While traveling, I always tend to fall in love with the work of local artisans-whether it is handwoven bracelets being sold on the streets of Panama, artwork being painted in the doorway of homes in Cartagena or freshly made chocolate in the jungles of Bocas del Toro. Through local crafts and food, I find I am able to learn more about a culture and heritage.
One of my favorite memories with an artisan was in the Ngabe village in Bocas del Toro, Panama where I watched as the locals made chocolate from scratch. It was one of those epicurean moments that are so beautiful in its simplicity that it made me wonder why I bother waiting in line for a table at overpriced Manhattan restaurants. I can remember my first macaron eaten outside Notre Dame near Paris’ Left Bank; can recall the taste of my first escargot eaten over my grandma’s granite countertop in Miami and served in a light garlic, buttery sauce; but I can’t remember a single dish from a prix fixe menu I’ve had in the past. I have perhaps ordered countless desserts in my 27 years of existence–creme brulees, cheesecakes, gelato–but few have managed to imprint their flavors in my memory the way that first bite of chocolate in Panama did.
Our tour guide–a local cocoa farmer from the community–led us through the jungle that surrounds the unassuming and humble Ngäbe village. Wearing a sunny, yellow t-shirt and broad smile, he lovingly pointed to overlooked plants, hard-to-spot toucans and medicinal herbs that his people have come to use in their daily lives. The Oreba chocolate tour, which is entirely run by the indigenous farmers, gives all proceeds back to the Ngäbe community to benefit their education and healthcare system. It is a prime example of sustainable tourism where visitors help support the locals and leave a positive foot print on the destination they are visiting. The highlight of the experience came when the local women whipped up that first batch of fresh chocolate for a quick, impromptu tasting. Dressed in traditional, colorful garb with her silky black hair tied up in a knot, I watched as a young woman expertly rolled the chocolate on a flattened rock and scooped it into a shard of coconut shell.
If I close my eyes, I can still remember the first taste of that spoonful of freshly made dark chocolate. It was a beautiful moment; and through homemade meals and crafts of global artisans I continue to discover new cultures. Recently, I wrote up a review of GlobeIn and their unique artisan boxes. GlobeIn is an amazing company dedicated to supporting artisans in remote regions of the world and fighting to eradicate poverty by giving local craftsmen a global audience. GlobeIn offers an online marketplace that features thousands of handmade and Fair Trade products sourced from direct relationships with artisans; as well as a monthly subscription based artisan box that featuring products curated around a monthly theme.
In celebration of global artisans around the world, I am thrilled to be partnering with fellow blogger (and one of my favorite sites) Drew of The Hungry Partier! Together, Drew and I will be hosting a travel giveaway to offer one lucky winner the chance to win a FREE 3-month subscription to GlobeIn (that’s 3 artisan boxes at a $100 value!).
Giveaway Entry Rules:
- Share your favorite travel story in the comments section below.
- Enter your e-mail in the widget below for a chance to win the FREE 3-month subscription for GlobeIn’s artisan boxes
- Make sure to follow Drew of The Hungry Partier (@drewbinsky7), The Pin the Map Project (@pinthemapproject) and GlobeIn (@GlobeIn_World) on Instagram!
- The giveaway ends July 1st, 2015. Good luck!
