Alicia Villanueva learned to make tamales as a child in Mazatlan, Mexico. Her abuelita and mother taught her everything they knew, teaching her not only her heritage, but what would become her livelihood. When Alicia immigrated to the United States in 2001, she immediately started sharing her family's tamales with as many people as possible. She worked hard to build her business, and now handmakes over 4,500 tamales a week with a small staff of friends and family.