Emmanuel. “That goal hasn’t shifted, but we now see the traction and appetite for us to expand even further. Our focus is on maintaining the highest-quality product, while sharing it on a broader scale with audiences across Texas and beyond.”

Expansion on Tap

As demand grows, Puro Tepache is scaling up in a big way. This fall, the company is expanding its manufacturing footprint at the Local Sprout Food Hub, more than doubling its capacity with new commercial brewing equipment. The upgrade represents a 150% increase in production and positions Puro Tepache to expand distribution beyond San Antonio into Austin, Houston and Dallas as soon as possible.

The expansion also allows Puro Tepache to explore co-packing opportunities, supporting other small beverage brands across South Texas. “We’re excited not only to grow Puro Tepache, but to create opportunities for other independent companies to scale alongside us,” the team shared.

Recognition & Awards

In August, Puro Tepache was honored to be nominated for the Rising Star Small Business Award from the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce at its annual Business Expo. The award recognizes standout businesses within their first three years of operation that demonstrate innovation, sustainability and growth potential.

What’s Next: A New Flavor in Bloom

While the original flavor remains the heart of Puro Tepache, fans can expect something new on the horizon. The team is preparing to launch a new flavor featuring rose, continuing their core mission of upcycling waste products in creative, delicious ways. More on that soon.

“What keeps me getting out of bed is seeing people’s reactions when they try Puro Tepache,” said Kevin. “For some, it’s their very first time tasting tepache, and they’re blown away by how good it is. For others, it reconnects them with memories of their grandmother or aunt making it. To me, it’s a responsibility to give people those moments of joy and nostalgia—while staying true to our values of sustainability, upcycling and zero waste.”