Did you know that the Dominican Republic is the world’s largest producer of Cigars?
All production was shifted to the Dominican Republic when it was not allowed to buy Cuban cigars The history of Dominican Cigars When the tobacco producers in Cuba could no longer sell their products to the United States, they migrated to the Dominican Republic. And they brought with them all the experience and know-how they gained working in the fields in Cuba. How the Dominican Republic became a major player in the tobacco industry Once in the Republic, they began to cultivate the Cuban seed they brought with them, and started growing tobacco in the rich and fertile fields of our islands. The country has the same climate as Cuba, and cultivating tobacco here was not much different. Production takes place mainly in the central islands of Cibao Valley and Santiago, due to their ideal conditions for tobacco growing. Approximately 90% of the factories are in the fertile lands of the Cibao capital. More than 600,000 acres of tobacco fields produce unique cigars of impeccable quality and taste. Cigar Capital of the World Today, the Cigar Capital of the World is Tamboril in Santiago, Dominican Republic. There are more cigar factories than anywhere else in the world. The Dominican Republic is the largest producer of cigars in the world. According to Cigar Aficionado, 44% of the world’s most traded cigars come from the Dominican Republic. Our country is the largest supplier of cigars to the US in the last decades. For aficionados, some of the most beloved smokes are Dominican cigars The Dominican cigars aren’t very different, compared to the Cuban ones, and sometimes their quality far exceeds the quality of the Cuban, thanks to aging and exceptional Quality Control. The Dominican Republic is providing some of the best cigars out there, although generally, the Dominican Cigars are milder than Cuban. Every enthusiast knows that the tobacco produced in the Dominican Republic has excellent qualities. Its flavor profile is exceptional, and smokes are highly desirable among the aficionados. They say that Dominican tobacco is incredible and many brands proudly advertise the origin of their products. Here are the Top 5 Cigars produced in the Dominican Republic, according to Cuenca Cigars and the Cigar Aficionado scores La Flor Dominicana Ligero, which is a strong and full-flavored cigar that’s very complex. Its characteristic taste is that of a musky spice with strong notes of cedar. Montecristo White, which is a blend of the best Nicaraguan and Dominican long-fillers. It is wrapped with Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade that is hand-chosen. Its taste feels creamy and smooth as butter. Ashton Classic is one of the best cigars coming from the Dominican Republic. Two legends of the industry, Robert Levin and Carlos Fuente came together to create a product of excellent quality. The Ashton Classic is one of the most coveted cigars in the market. Trinidad Santiago is a Cuban-heritage cigar that scored 92% on Cigar Aficionado. It is created by Rafael Nodal and Jochy Blanco and features a 100% Dominican blend filling. PDR 1878 Cubano Especial Capa Natural is created in a boutique factory. It’s a reliable smoke wrapped with an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. Visit our exotic paradise and indulge in Dominican cigars Now that you know that the Dominican Republic offers the most exquisite cigars, you have one more reason to visit our paradise island and indulge yourself. At Extreme Hotel, we will be happy to help you explore the local cigar market. References Cuenca Cigars, Who needs Cuban? The top 5 Dominican Cigars, https://www.cuencacigars.com/blog/who-needs-cuban-the-top-5-dominican-cigars-d790e7/ Republica.Pro, Dominican Cigars, https://republicapro.com/about-dominican-republic/travel_blog/dominican_cigars Serious Cigars, The history of Dominican Cigars, https://www.seriouscigars.com/rons-corner/the-history-of-dominican-cigars/ Holt’s Clubhouse, The history of cigars in Dominican Republic, https://www.holts.com/clubhouse/cigar-culture/history-of-cigars-in-dominican-republic Cigar, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigar
Tainos: the indigenous people of the Dominican Republic
Tainos, the indigenous people of the Dominican Republic Long before Columbus’ arrival in the Caribbean, it was populated by indigenous people, the Taíno Indians. Arawak refers to the language and culture that those populations shared. They lived in Venezuela and throughout the Caribbean, Central America, and Florida. The community of Arawak-speaking people who lived on the island of Hispaniola—now the Dominican Republic and Haiti—were the Taíno Indians. Taino means “noble and good”, and their society was gentle, friendly, and highly organized. The information about the Taino comes from archaeological excavations, as well as the archives of Fray Ramón Pané, who was appointed by Columbus to learn and record the custom of the locals. He lived among them and learned all about their religion and customs. In this post, we explore their history and discover some of the secrets of the mythical Taino culture. How the Tainos lived The Taínos were very skilled in agriculture and hunting, and they were also good sailors, fishermen, and navigators. Their land produced yuca, potatoes, yautías, mamey, and guava, among other crops. According to all the information we have about them, they didn’t have a writing system, and they didn’t have a calendar either. They could only count to twenty with their hands and feet. Their food included both fish and meat, usually small mammals that inhabited the area. They ate snakes, various rodents, bats, worms, birds, anything they could find. Their diet, however, mostly consisted of agricultural products. They created circular homes and lived in peace in their happy communities under a patriarchal system that permitted polygamy. The stronger and wealthier the man, the more wives he had. It was