A Promise Before Birth
ANELIZ was born from a promise.
A promise made in silence to a child who had not yet been born. During one of the most difficult periods of my life, I found myself pregnant, alone, with very little, but with one deep certainty: my son deserved a better life.During my pregnancy, the nights felt long.
I would place my hands on my belly and speak to him. I promised him a good education, a dignified life, love, safety, and a mother who would never give up.When he was born, that promise became my mission. I could no longer only dream. I had to build.
The Legacy of Grandma Aneliz
In those moments of doubt, one woman inspired me more than anyone else: my grandmother, Aneliz. In our neighborhood and throughout downtown Port-au-Prince, many people called her “Miami” or “Madame Maurice.
” She was a businesswoman, courageous, respected, and generous. Every morning, she left home very early to sell her products in the city and often returned late at night after long days of work.
She had rare discipline, quiet strength, and an enormous heart.
After my grandfather passed away, she raised her six children alone. She raised me as well. She helped her family, her neighbors, children, and people who had nowhere to go. She fed people, welcomed them, supported them, and sent children to school whenever she could. She did not only speak about generosity. She lived it.
She was the one who taught me how to sell, how to speak to people, how to never be ashamed of working hard, and how to believe in the value of what we create. As a child, I sometimes accompanied her to her business. Other times, she gave products to me and my cousins to sellin the neighborhood market. That is where I learned my very first lessons in entrepreneurship.
The First Steps of a Dream
After my son was born, I wanted to create a small business to support us. I had saved 25,000
Haitian gourdes to start a small shop, but I had just given birth and needed to care for my baby first.
My grandmother offered me a simple but powerful solution: she would use that money to expand her business, and with the profits, she would help feed my son every week.
She kept her word.
Later, when I was finally ready to begin my own journey, she supported me again. She gave me more than money she gave me love, stability, strength, and confidence.
That is how the idea of ANELIZ slowly began to take shape.
A Dream Born Between Haiti, Family,
A Dream Born Between Haiti, Family, and the Land
For a long time, I dreamed of showcasing Haiti’s natural products: the tea leaves sold in the streets, the spices from our kitchens, the coffee from our mountains, and the cacao from our land.
I wanted to take these simple treasures, prepare them with care, package them beautifully, and proudly present them to the world.
But life led me elsewhere. The growing insecurity in Haiti forced me to leave the country with my son and my family. We moved back to the Dominican Republic without certainty, but with the
determination to keep moving forward.
There, I searched for opportunities. I resold furniture, rented out a vehicle, and studied cosmetology, marketing, communication, and product manufacturing. I was constantly learning,
building, and preparing even when I did not yet know exactly when everything would come together.
But deep inside, I always knew that one day, all of it would matter.
From a Dream to a Brand
A few years later, the dream finally started becoming reality. Through connections with local producers in Haiti, I began working with Haitian coffee and cacao.
I created my first company, Debo Empresa, to sell coffee and cacao wholesale. With the help of my sister, we began exporting products internationally, especially to France.
The first tastings were encouraging. People spoke about the aroma, the quality, and the warm taste of our coffee. Their reactions brought back childhood memories: morning coffee at my
grandmother’s house, family moments around the table, shared bread, hot chocolate in the neighborhood, and the comforting smells that filled our homes.
ANELIZ was no longer just an idea. It had become a living memory.
Products That Tell the Story of Haiti
Today, ANELIZ highlights products inspired by Haiti, family, the land, and tradition.
Our coffee comes from Thiotte, in the high mountains of Haiti, grown at over 5,000 feet above sea level, in regions such as Gros Cheval, Mare Blanche, and Blue Pine Forest. It is an Arabica
Typica coffee, carefully cultivated by passionate small farmers.
Every cup carries a story one of mountains, farming families, craftsmanship, patience, and dignity.
Our cacao also comes from Haiti, particularly from the North and Grand’Anse regions, known fortheir rich lands and agricultural traditions. It reflects the depth, warmth, and authenticity of our
culture.Our artisanal teas are handcrafted in Pennsylvania using carefully selected fruits, leaves,flowers, and spices. Every infusion is created to comfort, warm, and bring a moment of well-being.
ANELIZ is also a celebration of Haitian flavors: spices, seasonings, marinades, and the rich tastes that turn a simple meal into a memory of home.
A Vision Greater Than a Brand
ANELIZ is more than a coffee, tea, or chocolate brand. It is a legacy.
It carries my grandmother’s name, along with her strength, generosity, discipline, and love for people — values that continue to live through this project.My vision is to one day create a place in Haiti where agriculture, tourism, culture, and heritage come together: coffee, cacao, and spice fields; visitors discovering the land, the producers, and the mountains; a peaceful and beautiful space rooted in Haitian pride.
And through this project, I also hope to support women facing financial hardship, help childrenaccess education, and give back to the community — just as my grandmother always did.
Because success only matters when it becomes useful to others.
ANELIZ A Living Memory
When I arrived in the United States, I chose to name my brand after my grandmother: ANELIZ.
Because there could be no better name.
Today, from Pennsylvania, I am building a brand that connects Haiti to the world through coffee, cacao, teas, spices, and the flavors of our culture. ANELIZ is a promise turned into a business.
It is a mother’s love for her son.
It is a grandmother’s legacy.
It is the warmth of a Haitian kitchen.
It is the pride of our farmers.
It is a cup that tells a story.
ANELIZ — More than a brand.
A living memory, a legacy in motion.