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ST. MAARTEN'S GUAVABERRY EMPORIUM GIVES VISITORS SOMETHING TO 'CHEERS' ABOUTS 

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten (May 24, 2010) - - While St. Maarten offers a rare history and culture that truly sets it apart from the rest of the Caribbean, one of its most unique offerings is the "Guavaberry," which is the key ingredient in the legendary folk liquor of the island. Travelers can sample a Guavaberry cocktail with free tastings daily during a "must-do" visit to the Guavaberry Emporium, located on Front Street in the heart of historical Philipsburg.
 
The Guavaberry Emporium is in an old cedar house that was built on the site of an ancient Jewish synagogue. It is the primary retailer of the beloved folk drink, which is made from oak-aged rum and wild Guavaberries.

 
The Guavaberry Emporium in Philipsburg, St. Maarten

At the Guavaberry Emporium visitors will find Mango, Lime and Spice Liquors, Blackbeard's Rum, Cariba Nativa Rums and Bois Bande (an ancient Carib aphrodisiac). A variety of vintage rums, exotic preserves, honey, local fragrances and gourmet hot pepper sauces are also available.
 
Guavaberry trees or shrubs grow in a variety of shapes and sizes up to 60 feet high. The Guavaberry grows without stems directly onto the branches of flowering trees found high in the hills at the center of the island. The berries, which are roughly half the size of a cherry, have a center seed surrounded by juicy transparent flesh and a thin skin that is yellow-orange or dark red. After the fruit is gathered, it is washed and placed into wooden barrels, where it ages in a mixture of rum and sugar. The resulting liquor has a woody, fruity, bittersweet flavor.
 
To the indigenous St. Maarten, Guavaberry conjures up warm and treasured memories. The liquor was first made centuries ago in private homes and became an integral part of local culture and tradition with folk-songs and stories about the fruit. Guavaberry is an integral and distinguishing feature of local culture, heritage and tradition, a point of pride, a symbol of St. Maarten, and a living link to the past.

Visitors to the Guavaberry Emporium can bring the legendary drink home and enjoy with family and friends. An island-favorite recipe follows:

Guavaberry Banana Colada
 
One ripe banana, chunked
3 oz pineapple juice or pineapple pieces
2 oz Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut
2 oz St. Maarten Guavaberry
 
Fill blender 1/3 with ice. Add all ingredients. Blend until smooth. Grate or sprinkle nutmeg on top. Garnish with flowers.

For more information visit www.GuavaBerry.com or
www.VacationStMaarten.com (read more below). 

St. Maarten

St. Maarten is truly a unique island in several ways. It is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two nations, the Netherlands and France, creating a European-influenced vibe with a Caribbean flair. St. Maarten is also the culinary capital of the Caribbean with an eclectic array of elegantly-perfected culinary fusion that keeps "food lovers" returning each year. And with more than 300 restaurants, the island has something for everyone.

Located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, the island has 37 breathtaking beaches and is home to many historical and family-oriented attractions including the vastly abundant treasure of rare animal and plant species at the St. Maarten Zoological and Botanical Garden. The historically-pivotal Fort Amsterdam, the St. Maarten Museum and the picturesque and symbolic Mount Concordia, where a treaty and harmonious peace was forged between the island's two cultures more then 350 years ago, provide other unique attractions.

The Dutch capital of Philipsburg offers duty-free shopping and a bustling city atmosphere in the heart of the Caribbean, while nightlife activities provide endless entertainment at the island's 14 casinos and numerous nightclubs. For water enthusiasts scuba diving and snorkeling facilities are located throughout the island, which boasts a wide array of marine biodiversity and unique underwater dive sites such as the H.M.S. Proselyte, a notable British frigate which sank in St. Maarten's waters in 1801.

Accommodations are varied with many designed to exceed the expectations of even the most discerning traveler and include elegant private villas, family oriented resorts, quaint cottages and luxury spa resorts. Air service is available to Princess Juliana International Airport in St. Maarten from a number of U.S. and Canadian cities as well as Europe, South America and the Caribbean.

For more information visit www.VacationStMaarten.com.
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