Chronic diseases are on the increase worldwide, however there
is a global trend seeking to combat those illnesses through healthy choices.
Europeans, in particular, are becoming more health conscious
and are focused on using natural products, ranging from food to make up.
In 2018 the European cosmetic market was valued at approximately 78.6 billion with the natural cosmetics niche market accounting for some five per cent of the total market.
Europeans also enjoy sauces, condiments and seasonings and
have for the past couple years imported the same from a number of Caribbean
countries. Sauces, condiments and seasonings made in Caribbean countries and
exported to Europe in 2018 are valued at US$ 8,149,000.
Anastasha Elliot, who hails from Saint Kitts and Nevis, has been eyeing both the European cosmetics and condiment markets with the intention of getting a piece of the pie. Her company, Sugar Town Organics, producers of natural food and cosmetics, will participate in the upcoming 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, slated for September 26 to 28 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Organised by the Caribbean Export Development Agency, the
forum will bring together over 150 stakeholders and businesses from 15
CARIFORUM countries and Europe with the intention to build partnerships and to
boost exports to the continent.
Anastasha’s journey to producing a range of healthy natural products for everyday use began when her mother was diagnosis with cervical cancer. That pushed the family to look critically at the products they used and the food they consumed.
That forced us to take a look at our environment, our food source, what and how we ate, how we were living both the emotional and mental aspects and the products we used on our skin and hair, Anastasha recalled.
As a result, a number of things happened:
The family adopted a holistic lifestyle,
embracing indigenous herbs and fruits.
Her mother beat cancer in four months.
Anastasha and her mother launched Sugar
Town Organics, a natural agro-processing company in 2010.
Built on strong traditional knowledge in herbal care passed down through generations, the company combines science and cultural practices to the produce over 80 items for everyday use or consumption. With Anastasha’s degree in culinary arts, along with diplomas in organic hair and skin care formulation, she ensures everything they create helps consumers to live healthier lives.
Sugar Town Organics produces natural food and cosmetics under
two brands: Flauriel and Yaphene. Everything is made with raw, active, high
performance ingredients sourced from indigenous botanical fruits, herbs and
plants found in Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean. Raw material include
hibiscus, fennel, nettle, coconut, ginger, neem, soursop, sorrel, sugar cane,
sea weed, and tarragon.
For persons seeking the best in personal care products, Yaphene offers a wide variety of options that are powered by nature. Free from GMO, toxins, fillers, parfum, synthetic chemicals and artificial colours, the line includes shampoos, conditions, hair growth serums, oils, toothpaste, eye cream, facial cream, hair cream, and deodorant. Local spas and hotels use Yaphene products.
Under the Flauriel brand, the health-conscious person can
choose from natural jams, salad dressings, pancake syrup, vinaigrettes, liqueurs
and wine made from a variety of indigenous crops such as hibiscus, mango,
coconut, sorrel, soursop, avocado, guava, ginger and more.
The mother-daughter company works with eleven local farmers
and sources additional raw material from Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad.
Sugar Town Organics can be found in over eight stores in St.
Kitts. The company is now focused on exporting its brands throughout the
Caribbean and Europe.
Turmeric has many proven health benefits and is thought to assist in the prevention of heart disease, Alzheimers, high blood pressure, and cancer to name a few. It is also a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant and is high in iron and vitamin B6.
After seeing the turmeric being grown in Belize while on assignment there in 2014 for an International NGO, Umeeda Switlo fell in love with the Belizean turmeric. It was huge and really orangey in colour, she enthused. In that moment she had the idea to form a business venture using wild crafted, whole root turmeric grown by the farmers in Belize.
As a result, she started a company with her daughter Nareena and called it Naledo – a combination of the name Nareena and Toledo, the district in Belize where the turmeric is sourced. This company produces Truly Turmeric, which has the distinction of being the world’s first wildcrafted whole root turmeric paste. The company also created a social enterprise in Toledo that would support farmers, from whom the turmeric is sourced directly, employ youth, improve health and produce products sustainably.
