Belize's Unique Exports

Belize is a small country in Central America, with a diverse society and a strong tourism industry. It is known for its natural beauty, including its extensive coral reefs, and its unique culture, with strong ties to both the American and Caribbean regions.

Belize has a small, private enterprise economy, primarily based on agriculture, tourism, and services. Its main exports include raw sugar, bananas, citrus fruits, seafood, and crude petroleum. The country also has a thriving arts and crafts industry, with local artists creating intricate carvings and jewellery, often featuring depictions of the Belizean rainforest or barrier reef.

Belize is also known for its diverse cuisine, which combines influences from Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Traditional Belizean dishes often feature rice, beans, maize, and tropical fruits such as bananas and papaya.

Belizean rum, beers, and chocolate

Belize is known for its production of rum, beer, and chocolate.

Rum

Belize is famed for its high-quality, smooth-tasting rum, which is made from the country's abundant sugar cane crop. There are several domestic manufacturers of rum in Belize, the most notable being Cuello's Distillery and Traveller's Liquors Ltd.

Cuello's is a family-owned business based in the town of Orange Walk, which is in the heart of Belize's sugar cane farming region. Their signature products include Caribbean Rum (Dark) and Caribbean Coconut Rum.

Traveller's, founded in 1953, is the manufacturer of One Barrel, perhaps the most famous rum in Belize. It is a simple gold rum with a smooth finish and a fresh, tropical scent, with natural hints of passion fruit, hibiscus, and papaya. Other popular rums from Traveller's include Don Omario Vintage Rum, Cristal Parrot Lite Rum, and Kuknat Rum (made with coconuts).

Copalli is another rum brand available in Belize, and it is considered one of the best rum brands in the world. They have several popular rums, including Copalli White Rum, Copalli Barrel Rested Rum, and Copalli Cocoa Rum.

Beers

Belize Brewing Company is a notable brewery in Belize, producing beers such as Belikin Beer, Belikin Stout, Lighthouse Lager, Belikin Light, and Belikin Premium. Belikin Beer is brewed in the classic continental European lager style, using Canadian Pilsner malt in combination with a blend of German hops. Belikin Stout is a rich black stout with a creamy, velvety head, while Lighthouse Lager is a more floral and delicate beer. Belikin Light is a light-bodied beer with a pale golden colour, and Belikin Premium is a rich, malty beer.

Belize Brewing Company also produces seasonal and special brews, such as the Belikin Sorrel Stout, which is handcrafted with traditional sorrel, and the Belikin Chocolate Stout, which features a rich, creamy flavour with hints of chocolate, vanilla, and rum.

Chocolate

Belize is also known for its chocolate, with Copalli Rum even infusing cacao nibs from the neighbouring Copal Tree Farm into their rum to create their Cacao Rum.

Handmade natural soaps

Belize is known for its natural beauty and diverse ecosystems, but it also has a thriving craft industry. One such craft is the production of handmade natural soaps.

One notable brand of handmade soaps from Belize is Rubba Dub Soap, which can be found in gift shops across the country and at their home-based business in San Ignacio. Their soaps come in a variety of fragrances, and their natural ingredients are said to induce relaxation while making your skin feel wonderful.

If you're looking for a unique and authentic souvenir to bring back from your trip to Belize, handmade natural soaps are a great option. Not only will you be supporting local artisans, but you'll also be able to indulge in a little self-care when you return home.

Local carvings and jewellery

Belize is known for its local carvings and jewellery, which make for great souvenirs. Local artists create amazing carvings and jewellery, often featuring depictions of the Mayan civilization, animals, and the Belizean rainforest or barrier reef.

The coastal Creoles are known for their jewellery made from coral and shells, as well as woodcarvings of sea creatures and ships. The Garífuna population, who live in the southern coastal region of the country, are famous for their unique, petite dolls. Towns like Punta Gorda and Placencia are good places to explore the craftsmanship of the Garífuna. The Mayan people of Belize create replicas of ancient Mayan hieroglyphics, figurines, and modern interpretations of Mayan style and symbolism using stone. San Ignacio is a great place to find these Mayan carvings due to its location in the heart of the ruins.

