Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Morales.
Hi Elizabeth, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I have a strong passion for tea. The healing power of herbs always fascinated me. Right before Covid, I bartended meanwhile attending school. When restrictions were lifted, I knew I didn’t want to return to bartending full time so I decided to start a business that would be more flexible so that I can spend time with my son Hendrix (now 8 years old) and finish my education.
I didn’t have enough money to start a brick and mortar, so I decided food truckin’ would be my best option. I convinced my mother to get out of her early retirement and help me. She is the muscle and brain of this operation. It was she who convinced me to add boba to my tea concoctions. It is less healthy than I imagined but way more fun for sure.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Food trucking is not as glamorous as I imagined. I didn’t realize how physical and time-consuming it would be until I was already thigh deep. We ran into bumps left and right, but we fought through. Between constant repairs of the truck and trailer, I was feeling discouraged. But mother watched many YouTube videos and went to work conquering every obstacle presented. She is my HERO!
We ran into situations where we were taken advantage of or even scammed by event organizers. That’s when I realized that I had to cut the middle woman/man out and handle all of my arrangements on my terms. Not settling allowed me to fully understand our true worth and it allowed others to see it too.
As you know, we’re big fans of THE TEA LIZARD. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I create fresh boba tea concoctions. We use fresh ingredients to make creative cocktails. I try to honor my Puerto Rican roots by adding tropical fruits, herbs, and spices like ginger, mint, and turmeric.
We have many flavors to choose from, and we even have the option to create your concoction using as many combinations as you would like. We offer catering for small and large events. We love to see the “first sip” facial reactions. Those reactions are the reason we put all of our love into every tea drink we create.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love how central we are. Orlando is in the middle of everything great. The people are loving, open, innovative, and accepting. If I have to choose one thing to dislike, it will be the neglect of our homeless.
Pricing:
- Catering drinks average about $6.00/per person
- Event drinks average about $8.00/ a drink
Contact Info:
- Website: TheTeaLizard.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_tea_lizard/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTeaLizard
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-tea-lizard-orlando