Umeeda admits
that this model of doing business was inspired by her mother Lella (known as
Mamajee) who had instilled in her a strong sense of social responsibility and
who, during time spent in the kitchen cooking together would always ask both
she and her daughter Nareena what they could do to make the world a better
place.
After developing Truly Turmeric in 2016, Naledo decided to gain exposure by launching the product at an industry trade show in Vancouver in May 2016. With just a basic set up of 50 labelled jars and a few samples, they managed to attract the attention of a national distributor who believed in their social enterprise model and helped them to grow from zero stores in 2016 to 600 stores across Canada. Truly Turmeric can also be found in Belize, the Bahamas and some parts of the United States.
Keen to find new markets for the product and to share the health benefits of turmeric with other parts of the world, Naledo will be taking Truly Turmeric to Europe as part of the 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum being held from September 26 to 28 in Frankfurt, Germany. The forum is being organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Commission and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) .
Truly Turmeric paste is great for use in many dishes including marinades, smoothies, oatmeal, soups, stir fry, curries, eggs or just in plain water. The paste can also be used to make a refreshing and rejuvenating face mask if desired.
More and more people are conscious not only
about what they put into their bodies for good health but also what they put on
to their skin. Consumers are trying to get away from sulfates traditionally
found in shampoos that have gained notoriety for being very harsh on the skin
& scalps of persons with skin conditions such as: psoriasis, eczema or
sensitive skin. Skin conditions such as
psoriasis affect 7.8 million adults in Europe and approximately 1-3% of adults
in Europe suffer from eczema. Also, many consumers are now seeking to
avoid parabens a key component used to restrict bacterial growth in many
popular international hair care lines which has been linked in recent times by
many medical studies to the development of breast cancer.
Across the Caribbean you’ll find naturally made soaps, shampoo’s and personal care products that are devoid of such dangerous chemicals. At the upcoming 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum in Frankfurt, Germany a collection of some of the finest natural products from the Caribbean will be presented such as, Curealoe from Curacao; Caribbean Blue Naturals from Saint Lucia; BahamaSpa from the Bahamas and Sugar Town Organics from St. Kitts and Nevis. Another such company which is quickly becoming a company to look out for is Herboo Corporation Ltd.
Herboo Corporation Ltd., a Jamaican company which produces a range of hair and skin products using locally grown plants, spices and herbs. According to Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Javin Williams, the idea was birthed out of his personal experience with dandruff. A few years ago I had really bad dandruff and while I tried the popular brands they just would not work so in my frustration I went to my grandmother and she recommended some herbs to me like rosemary and peppermint and trust me when I tell you that when I used them, in less than two weeks my dandruff was gone.
After that
experience he decided to utilize locally grown herbs and spices on a commercial
scale as a way to help others treat their hair and skin. He explained that coming from a poor
background meant that he did not have the money needed to produce the products
on the scale he wanted so his sister came to the rescue.
She took samples
of the products to her university and asked for donations in exchange for a
sample of the products. The money
collected was the seed money used to create products on a commercial sale which
were then sold and the proceeds used to develop new products. Javin also entered a number of business
competitions and the proceeds from those also assisted.
In addition to
local financial assistance, Javin also received support in a number of areas
including the chemical composition of the product, investment advice and
marketing.
The 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum is a 3-day event taking place from 26-28th September 2019. Over 60 Caribbean suppliers across 4 industry sectors will be at the event organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency in collaboration with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) aims to improve trade between the Caribbean and Europe.
Whether it’s for medicinal or recreational use, tea is one of the most consumed hot beverages worldwide. In 2017 the global tea market was valued at almost US 50 billions dollars and it is expected to exceed US 73 billion dollars by 2024.
Certainly, European traders in the 16th century knew they were onto something great when they introduced tea leaves from China to the continent. Only growing in popularity, tea remains not only a preferred beverage to sip but a wise investment choice in Europe.
