Whether you're Christmas shopping or just scouting for a unique treasure for yourself, one of the best things about the UpMarket is that many of the products are locally made. The foods deliciously appeal to the senses, while the crafts give the eyes something to explore.
There is more variety in the Christmas season, with a wider range of items being sold at this time. There are more than 80 vendors this year. Even if you're not looking to purchase anything, browsing through the market is a pleasant–and much more social–experience than mall trawling, as all of the vendors are happy to engage you with banter, and chances are you'll see someone you know.
Last Saturday the Guardian visited the UpMarket at the Woodbrook Youth Facility and chatted with some of the vendors. The UpMarket takes place tomorrow at the Woodbrook Youth Facility, De Verteuil Street, Woodbrook, and next Sunday (December 21) at the Trinidad Country Club.
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Paramin home-made Wine
Veronica Romany has been making tasty home-made wines for 20 years. "I do any fruits that I can put my hands on. Any fruits," she said. Last Saturday, she had wines including grapefruit, sorrel, jamoon, ginger, cane, guava, mango–even banana wine. She admits she also makes wines from imported apples and grapes sometimes; but she mostly uses local fruit.
Jamoon is a tiny berry-like fruit that many may not know of; it's found more "on the Valencia side" said Veronica. The wine is smooth and delicious–reminiscent of sherry. She said some wines take longer to make than others: but generally, she said: "It takes me almost a year to really get my wine where I want it. But some wines are stubborn: they don't settle properly and you may have to leave it as long as two years." She makes the wines from her home in Paramin; it is a year-round activity that started as a hobby, to give a bottle to friends for Christmas, and has now grown into a small business. Veronica also sells delicious pastelles at the UpMarket. Her contact is: 629-3582.
African Ark jewelry
Johann Mohammed is the owner and designer at African Ark. Johann designs and makes jewelry, including minimal, clean, modern earrings in bent-wire shapes. One of his earring designs looks like a cascade of silver Christmas tassels, playfully elegant; another looks like something an African princess might wear. He's been designing jewelry for four years now. His designs have a simple elegance, with a hint of tribalism; many show simple, clean geometric lines which swoop and curve with an organic feel.
"I work in silver, brass, copper, gold, anything," he said. Some pieces include fabric, or semi-precious stones; others include leather.
How did he start this profession? "About four years ago, someone told me about a course at MIC (Metal Industry Company), and I always had a love for it. So I went and checked it out. It was a two-year full-time programme." He works in an eclectic, ethnic style borrowing influences from many sources, he said, including from indigenous cultures around the world–he mentioned Thailand, Bali, and Africa.
When not at the UpMarket, Johann can be contacted through his Facebook page, which also shows work samples: https://www.facebook.com/AfricanArkJewellery
Mind Matters
Luke Vieira of Mind Matters sells educational toys for children: specifically, wooden games and puzzles that even some adults in need of diversion may find fun. "We develop people through play. Our toys can teach kids spatial planning, and encourage concentration, memory, focus, problem-solving, and creativity," said Luke. One game is called the Soma cube: different shapes unfold and interlock to build a 3x3 cube; anyone from eight to 80 years and above can enjoy it. "Architects and engineers like it," commented Luke. Another game is a Snake cube; wooden blocks unfold into a long blocky snake: the challenge is to re-form the cube by rotating the ends. Another one is a colour Sudoku puzzle. You can check out all the puzzles on the Mind Matters Web site: www.mindmatterstt.com or call: 708-9664. Also available in Nigel R Khan stores.
All Natural Manzanilla Honey
For a really sweet gift, honey is both tasty and antibacterial. Claudia Annisette helps make local honey and was selling bottles in three sizes last Saturday. "You can't go wrong with honey as a gift. It has antibacterial properties, it is good medicinally, it's good for everything," said Claudia. Her family operates apiaries in Manzanilla and Toco.
"Honey is a seasonal product which starts maybe late December-January, into June," said Claudia. "That's the honey flow. So we harvest the product in the dry season, from around February to June, and store it...Honey does not spoil. You can leave it to settle in your tank, and then later bottle it. And it will last for more than two years." Claudia's honey isn't available in groceries; it's sold through friends and family; to place orders, call 789-7128, or 467-4448.
Real Paramin Seasoning
For that authentic flavour to get your home cooking truly mouth-watering, you can pick up a bundle of fragrant, freshly-picked seasoning bundles, as well as bottled, blended green seasoning made by Gemma Gonzales without preservatives; just fresh chive, thyme, pepper, parsley, pimento, garlic, and water.
"I made the seasoning; and all this comes from my garden. All this is fresh herbs from Paramin, mixed with tomatoes, pimentos, the paw paw just finish....I grow any herb you can think about: rosemary, chadon beni, big-leaf or small-leaf basil, ginger, jalapeno."
Gemma is interrupted by a tall male customer who says: "What she's not telling you is that she's a herbalist. The best specialist in the country!" Gemma has been growing herbs for more than 20 years; it's a family tradition passed down from generation to generation. "My mom and dad were in the business; I took it over, and now my daughter helps. I started the Paramin Seasoning product about five years ago; but all the fresh herbs I grow all the time. We are at Macoya market every Sunday; and sometimes at the Green Market in Santa Cruz."
Peace of Mind 868
Two young women–Terry Ann Roy and Leela Permanand–make organic ponche a cr�me under the label Peace of Mind. It's their first year of business. "We use free-range eggs, pesticide-free spices, and we have our own version where we use home-made condensed milk. That's optional," said Terry Ann. A very seasonal and delicious Christmas gift, this Peace of Mind brew is flavourful and not overly sweet. When not at UpMarket, Terry and Leela can be contacted at 766-5647.
Sweet Scents
Beautifully made, fragrant artisan soaps are always a safe gift for even hard-to-please mothers, daughters or sisters. Melissa Francis-Ramlal makes handmade soaps and has been producing these for the past seven and a half years. "We have soaps made from local plant extracts, including West Indian cherry and coffee. We have our local chocomania, and other soaps made with lemongrass, neem, tumeric and sandalwood scents," she said last Saturday. Melissa also makes and sells lotions, creams, and soy candles. She can be contacted via her Facebook page: Sweet Scents.
more info
Next UpMarket dates/venues:
Sunday Dec 14 (Tomorrow)–
9:30 am�3 pm–Woodbrook Youth Facility
Sunday Dec 21–
9:30 am�3 pm–Trinidad Country Club
Admission: Free; walk with cash for purchases
For vendors: UpMarkettrinidad@gmail.com
Parking: Secured, at the Stadium