an honor for women to be married to powerful men. Taino gods The Taíno Indians were polytheists, much like the people of ancient Greece, and their beliefs resembled those of the Greek gods of Mount Olympus. According to the myths, gods controlled the universe and were responsible for all that was happening. They had human characteristics and represented the various elements. Unlike the Greek gods, the Taino gods, also called Zemi, didn’t have defined personality traits. The whole community would worship the Zemi, and they would hold festivals to honor them. Their wise people—priests or medicine men—would ask the Zemi to guide them. The Tainos felt they needed to be on good terms with their gods, since they governed the world and the elements. To that effect, they performed religious ceremonies to worship them and show respect. Their stories and myths were created to explain the origin of the earth’s phenomena, and a lot of their stories involved caves. They believed that the sun and the moon came from caves. According to another myth, people lived in caves and were only allowed to get out during the night. A guard was responsible for guarding them, but when he was late one day, the sun caught him, and he became a stone pillar. All Taino gods have a fascinating story explaining their origin and their place in people’s lives. Here are some of the Zemi and what they represented in the Taino religion. A lot of those entities were portrayed in their artwork, which is now featured in the Taino Museum in Haiti. Some of the Zemi The god of fertility, Yocahu Vaguada Maorocoti. He was the spirit of the Yucca and of the sea and, according to the myth, was buried in the cassava, the main food of the native Taino, to fertilize the soil. Goddess Mother Earth, Itiva Tahuvava. She was the mother of twins representing the four cardinal points or, according to local mythology, the four winds. The Witch Doctor or Shaman. He was the wisest character in the Taino tribe, knowing all the plants and medicinal substances responsible for curing diseases. He performed the ritual of cohoba, a ritual and healing ceremony. Their god-dog, Opiyel Guobiran, was tied until the time came to release it into the jungle. The position of this god suggests that it is ready to run away to freedom. The god of Cohoba, the main god of the Taíno tribe. According to the symbols, on his head was a plate for hallucinogen dust that was used during the religious ceremonies. The god of Rain or Cemi Boinayel. According to the myth, tears emerging from the eyes symbolize the water that runs through the field to fertilize the cultivation of Yucca. The Sun God and Moon Goddess, who lived in the cave of Mautiatibuel—Lord of the Dawn—where they took turns coming out as the sun rose or hid. Taino culture today The people of the Caribbean are proud of their heritage. A lot of the words their ancestors formed are still used today, not only in the Caribbean but also all over the world. In this article, you can learn more about Taino words in the English vocabulary. Their heritage is still present in their customs and cuisine. For example, yuca dishes and bread are very popular, and are found all over the Dominican Republic. When you come to the eXtreme Hotel in Cabarete, you will have the opportunity to discover this exotic country and meet the vibrant and welcoming local community that carries the legacy of the Tainos. References Smithsonian Magazine, “What Became of the Taíno?”, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/what-became-of-the-taino-73824867/ Britannica, “Taino PEOPLE”, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Taino Welcome to Puerto Rico, “Taino Indian Culture”, https://welcome.topuertorico.org/reference/taino.shtml Taino Museum, “History”, https://tainomuseum.org/taino/history/
Beer brands in the Dominican Republic
Drinking cool, crisp Dominican Republic beer at the beach! Nothing better than relaxing on a white, sandy, Caribbean beach, with a cool, crisp bottle of Dominican Republic beer in your hand. An experience you’ll never forget. A memory to last a lifetime! When traveling to the Dominican Republic, visitors usually expect to drink rum, but that is not their only choice. Far from that! Beer has a strong place in the Dominican Republic. There is even a local brewing industry that produces some key beer brands that have great taste and do really well. Beer brewing history in the Dominican Republic The history of beer brewing in the Dominican Republic doesn’t go far back. In 1929, the first plant to start operations in the country was the Dominican National Brewery (CND) or Cervecería Nacional Dominicana. The first beers they produced were Beer Reiner, Maltina Reiner, and Beer Columbus. Later, beer production started to expand, and in 1935, the first-ever Presidente Especial was produced. Up until today, this great pilsner-type beer has become the most popular choice all over the Dominican Republic. It is a staple choice when people on the island want a cold refreshing drink. Presidente has a loyal following, and global exports are also on the rise! They export it to countries like the United States, Spain, Germany, Italy, Cuba, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Presidente, Bohemia, and lots of craft beers Locals in the Dominican Republic love their Presidente, and it is by far the most popular choice! But it’s not the only choice. Once on the island, you also have to try some of the variations of Presidente, as well as other loved craft beers such as: Presidente Light Presidente Black Bohemia Especial, a highly recommended choice Bohemia Light Quisqueya Light Cerveza Quisqueya, a highly recommended choice La Benedicta Costeña, etc. What’s so different about beer in the Dominican Republic? Well, apart from the taste of the local brands, what makes a striking difference to visitors is the temperature at which the beers are served. The beers are brought to you at 2 to 4 degrees Celsius, in other words, real close