The Caribbean Export Development Agency has created a unique opportunity for European buyers and distributers interested in natural teas from the Caribbean to be introduced to export ready tea brands at the upcoming 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum.
Slated for September 26 to 28 at the Union Halle, Frankfurt, Germany the high profile event will be hosted by Caribbean Export in collaboration with the European Commission and the Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).
Over 150 Caribbean and European counterparts will get the unique opportunity to meet under one roof to discover tantalizing Caribbean products and services as well as network and build international partnerships. The purpose is to help companies from 15 CARIFORUM countries start or increase exports to Europe.
Caribbean Cure, the award-winning tea company from Trinidad and Tobago, is one of the natural ingredient companies seeking to get its tasty and earthy concoctions sold in Europe.
Brewing nothing but pure natural Caribbean goodness, owners Sophia Stone and Stacy Seeterram were inspired by tradition to produce five deliciously healthy infusions.
The brews pleased more than just the palates of family and friends. In fact, Caribbean Cure has been recognized as producers of world class teas. In 2017 and 2018 the company won bronze for its Tropical Relaxation blend and its Island Breeze blend respectively at the Global Tea Championships hosted by the World Tea Expo in Colorado.
And if that wasn’t impressive enough, Caribbean Cure was shortlisted for a SIAL Paris 2018 Product Innovation award in the prestigious SIAL Innovation Contest, the world’s largest Food and Beverage Exhibition.
The secret is in the process. The tea leaves are slow dried to maximize nutrient content. Each blend offers a delicate balance formulated to create a memorable and unique experience in every cup, Stacy Seeterram explained.
Co-owner Sophia Stone added, I wanted to honour our long history in the Caribbean of using herbs and bush teas. Backed by science, my goal was to make these healing remedies more efficacious, convenient and attractive to today’s consumer.
Also headed to Frankfurt, Germany in September is Shavuot, a Jamaican brand of exotic teas made from local leaves, seeds and roots such as carassee, ginger, moringa and turmeric.
Owned by Richard Harris and his two sons, Joel and Jordan Harris, the trio decided to produce value added products from crops grown on the family’s farm. Shavuot, which means harvesting goodness, is sold in approximately 15 countries. The family produces thousands of cases of tea each month, with 90 per cent being shipped overseas and the remainder sold in Jamaica.
For buyers interested in sourcing Caribbean teas, the 4th CARIFORUM Business Forum is the only place to be from September 26 to 28.
Did you know that dark chocolate naturally releases a chemical in the brain to make you happy?
When Elizabeth Lady Montano was informed of this by Gillian Goddard, Co-Director of the ARC TT The Alliance of Rural Communities of Trinidad and Tobago, that light-bulb moment went off. Lady Montano had been struggling to find that perfect treat for patrons attending her son’s (International Soca artist Machel Montano) annual Machel Monday Carnival Concert. In 2014 her and her team had been on a quest to find the perfect snack to highlight the theme Happy Nation and as veganism and vegetarianism are lifestyle choices of the Montano’s, creating a vegan chocolate became the obvious choice!
Our brand ambassador Machel Montano is vegan, I am also vegan and most of our family is either vegan or vegetarian. We want to encourage healthy living hence those ingredients. There are no preservatives, no additives, no emulsifiers and no dairy of course. We wanted to keep it pure, healthy and attractive to taste and we have succeeded in doing that. We want to make people aware that you can eat healthy and still enjoy it, Lady Montano said.
Machel Montano Chocolate Ltd will be attending the upcoming 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum, which will be held in Union Halle, Frankfurt, Germany from September 26 to 28, 2019 in an effort to break into the European market.
Organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency in cooperation with the European Union and the German Development Agency (GIZ), the forum aims to improve trade and exports from the region to Europe, especially in high potential growth areas such as the agro-processed food and natural ingredient industries.
