OUR STORY

Tastee Treats

Tastee Treats is a family owned business that was established by Latanya and Michael Allen. It was founded on the principles of maintaining the Gullah/Geechee foods and cultural traditions, and passing them on to future generations. Latanya has always enjoyed creating new recipes for friends and family members. She enjoyed entertaining in her home and serving different Gullah food dishes and treats to friends and family. As a young Gullah gal she was first taught to cook by her mother Frances, who emphasized the importance of using fresh fruits, vegetables and natural ingredients. Latanya, later learned how to prepare Gullah desserts and treats from her Grandmother, Elizabeth. She continues to keep her Gullah legacy pressing forward by teaching her children Gullah recipes. Her love of cooking, quickly became a hobby. Michael is a historian and expert on Gullah/Geechee, Low Country, South Carolina history and culture, therefore providing a wealth of knowledge and cultural nuances to Tastee Treats.

Many of Latanya’s friends would request of her to bake or prepare special and unique dishes for them. Later, they began to encourage her to sell her treats to the general public. The encouragement that she received from her friends, sparked a fire inside of her and she began to test the market with other family members and associates, to determine whether this could become a viable business. To her amazement and great surprise many people overwhelmingly loved her products, and strongly urge her to take a leap of faith, and start Tastee Treats. Many of the recipes that Tastee Treats prepares are from Latanya’s grandmother’s recipe box, these recipes have been passed down through four generations in her family. Her grandmother would often say, “You must put love in every dish that you prepare for people. Each dish that you prepare must be pleasing to the eyes, because people eat with their eyes before they eat with their mouths.” Those times she sat at her mother’s and grandmother’s feet learning how to prepare these timeless jewels (recipes) are tuck away in the archives of her memory. Tastee Treats products are made from high quality and all natural ingredients. Some of Grandmother-Elizabeth recipes has been linked to the West African countries of Sierra Leona, Guinea, and Liberia. Also, these recipes were prepared by her ancestors that were enslaved Africans.

Tastee Treats has been a vendor at a variety of markets, fairs, festivals, thus giving consumers the opportunity to experience a slice of Gullah culture, traditions, cuisine, and desserts. We believe that this is the best way to promote, protect, and preserve the Gullah/Geechee traditions that has been passed down from generations to generations.