The physical location of Sweet Taste of Texas Southern Style Candies is so nondescript, the company’s catalog provides an extremely detailed description of how to find it.**
But once you do find it, you will enter “pecan paradise,” where most items are made fresh using top-grade, mammoth pecan halves grown right here in Texas. More than likely, you will be greeted with a sample of glazed nuts, fresh and sweet, tempting you to buy more.
Sweet Taste of Texas, Inc., was founded by Tony and Brenda Wilson and opened in Memorial City Mall in July 1985. In 1988, the Wilsons added a factory location near the mall to handle the increased sales volume primarily around the Christmas season, when corporate orders, internet orders and shipping throughout the United States ramp up.
In 2001, they combined their retail with their manufacturing facility on Brittmoore Road and were there for 30 years until 2021, when they moved just a mile away to an easily accessible location off of the Beltway 8 frontage road in the Spring Branch Management District.
Tony Wilson passed away in 2005, and the company continued to operate under Brenda with the help of her daughter, Kim Naron.
If you need a Texas-centric gift or are ordering holiday gifts for clients, this is the place for you.
“Our product is great for corporate gifts, hospitality gifts, wedding favors, any occasion or just because you want a sweet taste of Texas,” said Naron, presiding over creamy, mouth-watering Southern Style Pralines, chocolate, caramel and pecan Turtles. Inside the counter in front of her was irresistible, luscious, creamy fudge that melts in your mouth. Just try to leave without taking some home with you. It’s not easily done.
While the Spring Branch location and online orders are open year-round, the holiday season is when the showroom is packed, Naron said, and it is easy to see why with the beautifully wrapped and incredibly convenient gift options on display and available for purchase.
The Texas-style gift boxes that contain the popular glazed pecans, as well as other items, come in several designs, including wrapping adorned with cowboy hats, bluebonnets, bandannas and Texas hot peppers.
“The unique Texas packaging appeals not only to Houstonians, but to anyone that wants a taste of Texas,” Naron said.
Because it’s the taste of Texas, Naron said, the company only uses Texas pecans, unlike other companies that source their pecans from elsewhere.
The owners chose the Spring Branch District for their operation because that is where their main client base resides, Naron said.
But, of course, clients come from — and call from — all over.
“Whether you order by mail, telephone, fax, internet or visit our factory store, our goal at Sweet Taste of Texas is your complete satisfaction,” the company says on its website, where you can place your order from the comfort of your home or office.
If you want to stop in for a sample and to peruse the various products, the showroom is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
While normally closed Saturdays and Sundays, the hours change during the busy holiday season, which will be here before you know it. Best to start making those sweet gift-giving plans now.
Sweet Taste of Texas
Town Business Center
110681 Haddington Dr. Ste 160
Houston, TX 77043
https://sweettasteoftexas.com/product/truly-texas/
800-328-5848
**Finding Sweet Taste of Texas: The company offices and showroom are easily accessible off the frontage road on the east side of Beltway 8 between Hazelhurst and Haddington Drive.
Go north 1/2 mile on the frontage road from Westview
Drive and turn into the entrance to Town and Country Business Center after you pass Hazelhurst Drive but before you reach Haddington Drive. Look for 10681 in numerals on the top left corner of the building to your left as you enter the business center and then spot the Sweet Taste of Texas sign on the building and #160 above the front door.
— by Dorothy Puch Lillig