Machel Montano Chocolate Company Ltd produces 60 per cent dark chocolate bar using authentic fine flavoured Trinitario cocoa. The formula is quite simple containing only three ingredients: cocoa nibs, cocoa butter and Guyanese Demerara sugar and has a shelf life of one year. As a handmade product it’s currently ranked as the second best local chocolate in Trinidad, and it now has its eyes on expanding into Europe and the United States.
The Montano’s mission isn’t just to produce a fantastic tasting happiness inducing vegan chocolate, they also want to revitalize the Trinidadian cocoa industry. The company has sought to empower several local communities, which currently supply the cocoa.
Machel through his foundation is working with the Siparia community where he grew up to set up a factory. This is part of our Corporate Social Responsibility and we are working with WHYFARM to achieve that goal, disclosed Lady Montano, adding that the foundation was empowering residents through training and by equipping them with chocolate production tools.
Trinitario cacoa come from the Trinitario cacao trees which are a natural hybrid biological class resulting from cross-pollination. They were created in Trinidad after a hurricane in 1727 destroyed most of the Criollo cacao trees. The Trinidad cacao plantations were then replanted with Forastero resulting in the creation of a hybrid of Criollo and Forastero (source: https://www.caribbeanandco.com/caribbean-chocolate-brands/)
Over 60 Caribbean producers will be attending the Business Forum and other chocolate producers include Cocoa Saint Lucia and Coldbush Organics from Jamaica.
The global cosmetics industry generates billions of dollars each year and Jamaican Dianne Plummer, owner of Your True Shade, a healthy cosmetic line manufactured in her homeland, is hoping to get a slice of that market.
The first Caribbean cosmetics beauty line to be certified by Cruelty Free International in the United Kingdom; Your True Shade is recognised as a green skin care and clean cosmetics brand. Your True Shade was created out of necessity by Dianne while studying sustainable energy and chemical engineering in Sweden and Finland. During that period, she found it difficult to find makeup that offered ideal coverage without irritating her sensitive skin and causing eczema flare ups.
Using her engineering background, Dianne hand-picked natural ingredients to formulate her own skincare and make-up line. As a result, Your True Shade Cosmetics Limited was born. The line has the distinction of being free from harmful chemicals commonly used in some skin care products. And remarkably, it celebrates the diversity of skin tones found in the Caribbean and beyond.
Though her company is only four years old, Dianne is determined to be a trailblazer in natural skin care in the Caribbean and focuses heavily on innovation, research and development. I’m always trying to make everything better, change formulations and tweak things as we go forward, because innovation has to be at the core of the business, she said.
She added that the old way of doing things was not a sustainable business model, but that a revolution was needed. In her opinion, what separates the outstanding entrepreneur from the average Jane or Joe is the ability to bring something new, never before seen or done, to the market. “In an already saturated market, like skincare, one must figure out how to do it differently and be innovative, Dianne stressed.
She does this by fusing technology, science and nature to deliver a safe, efficacious product, thereby successfully changing the narrative surrounding beauty by making it synonymous with health.
Your True Shade cosmetics is known for its ability to conceal and minimise imperfections, as well as promote healing and repair through the locally-sourced, natural, anti-inflammatory and hydrating herbs, spices and plant extracts used to formulate the line. In essence, it’s makeup with skincare benefits.
Your True Shade will be at the 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum being organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency at the Union Halle in Frankfurt, Germany from September 26 to 28. Together the over 60 Caribbean suppliers, the event organized in collaboration with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) aims to improve trade between the Caribbean and Europe.
Find out more about True Shade Cosmetics: www.yourtrueshade.com and join their community on Facebook @trueshadecosmetics and Instagram @yourtrueshade.
Well executed animations can enhance the viewing experience of both children and adults. Full Circle Animation Studio, from Trinidad and Tobago is just one company in the Caribbean that is excelling in its production of animations and whose body of work is being noticed internationally.
As a result, creators in the company worked tirelessly between December 2017 and May 2018 to perfect the animation for the show.
