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The Pure Chocolate Company, an award-winning chocolate manufacturing firm based in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, that uses top-quality Jamaica cocoa in its products, is now exporting its wares to the Netherlands. The first shipment from the company owned and operated by husband and wife Wouter Tjeertes and Rennae Johnson occurred in April 2023.

Two Product Lines In First Shipment

The tree-to-bar offerings in the first shipment featured its original and flavored lines of chocolate bars. The flavored line includes jerk, lemongrass, coffee, and coconut flavors. Just a month after the first export, the firm received excellent feedback from its distributor, which took the products to Cologne, Germany’s ISM fair.

Pure Chocolate Wins Awards

In 2021, Pure Chocolate Company won a gold medal and two bronze medals at London’s 13th Academy of Chocolate. It also received the Marcus Garvey Award for Agriculture in recognition of its efforts to empower its farming partners with the knowledge they need to produce beans of the highest quality.

Company To Expand Export Plans

Pure Chocolate intends to expand its export operations to other markets in Europe immediately, said Tjeertes, who added that its distribution partner will begin to offer the product lines in seven countries, including Belgium and Germany, which are two of the greatest consumers of chocolate in the world. In conjunction with the promotional initiatives of its distributor, Pure Chocolate plans to raise its profile on social media in Europe by advertising on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok  in areas where the product has been placed for sale.

Owners Welcomed Aid From JAMPRO and International Trade Center (ITC)

Tjeertes noted that he and his wife have received support from the International Trade Center (ITC) and JAMPRO, Jamaica’s promotional agency, since 2021 to help them identify and exploit their current export market while targeting other markets as well. Assistance from these programs allowed the couple to travel to trade fairs in London, Paris, and Amsterdam and to learn about their markets via online training sessions. Without this support, Tjeertes said Pure Chocolate would never have been able to make the deals that resulted in their current distribution partnership. He noted that JAMPRO in particular was an active advocate for the firm and helped to showcase their products to resources such as the Jamaican High Commission in London.

New Export Operations Mean Business Expansion

Because of the new export options, Pure Chocolate has expanded its artisan studio in Ocho Rios and now employs six staff members in the production of chocolate “from bean to bar,” and It is partnering with more farmers to obtain additional raw material. The company will next apply what was learned from its European expansion to the United States market. Locally, workshops on chocolate manufacturing are offered at its studio at Island Village in Ocho Rios on weekends.

Photo – Official Facebook Page for PURE Chocolate Jamaica

The post A Jamaican Company’s Journey to the Netherlands appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

Visitors to the island of Jamaica enjoy indulging in lively conversations with locals. It’s an opportunity to learn the Jamaican Patois language, specifically the words and phrases that are commonly said by Jamaican every day.

If you’re new to the island or you have a Jamaican friend that you want to impress, colour your speech with these 20 common Jamaican Patois sentences.

“Mi ah guh lef tiday.”
Translation: “I am leaving today.”

“Axe har de question.”
Translation: “Ask her the question.”

“Cuyah, she gwan lak she nice eee?”
Translation: “Look at that, she acts like she is so nice.”

“Chobble nuh nice.” “Yuh inna big chobble.”
Translation: “Trouble is not nice.” “You are in big trouble.”

“Mi cyan ‘elp yuh wit dat problem.”
Translation : “I cannot help you with that problem.”

“Mi like yuh cris cyar.”
Translation :”I like your new car.”

“Yuh did see dat?” “A who dat?”
Translation: “Did you see that?” “Who is that?”

“She ah mi bess bess fren.”
Translation: “She is my best friend.”

“Galang bout yuh business.”
Translation: “Go along about your business.”

“Gimme wan tall glass a wata please.”
Translation: “Give me a tall glass of water please.”

Learn more common Jamaican Patois sayings

“Mass Garden ah plant flowas inna de gordon.”
Translation: “Mr. Gordon is planting flowers in the garden.”

“Ah who hab mi watch?”
Translation: “Who has my watch?”

“Mi bak a hat mi.”
Translation: “My back is hurting me.”

“A lang time mi dey inna dis yah lang line.”
Translation: “Its been a long time since I have been in this long line.”

“Lawd ‘ave mercy pan Miss Percy.”
Translation: “Lord have mercy on Miss Percy.”

“Lef mi nuh.”
Translation: “Leave me alone.”

“De bwoy a de biggest liad.”
Translation: “The boy is a big liar.”

“Im get wan big lick fram de teacha.”
Translation: “He got a big hit from the teacher.”

“Mi wud radda yuh nuh chat to mi.”
Translation: “I would rather you not talk to me.”

“Put de sinting inna de bag.”
Translation: “Put the something in the bag.”

Want to have more fun, try saying the Jamaican Alphabet with friends.

The post ‘Lef Mi Nuh’, 20 Common Jamaican Patois Sentences You Should Say To Sound Like A Local appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

Her son was dead. The miracle baby that was born to her and her much older husband at a time when she no longer expected fruit from her womb. As a matter of fact, when Elijah had told her nine months earlier that she would embrace a son, she had replied, “O my master, O Holy Man, don’t play games with me, teasing me with such fantasies!” (2 Kings 4:16, The Message). She didn’t believe him. But in the very next verse, we read, “The woman conceived. A year later, just as Elisha had said, she had a son.” However, some years later, in what seemed like a cruel twist of fate, the child lay dead at home, in the same bed Elijah slept in when he was in that part of town.

She asked for an ass and with her servant, went hastily to Mount Carmel to meet Elijah, who, when he saw her in the distance, sent his servant to her with questions of concern – “Is something wrong? Are you all right? Your husband? Your child?” to which she answered, “Everything’s fine” (v.26). Or, as the King James Version renders it, “It is well.”  Didn’t she hear the last question clearly? Nowhere do we read of any public mourning over the death of her only child.  Her husband did not know the child had died; she had simply told him, “Don’t ask questions; I need to go right now. Trust me” (v.23b). She had not told the neighbors, and no expression of anger at God, but even as she laid the boy in the room, and despite her soul being in distress (v.27), deep within her was a quiet resolve that if she could get to the man of God, all would be well. Everything’s fine.

In verses 28-37, we see how the boy was miraculously brought back to life after a series of events. But as this story ends with a mother and son reunion, we are individually challenged by a lingering question: How would you and I respond if God, in His sovereignty, took someone or something from us that was very near and dear to our hearts?

When Horatio Gates Spafford received news from his wife that their four daughters were lost at sea, he made his way to his grieving wife. Later when the two met Dwight Moody, Spafford told him quietly, “It is well. The will of God be done.” Spafford would later write the words: “When peace like a river, attendeth my way / When sorrows like sea billows roll / Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say / It is well, it is well with my soul.” In other words, everything’s fine.

What would you do? Could you say and believe those words?

The post WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL – “Everything’s Fine” appeared first on Jamaicans.com.