When I first heard about Caribbrew on FB, I was immediately surprised. First, I was very proud to see this small company owned and operated by a young, female, entrepreneur. Secondly... It's HAITIAN HOT CHOCOLATE! The thought of drinking a thick cup of hot cocoa from Haiti would be an experience I wanted to savor in the moment now when I did as a child.
My very first memory of drinking hot chocolate was in 1975, "La Montagne". I was about five years old when my mom went on a spiritual expedition at the foothills of a mountain in Haiti for prayer and fasting. We went with my brother and a fairly large group of people going to this high altitude location to fast, pray, seeking communion with The Almighty. One early morning, around 5:30am, I remembered my mom making this hot chocolate drink from an aluminum sauce pan for me and my brother. I remembered seeing her stirring this molting chocolate liquid with a look of peace and contentment on her face. I remembered the smell of the chocolate wafting through the air mixing with the tranquil coolness and fresh morning dew from the crisp mountain air. This was a moment of peace, gratitude and simplicity for me. I somehow felt a small connection with my mom, God and nature. This was one of the most significantly momentous experiences of my life. It felt like a spiritual rite of passage. My mom poured the warm viscous liquid into my cup. She then gave my brother and I two slices of warm, soft, fresh Haitian bread, each. We could not wait to have this blessed breakfast. My younger brother even mentioned about how he dreamt all night about having this precise moment. We took our first bite of the bread and engaged in our first sip. The sweet savor of the hot chocolate in harmony with the rich warm, palpable flavor of the bread felt like a piece of heaven in my stomach and in my soul. I had not felt that experience on such an intense and profound depth since.
I had made my first cup of the Caribbrew hot chocolate, Monday, January 25th, 2021. The aroma of this liquid delight immediately transported me to my childhood at "La Montagne". I felt an instantaneous rush of memories, gratitude and humility that took over my emotional sensibilities. I knew I had conjured the experience of "La Montagne" in my soul. My first taste of this hot chocolate... I almost cried. I knew then and there, Haiti is inside of me. Haiti is with me. Haiti is me.
Thank you Caribbrew for bringing me back full circle to my memories of God and home.
Frantz T. Excellent