“This show had a very unique and distinctive style of design and animation. It looks simple and minimalist but it required us to transmit a lot of emotion through the characters using very limited animation movement. Going in, we had underestimated how challenging that could be, while keeping the provocative edge that really defines the style of the show. In that regard, it was a new technical experience for us†said Managing Director Jason Lindsay.
Mr. Lindsay also noted that the experience benefitted his team tremendously. “For a young animation industry like ours here in Trinidad, the main long-term benefit of an opportunity like this is the investment in our human resource. The experience and technical/creative insight gained from our animators working with an experienced production studio like Big Jump Entertainment is invaluable. The entire team benefited from it tremendously,†he stated.
Full Circle has also worked on smaller productions which were broadcast on The Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Universal Studios, DreamWorks TV and RAI as well as on projects in the Caribbean.
The company has also collaborated with other companies in the Caribbean on regional and international projects. “On our very first outsourcing job, we collaborated with animation studios in Barbados and Jamaica. Since then, it’s not uncommon for us to work with animation studios in St. Lucia, Barbados and Jamaica for international outsourcing clients. We’ve collaborated on projects with Malfinis Productions in St. Lucia, Alycone Animation and Skyres in Jamaica and Westoonz and BIMAP in Barbados.
“We’ve also developed working relationships with a network of recording studios, casting directors and voice actors in Grenada, Belize, Suriname, Dominica, and Guyana for projects based on Caribbean content like the CARICOM mini-series Pepperpot Valley,†the Managing Director explained.
Now focused on expansion and growth, Full Circle is looking to offer its services on the European market. To that end they will participate in the 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum being held in Frankfurt, Germany by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) in collaboration with the European Commission and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ).
This will be an opportunity for them to explore business options available on the European market and to give Europeans some highlights of their vast repertoire.
The Business Forum is a high-profile event which seeks to develop and build international partnerships through business to business meetings, networking and business consultations.
El ron ha sido
descubierto, producido y perfeccionado en las plantaciones de azúcar del Caribe desde
el sigloXVII. A lo largo de la
años la demanda de este subproducto de la caña de azúcar ha crecido en todo el mundo.
Las exportaciones globales de ron del CARIFORUM (una agrupación de quince países caribeños) a Europa han aumentado un 26,86 % en los últimos tres años hasta alcanzar un valor de 1,45 millones de euros. Los principales importadores son España y Alemania, y el consumo español representa el 14% del mercado de bebidas espirituosas.
Para mejorar y fortalecer aún más las exportaciones en Europa, los representantes de las industrias productoras de ron del CARIFORUM convergerán en Fráncfort (Alemania) del 26 al 28 de septiembre de 2019 en el 4º Foro Empresarial del CARIFORUM en la UE para establecer relaciones y aumentar la conciencia en Europa.
El Foro Empresarial está organizado por la Agencia de Desarrollo de las Exportaciones del Caribe, que ha identificado las industrias de alimentos agroprocesados e ingredientes naturales, así como las industrias culturales y creativas, como los sectores con mayor potencial de crecimiento en Europa.
Ian Burrell, el ÚNICO embajador mundial reconocido del ron, dirigirá la clase magistral sobre el ron en la segunda jornada del foro empresarial.
Refiriéndose al desarrollo de esta industria a lo largo de los años, el Director de Competitividad y Promoción de las Exportaciones de Caribbean Export, Damie Sinanan, señaló que en la última década la producción de ron se ha diversificado para incluir una amplia gama de sabores, como manzana, piña, mango y fruta de la pasión. Con estos cambios de tendencia y el aumento de la demanda, esperamos ver una gama más diversa de ron caribeño disponible en el mercado europeo.
Sabías que…
1. No todos los rones
son dulces
La mayoría de los rones se elaboran a partir de la melaza, un subproducto de la caña de azúcar, mediante un proceso de fermentación y destilación, y tras este proceso sólo queda el alcohol. En consecuencia, el ron en su estado natural no contiene azúcar y el dulzor natural del ron procede del envejecimiento en barricas de madera de roble americano, principalmente. Algunos productores de ron añaden azúcar al ron destilado para endulzar y suavizar el producto, haciéndolo parecer más espeso y lujoso. Sin embargo, esto no se encuentra en los auténticos países productores de ron, como Barbados, Jamaica y Martinica, que tienen normas que prohíben añadir azúcar y otros conservantes.
