By Staff Writer
November 22, 2020
Absolutely Caribbean Expo was held virtually this year, but still stunned with a wide array of Caribbean and Central American rums and cuisine.
In the event’s official report they said: “The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) will offer readers a snapshot of the quality across several categories, including food, drinks and natural products. The Agency will also highlight the huge potential for Caribbean products across several European markets, ahead of its first ever virtual event in November. Caribbean Export is the only regional trade and investment promotion agency in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) group. Formed in 1996, the Agency supports producers in the 15 states of the Caribbean Forum: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Caribbean Export’s role is to promote trade between the Forum’s incredible small and medium enterprises regionally and internationally.
The online event is a joint venture between Caribbean Export, the European Commission and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, and has been launched off the back of a successful three-day trade show and conference, which took place in Germany last year.
This year, Caribbean Export has also partnered with the West Indies Rum & Spirit Producer’s Association, International Trade Centre (ITC) Alliances for Action, and Shaun and Craig McAnuff of Original Flava, who have found great success with their Caribbean food and lifestyle platform and recently released their first cookbook of authentic Jamaican recipes. With an increase in demand for Caribbean sauces and condiments across Europe, the duo will host a live session to show how versatile these products are, including a cooking demonstration.
The report also said that over the past five years, the number of Caribbean restaurants in the UK has tripled and in the 12 months to August 2019 alone, the Caribbean restaurant count grew by 144%2 . When it comes to locations, London and Central England are the two areas that over-index in terms of Caribbean foods. In addition, UK food wholesaler Bidfood had singled out Caribbean food as a top 10 trending cuisine trend. Leading this trend in the UK is Grace Foods, the Caribbean food supply giant out of Kingston, Jamaica.
In a quest to satisfy the demanding Spanish palate, food from the Dominican Republic is gaining popularity, led by prestigious chefs including the award-winning Marte. According to Sabores magazine, flagship dishes such as sancocho, chicken or seafood asopa’o, Moorish, goat stew or mofongo have seduced many Spaniards.
CEDA also claims that almost 32 percent of German consumers like Caribbean food and the Caribbean remains a top-selling destination among long-haul travellers from Germany, according to travel agents FVW. In the Netherlands on the other hand, Dutch chef Helmi Smeulders, lived on Dutch Caribbean island Curaçao for more than twenty years. In June 2020, she released her first Dutch-language cookbook, The Caribbean Cookbook, highlighting the country’s hunger for Caribbean recipes. And for those that prefer not to cook, Caribbean ready meals are available in the largest Dutch retailer, Albert Heijn, under the brand “Danitzah.”
On the other hand rum and liquor sales to the UK from the Caribbean last year totalled $1.32bn. Travellers Liquor Ltd, who was highlighted at the Expo, founded in Belize by Omario Perdomo in 1953, makes 21 different alcoholic products ranging from premium aged, gold, white and flavoured rums from molasses as well as liqueurs, rum creams, vodka, gin, wines and bitters. Travellers Liquor are the only ones in Belize to age rums to a significant degree.
In addition, J&J Spirits was established by Jack Astacio in, 2008 produces a variety of liqueurs and spirits under private label brands. They also produce Mamajuana and were the first to export it to the USA and China. The company employs fair trade practices and uses only natural ingredients.
For the Dominican Republic, Benedicta was created in, 2005 and it is the region’s only producer of apple cider. Under the brand Chicharon, they also produce and sell the world’s first cinnamon rum. This cinnamon rum is handmade in the Dominican Republic at 33 percent ALC/VOL, produced with aged rum, natural cinnamon and green chili extracts.
Benjamin Boothe & Kristoffer von Stedingk, Rum Spirits Academy Europe, said: “Consumers are becoming more aware of the unparalleled diversity of styles and flavours of Caribbean rum, and they love what it has to offer. This is why rum is the fastest growing spirit in the European market. We are excited to see where the future of rum will take us!”
This year’s Expo highlighted companies fom The Bahamas, Jamaica, Belize, the Dominican Republic and St. Lucia, just to name a few.
You can read the full report here: Absolutely Caribbean Expo 2020 Report