Residents Learn Traditional Guavaberry Liqueur Making
Approximately 40 British Virgin Islands residents recently participated in a hands-on cultural workshop titled 'The Art of Making Guavaberry Liqueur' ahead of the Christmas season. Led by seasoned artisan Janice Nibbs Blyden, the Department of Culture initiative aimed to preserve and pass down the territory's traditional holiday beverage recipes to the community.
The upcoming Christmas season is set to be even more festive for roughly 40 British Virgin Islands residents who recently completed a community workshop titled 'The Art of Making Guavaberry Liqueur.' Held on October 7, the educational session provided participants with practical knowledge and historical insights into crafting one of the territory's most cherished holiday beverages.
The workshop was hosted by the Department of Culture and facilitated by Mrs. Janice Nibbs Blyden, who brings 50 years of experience in perfecting the traditional festive drink. Blyden is a retired Deputy Chief Librarian and a published local author known for children's books including 'I Want to be a Thatcher Man' and 'I Want to be a Baker.' She has also published a specialized mini recipe booklet that serves as a practical guide to producing authentic Virgin Islands guavaberry liqueur.
Throughout the session, attendees explored the rich history and heritage surrounding the seasonal beverage. This was followed by a live demonstration illustrating how to mix and prepare the specialized syrup required for the final product. Participants were then given the hands-on opportunity to apply what they learned by mixing and creating their own guavaberry rum brews.
Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Ms. Lennard, welcomed participants and expressed that the department was exceptionally pleased with the strong public enthusiasm and support shown for the workshop. She underscored the cultural importance of the initiative, noting that the liqueur remains an integral part of Virgin Islands heritage and that the department is actively working to help safeguard the tradition.
Lennard also highlighted the broader regional significance of the drink, explaining that while Virgin Islanders proudly claim guavaberry liqueur as their own, it has been crafted for centuries across the Caribbean. She noted that variations are traditionally served at Christmas in neighbouring St.
Maarten and the Dominican Republic, with guavaberry trees also found in Cuba and other regional territories. The event formed part of the Department of Culture's ongoing series of educational efforts designed to document, preserve, and share aspects of local heritage with the wider community.
The workshop was supported by The Jennie Wheatley Virgin Islands Studies Institute at H. Residents interested in future cultural programmes and workshops can contact the Department of Culture at 284-468-4374 or 284-468-4408.
Primary source: BVI Government