2. Los piratas no sólo bebían ron
Aunque el ron se consideraba la bebida preferida de los piratas entre los años 1660 y 1730, cuando la piratería florecía en el Caribe, los piratas no sólo bebían ron. Famosos piratas como el auténtico Capitán Morgan (nacido en 1635 en Gales y fallecido en 1688 en Jamaica), Edward Teach alias Barbanegra y otros bebían todo tipo de alcohol y licores como el brandy, el oporto y el vino español. La mayor parte del ron que se consumía en el siglo XVII lo bebía la gente que vivía en el Caribe, no los piratas.
3. El ron es francés
para el ron
El ron con H es
no es un error ortográfico, sino que se refiere al ron de estilo francés que se elabora con
zumo de caña de azúcar exprimido en lugar de melaza. El nombre oficial es Rhum
Agricole y este estilo de ron se elabora tradicionalmente en el antiguo Caribe francés
colonias como Martinica, que etiqueta su ron como AOC Martinique Rhum
Agrícola.
4. Ron es español
para el ron
Al igual que los franceses tienen una forma diferente de deletrear el ron, los españoles también lo hacen. De hecho, si estás en un país de habla hispana, el ron se escribirá Ron. Además de la variante francesa y española, también existen otros nombres para el ron. De hecho, el ron tiene muchos nombres no oficiales, como Aguadiente, Brebaje, Barbados Water, Clarin, Demon Water, Guildive, Killdevil, Nelson’s Blood, Red Eye, Pirates Drink, Navy Neaters y Tafia. En cuanto al origen de la palabra ron en sí, se cree que procede de una antigua palabra inglesa llamada Rumbullion que se utilizaba para describir el aguardiente de caña en Barbados a mediados del siglo XVI y que significa alboroto o tumulto. Otro vínculo es con la palabra Rumbustious debido a los efectos de beber ron.
5. No todas las edades
los rones son oscuros
Allí
hay diferentes tipos de ron, como el dorado, el oscuro, el blanco y el especiado,
con sabor y a prueba de todo. El ron añejo tiende a
ser oscuros, pero también hay algunos rones blancos envejecidos. El ron blanco añejo se consigue
destilando el ron en una barrica de roble filtrada con carbón vegetal, y esto
El color oscuro se elimina, pero el ron sigue teniendo el rico sabor de los rones más oscuros.
rones. La claridad y la frescura de los rones blancos los convierten en una opción perfecta para
se puede beber solo, con hielo y lima o en un cóctel de ron.
Beyond Cane Spirit Rothschild (CSR) y Brinley Gold Shipwreck, dos rones blancos
de San Cristóbal, un ron blanco añejo muy popular es Barcardi, con orígenes en
Cuba, pero ahora se produce en Puerto Rico.
6. Hay
diferentes maneras de experimentar y saborear el ron
El ron se suele combinar con coca-cola (light) o zumos de frutas, pero hay otras formas de beber esta bebida espirituosa global. Para los rones de alta calidad con sabores y aromas complejos, lo mejor es beberlo solo o con un chorrito de agua o un cubito de hielo. Los rones de primera calidad también funcionan bien en cócteles clásicos como el Old fashions y el Manhattans. Una tendencia creciente es maridar el ron con diferentes tipos de alimentos, como el chocolate y los malvaviscos. Disfrutar de una copa de ron premium puro mientras se fuma un puro es también otro de los pasatiempos favoritos. Tenga en cuenta que cuando visite un bar caribeño o una tienda de ron, es posible que escuche “straight” o “straight up” en lugar de “neat” para un chupito de ron.
