You Received your Box of Goodies
with items from Belizean artisans
Now Read their stories
…and let us know how you liked their products
Mahogany Chocolate
PRODUCT: Dark Chocolate
CONTACT: Luis Armando Choco
A tree-to-bean-to-bar chocolate company located in Punta Gorda, Belize. Since 2016 they have produced premium gourmet chocolate and related products using Belize’s fine flavor cacao. They use special cacao from their own farms as well as cacao produced by 150 Mayan cacao farmers in the Toledo and Stann Creek district.
They believe in direct trade as it allows them to pay their farmers significantly more than the current market and Fairtrade prices. All their cacao is sourced directly from the farmers, fermented and dried, in small-batch, at their centralized depot and processing facility in San Antonio which allows them to uniquely develop the flavor of the beans.
Moho Chocolate
PRODUCT: Dark Chocolate
OWNER: Deon Chavarria
Moho Chocolate is a tree to bar chocolate company, selling chocolate made from cacao grown on our own farm in the Toledo District of Belize. They ferment and dry their beans in small batches and continue the process with small-batch roasting, grinding, and refining into the chocolate you know and love. Their dark chocolate is made from two ingredients: cocoa beans and sugar. It doesn’t get much purer than that!
The Moho Chocolate Factory and Cafe is located in the Fort Street Tourism Village in Belize City and offers tours and ‘make your own bar’ workshop for tourists.
Lamanai Chocolate
PRODUCT: Cocoa Nibs
OWNER: Zoila and Roger Hale
In 2013 Zoila and Roger Hale had a dream of starting a chocolate company. They were unsure of the concept or even where to start but began doing research in the beautiful country of Belize. They visited the beautiful cacao farms in the rainforest and were so mesmerized at the sight, which pulled them deeper into the dream of having a 100% organic all-natural chocolate and cacao product company. They started developing relationships with the local cocoa farmers who graciously opened their homes. They decided to use exclusively Maya workers and process as much as possible by hand. After all, it’s the Mayas who are known for chocolate and have passed down the art of chocolate making over thousands of years. Their goal is to teach people how to make their own high quality chocolate from the hand roasted organic fair trade cacao nibs.
Terrill's Wood Carvings
PRODUCT: Wooden Bowl
OWNER: Nelly and Terrill
Naturally Belize Coconut Products
PRODUCT: Organic Handmade Soap
OWNER: Lorcia Moore
Naturally Belize is a small business that sells handmade all natural Beauty Care Products that promote a healthy hair and skin care regime. Lorcia Moore, the owner of the business, started making her products in 2014 in her kitchen in Belmopan and opened her store in June 2019 in Punta Gorda. She was inspired by her grandmother who made coconut oil for a living, and so decided to create her own business selling all natural and handmade beauty products and distributing them in small batches. The goal of the business is to empower women to embrace their natural beauty through self-care and self-love. Lorcia says, “To me, the best part of being a Woman Entrepreneur… is being SUPPORTED by other women.”
Lemon Crush Belize
PRODUCT: Body Whip
OWNER: Lara Goldman of 12 Belize
Feed Your Skin Body Whip is made using only eco-friendly soy, Belizean cold pressed extra virgin coconut oil, and extra virgin olive oil, with a drop of scent and color. Available in 12 scents. (Unscented and Belizean Chocolate are 100% natural). This lotion was developed in response to it’s creators’ crazy heat rash. Nothing worked to heal her rash – not medicine men nor pharmaceuticals – and she was scratching until she bled, and often got infected. Long story short, Feed Your Skin was born. It is a top seller and is reordered by nearly all who use it. It’s a fantastic itch relief, helps with sunburned skin, and is a fantastic daily moisturizing lotion. As the creator says “If your skin is angry at you for any reason, this will make it significantly less angry”.
Lindz Handmade Treasures
PRODUCT: Embroidered Dragonfly Mask
OWNER: Linda Escalante
Lindz Handmade Treasures is a small family business run by 3 generations of women that offers a variety of handmade items created to our customers’ requests. Items include pillows, tote bags, face masks, and so much more. They specialize in hand embroidery, and each item is stitched with love. Send them a picture, tell them what you have in mind & watch them bring it to life!
OXMUL Coffee
PRODUCT: Whole Coffee Beans
OWNER: James Mesh
Organically grown on the foothills of the Maya Mountain Range in western Belize in the village of San Antonio, Cayo District. Oxmul Coffee derived from the original name of San Antonio in Yucatec Maya known as Oxmul Kah. James Mesh and family Maya Descendants who still speak the Yucatec Maya language decided to name their coffee brand Oxmul Coffee as to keep the original name of San Antonio for Generations to come and to produce organically Grown Coffee.
Warm Sensations Tea
PRODUCT: Tea Bags
Hot Mama's
PRODUCT: Hot Pepper Sauce
OWNER: Wilana Oldham
Aunt Sadie's (Hot Mama's)
PRODUCT: Jelly
OWNER: Wilana Oldham
Amabari Seasonings
PRODUCT: Belizean Seasoning
OWNER: Laura Raymond
Pen Cayetano Art
PRODUCT: Art Postcard
ARTIST: Pen Cayetano
Pen Cayetano is mostly inspired by his Garifuna heritage and his surroundings. His task is to conserve the culture and give consciousness to the people and the youth. Oil on canvas is his medium. The paintings are colorful, recreating the rich tapestry of Belize life and faithfully capturing the Garinagu culture.
Perhaps the strongest representative of a peoples culture is the artist, his role is to educate. Pen Cayetano focuses also on historical events and places from Belize. The paintings manifest melancholy, shelter, tranquility and tradition. Such an art becomes to be the opposite of our modern time, where so many people just vanish away in the masses without any roots. Pen Cayetano did many international exhibitions and is represented in several museums and public and private collections.
Pen Cayetano is passionate in art and music and loves what he does. Sharing his love and knowledge is part of his life. Roots & culture, art and music must go on for the generations to come.
Oscar's Pepitos
PRODUCT: Pepitos (roast pumpkin seeds)
OWNER: Oscar Barrera
Nice Snacks
PRODUCT: Plantain Chips
OWNER: Emanuel & Vivianna Salazar