Belize City has the most expansive shopping scene, thanks in part to the cruise ships that regularly dock at Fort George. The Belize Tourism Village on Fort Street has a variety of handicraft and souvenir stalls, while the downtown core is home to more developed curio shops. The Image Factory Shop and Fine Arts are two notable stores that carry high-end quality crafts.

Outside of the capital, Ambergris Caye is a popular destination for tourists seeking souvenirs. While generic souvenirs and mass-produced crafts are common, there are also shops that specialize in quality artwork and handicrafts, such as Belizean Arts in Fido's Courtyard. Barrier Reef Drive is another great option, where local craftspeople sell their handmade items at affordable prices.

Conch jewellery is one of the most popular types of jewellery in Belize, but handmade jewellery from slate, wood, natural stone, and coral can also be found throughout the country. Etsy is a great platform to find unique Belizean jewellery, with a wide variety of options ranging from necklaces and bracelets to rings and earrings.

Wooden tableware and kitchen utensils

Belize offers a variety of wooden kitchen accessories, including bowls, spoons, and cutting boards. These items are not only practical but also aesthetically pleasing, with colourful designs that can brighten up any kitchen or dining table.

One of the highlights of wooden tableware and kitchen utensils from Belize is the Zericote salad bowl. These bowls showcase the beauty of Ziricote wood and make a great centrepiece for any table setting. In addition to bowls, colourful wooden spoons and cutting boards made from various native Belizean woods are also popular choices.

You can find wooden tableware and kitchen utensils in gift shops and street stalls throughout Belize. These items make excellent gifts for anyone who appreciates the beauty and warmth of wood in their kitchen or dining room.

In addition to their aesthetic appeal, wooden kitchen utensils are also practical. Wood is a poor conductor of heat, so wooden utensils are ideal for stirring hot foods without worrying about burning your hands. Wood is also gentle on pots and pans, reducing the risk of scratching non-stick surfaces.

Garifuna drums

The Garifuna drums are an integral part of Belize's culture and heritage, with their rhythmic and dramatic sounds pulsating through any gathering, from sporting events to church ceremonies. The Garifuna people, descendants of Carib, Arawak, and West Africans, have a long history of drum-making and playing that dates back to the arrival of West Africans on the shores of St. Vincent.

There are two main types of Garifuna drums: the Primero and the Segundo. The distinction between them lies solely in their size. The Primero drum, with its smaller diameter, produces a high-pitched sound, while the Segundo drum, being larger, generates a deep bass sound. In Garifuna music, the bass drummer maintains a steady rhythm, providing the foundation for the song, while the Primero drummer layers faster, more intricate rhythms. Each distinct rhythm is accompanied by its own style of dancing and singing, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.

The process of crafting Garifuna drums is a meticulous one. Drum makers start by hollowing out solid trunks of hardwoods such as mahogany, mayflower, or cedar. While traditionally this was achieved by burning out the centre with a small fire, today, a chainsaw is used to hollow out the log. The log is then shaped into a cylinder, sanded smooth, and drilled with holes around the bottom and a single hole below. Deer, sheep, or goat skin is used for the Primero drum head, while cow skin is reserved for the larger Segundo drums. The skin is cured in the sun, cut, and prepared by removing the hair and soaking it in water before being stretched over the drum.

The drum head is secured using two pieces of ti-tie vines, which are shaped into rings and placed inside and outside the drum, held in place with the help of rope woven through the holes. Finally, the rope is tightened with eight wooden pins, which can also be adjusted for tuning. The finished drum is left to dry in the sun, and the top is sanded once more for a smooth finish.

The Garifuna drums are not just musical instruments; they are a symbol of the Garifuna culture and their rich history. They serve as a connection to their African, Carib, and Arawak ancestry and are an essential means of storytelling, ensuring that the Garifuna language and traditions endure for future generations.

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