7. El ron viene en
todas las gamas de precios
Al igual que el resto de las bebidas alcohólicas, los precios del ron varían de menor a mayor, con botellas de ron básicas que oscilan entre los 20 y los 60 dólares, pero los precios son mucho más elevados. Por ejemplo, un ron Independence de 50 años de Appleton Estate, destilado en 1962 pero embotellado en 2012, se vende por unos 5.000 dólares. No es de extrañar, ya que sólo se pusieron en circulación 800 botellas del ron jamaicano Appleton Estate Independence de 50 años. Más caro aún es un ron jamaicano Wray & Nephew de 17 años utilizado en el Mai Tai original de 1944 que está valorado en unos 52.000 dólares. Otro ron muy apreciado y caro fue el ron The Harewood Estate, descubierto alrededor de 2011, que tiene la distinción de ser el ron más antiguo del mundo. Embotellado inicialmente en Barbados hacia 1780, 24 botellas fueron subastadas por Christie’s en Londres en 2013 y 2014 por 250.000 libras (unos 332.000 dólares).
8. No todos los rones
comercializados como ron son ron
Con el aumento de la popularidad y la demanda mundial de rones, quizá no sea de extrañar que ahora haya marcas de ron falsas. Las falsificaciones de ron son habituales en Europa, donde no se cultiva la caña de azúcar. Por ejemplo, Tuzem, una bebida destilada de la República Checa, se ha comercializado como ron, pero no se elabora con caña de azúcar o subproductos, sino con patatas o remolacha. Otros rones falsos con los que hay que tener cuidado son el Rum Verschnitt de Alemania y el Inlander Rum de Austria. Por ello, hay que ceñirse a las marcas de ron conocidas y, en el caso del Caribe, elegir las que tienen la etiqueta Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque.
Echa un vistazo a los productores de ron del Caribe que estarán en Fráncfort, Alemania, del 26 al 28 de septiembre de 2019 para el 4º Foro Empresarial del CARIFORUM UE.
Caribbean Export has identified the cultural and creative industries as high potential growth areas in Europe and in collaboration with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) the event will see over 60 Caribbean companies showcase their products and services to the attending audiences.
With the realization that there is an increase in the demand for Caribbean music at a number of cultural events in Europe, including Summerjam Reggae Festival in Germany, Ibiza Soca Festival in Spain and Reggae Sun Ska Festival in France, Caribbean Export is hoping to promote more Caribbean music to Europeans. This is part of their larger efforts to encourage the export of work done by cultural industries in CARIFORUM countries to Europe.
Other activities on the Discover the Caribbean Day include a film festival where patrons can watch a range films and animations produced in the Caribbean. There will be over 60 different food and beverage producers sampling products enabling consumers curious about what the Caribbean has to offer, to come out and Discover the Caribbean.Â
The demand for natural medicine in Europe has grown at a tremendous rate as Europeans becoming more and more conscious about their health and the quality of the goods they consume.
In 2017, the global nutraceuticals product market reached US$204 billion. With an abundance of medicinal plants, the Caribbean is ripe with natural remedies to supply the increase in demand for natural ingredients.
A common experience for many people living in the Caribbean and visitors is the irritating mosquito bite. It’s an unwanted experience of millions all over the world and with this desire to use natural remedies drove medical doctors Gayle Devaux-Segovia and Carlos Segovia to develop natural repellent prior to the birth of their first child. They wanted to make a natural insect repellent safe enough to use on a baby.
“When our son was born, we used the insect repellent on him and it worked very well. We got a lot of encouragement from people so in 1997 we formed a company called Natmed Ltd. We branded the product under Caribbean Blue Naturals and twenty years later, it is still one of our best sellers,†Dr. Gayle Devaux-Segovia explained.
Over the years, Dr. Gayle and her husband added more products to Caribbean Blue Naturals: deodorant, body spray, hand sanitizers and sun screen to list a few. They are all natural, cruelty-free, reef-safe, non-GMO, 100% biodegradable and mostly vegan as they use beeswax in their lip balm and candles.
Dr. Carlos Segovia said they source the majority of their ingredients locally. According to him, these ingredients included Saint Lucia cocoa, aloe vera, seaweed extract, nutmeg and other Caribbean spices. Our mission is to produce all natural products of the highest quality and make them affordable to the general public, he noted.
The Saint Lucian company will showcase its wide range of natural products at the 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum organized by the Caribbean Export Development Agency in collaboration with the European Union and Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ). Along with over 60 other Caribbean companies, the Business Forum enables buyers and consumers to meet suppliers and source products from the Caribbean over 3 days from 26th to the 28th September 2019 at the Union Halle, Frankfurt, Germany.
Sophia Stone founded Caribbean Cure in 2015. The Trinidad-based tea company was borne out of her passion for using nature to promote health and wellness.
“I wanted to honour the long standing tradition in the Caribbean of using herbs and bush teas,†she said. “And backed by science, my goal was to make these healing remedies more efficacious, convenient and attractive to today’s consumer.”
Bombarded with ideas and wondering how she could turn some of them into a profitable entrepreneurial venture, Sophia quit her full-time job, to focus on the full-time pursuit of her dream.
But her initial line of eight herbal supplements failed to garner the success she’d hoped, and after depleting her savings, Stone was faced with two very clear choices, pack it all in and quit “dreamingâ€; or, find another way to make the dream work. Like any true entrepreneur, she chose the latter.
Sophia’s new plan was to curate tea blends using the ingredients from her supplement line, but virtually all of her family and friends rubbished the idea, advising her to go back to her 9 to 5 – all but one.
Stacy Seeterram, a friend, and confidant, believed in Sophia’s idea, so she asked Stacy to partner with her in creating this new venture.
What helped to make the Caribbean Cure dream a reality, and what kept you motivated?
With five tea blends currently on the market, and the approval of family and friends who indulge in their curative, feel-good concoctions, Seeterram says their approach to business is one of their greatest motivators.
“We try not to worry about being successful,†she shared. “What we do is work toward being significant.â€
In addition to keeping them excited about turning up for work each day, this approach won them international recognition as producers of world-class teas.
An opportunity to honour family traditions also keeps the duo laser-focused. There’s a little bit of history brewed in each cup of Caribbean Cure tea. Island Breeze, a delicate blend that includes cardamom pods and white tea, is a tribute to Stone’s Afghan/Canadian heritage, and borrows from one of her family recipes; while Carnival Oasis with its inclusion of cinnamon, clove and mauby bark, transports Stacy – a Trinidadian, with roots woven throughout the West Indies – back to her childhood, as it conjures memories of her grandmother’s “magical” blends.
What’s next for Caribbean Cure?
Caribbean Cure’s short-term intention is to increase production capacity and efficiencies to enable greater access to Caribbean markets. Through the Women Empowered through Export (WE-Xport) programme, they have forged key partnerships with a strong CARIFORUM trade agenda.
In July 2018, Caribbean Cure, unveiled new packaging, beautiful tea tins, adorned with designs created by a local artist.
The team is now set to enter into the next phase of tea export negotiations with their partners in the EU, Canada and Japan, and feels poised for an upward swing in the company’s development. They’ll be participating in the 4th CARIFORUM-EU Business Forum and Authentic Caribbean Expo hosted by Caribbean Export on September 26-28, 2019 in Frankfurt, Germany.
A few takeaways for budding & aspiring entrepreneurs.
Sophia and Stacy share that one of the most valuable lessons they’ve learned on their entrepreneurial journey is the importance of releasing emotional attachment in order to facilitate growth. “Do not fear mistakes,†Stone advised. “Regrets are far more difficult to deal with than mistakes. You walk away from a mistake having learned something, but a regret is a missed opportunity,†she said. “Even if it seems beyond your reach, try. You will amaze yourself with what you are capable of.â€
Find out more about Caribbean Cure: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn – @caribbeancure and by visiting their website www.caribbean-cure.com.