to freezing point. The locals even call their beers ‘dressed like a bride’ because of the white layer of ice around the glass. When the beer is so cold that a white frosting covers the whole bottle, people say ‘Vestida de Novia,’ which means dressed for wedding. Try Dominican Republic beer for yourself The Dominican Republic is an excellent tourist destination, one that offers visitors much more than rum! There are locally produced cigars [link to cigar article] of the finest quality and excellent quality home-produced beers. In Santo Domingo and throughout, the country beer drinkers can enjoy the cool rich taste of Presidente, Bohemian, and many others. You will find Presidente in every single place, from the local store and supermarket to the hottest nightclub in town. For a true taste of the Dominican culture, you can come to Cabarete and grab your beer at the beach where Extreme Hotel is situated. When you arrive, grab a large one and share it with everyone around. It’s a must! It’ll be a memory you might never forget. Salud! References RateBeer, Best beers of the Dominican Republic, https://www.ratebeer.com/beer/country/dominican-republic/62/ Dominican Travel, Beer and cost of beer, https://www.dominicantravel.com/dominican-republic/beer-and-cost-of-beer Wikipedia, Presidente beer, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidente_(beer) Beers of Europe, Dominican Republic, https://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/beer/country/dominican-republic Punta Cana Adventures, Top drinks in Punta Cana, https://puntacanaadventures.com/top-drinks-punta-cana/
Birds of the Dominican Republic
Maybe you’re taking a break between kiting sessions. Maybe you came to the beach to work on your tan. Whatever the reason, there’s usually some time to spare on the beach in Cabarete. While you soak up the sun and enjoy the peaceful sound of the ocean, why not enjoy a little light birdwatching? I am not an avid ornothologist, but I do love the feeling of being able to successfully identify a passing bird. Even if it’s just a crow or a species of finch. Here are some of the most common birds you’ll see around Cabarete. Who knows, you might just impress all your friends with your expert local bird knowledge. This stuff comes in handy. Palmchat Where better to start our bird journey than with the Dominican national bird? The Palmchat, Cigua Palmera in Spanish, is only found on the island of Hispaniola. That’s right, you won’t see this little guy anywhere else in the world. Palmchats are cheerful creatures, full of song and chatter. They tend to hang out at the tops of palm trees, hence the name. They are small, around 20 cm long, and have a distinctive olive-brown colouring, streaked with brown and cream. Their eyes are red and their bills are yellow. Palmchats are very sociable, and live in family groups. Their nests can be quite large and intricately designed with rooms and passages. Different ‘rooms’ are sometimes joined together to create a structure up to 2 metres wide! Keep an eye out for their homes while you sip piña coladas on the beach. Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo Another species found only on Hispaniola is this striking Hispaniolan Lizard-Cuckoo. This bird has pretty distinctive plumage. The long, white-tipped tail and reddish-brown patches under the wings make it stand out from the rest. It’s about 45cm long. If you don’t see it, you might hear it first. It calls in very sharp, staccato way. Some have described it as grating. Sorry, cuckoo. Though this cuckoo mainly hangs out in the forest canopy, it likes to chase lizards and other small animals around the forest floor for its dinner. Antillean Palm-Swift The Antillean Palm-Swift is a small swift with easy-to-spot black and white markings. It is mainly black on top and white underneath, with a black breast band. This little swift is mainly found in Cuba, Hispaniola and Jamaica, but it has been known to wander as far as Florida. Palm Swifts hang around in colonies of about thirty pairs, and often live around urban areas. They are also pretty common in sugar plantations. They have quite a weak, twittery call. Not surprising, since they are only around 10-15 cm long. Palm-Swifts fly very nimbly and quickly. They are though to tbe one of the fastest fliers of their size. You may see them showing off in the air, doing twists and turns. Vervain Hummingbird This little cutie is a Vervain Hummingbird. Considered the second smallest bird in the world after the bee hummingbird, the Vervain is around 6cm long and weighs just 2g. It is so small that you might mistake it for a bumblebee! Look out for its metallic green feathers on its back, and its hovering flight patterns. They also turn their head to the side when singing. Adorable. Hummingbirds are amazing fliers. They are the only birds on Earth who can spin their wings in a circle, allowing them to fly forwards and backwards, up and down, and side to side. Oh, they can also hover. They have freaky high metabolisms. Hummingbirds have the fastest heart rates (1,200 times a minute in flight) and highest body temperatures of any animal in the world. This means they burn a lot of energy, and have to eat and drink very frequently. Like, every 10 to 15 minutes. (Gosh, I wish I were a hummingbird right now.) They drink eight times their body weight every day. In a day, humans eat about 26 calories per kilogram. When hummingbirds are bulking up for migration, they will eat 14,000 calories per kg every day. That’s just insane. I’m around 60kg, so that would be the equivalent of me eating 840,000 calories in a day! Broad-billed Tody The Broad-billed Tody, or as I like to call him ‘The Joker’s Style Icon’, is a little but chunky, brightly-coloured bird who likes to make a lot of noise. Todies have very distinctive plumage. The bright green top, white and yellowy underneath with pinkish sides, and sharp red throats make it easy to identify when birdwatching. The narrow-billed tody lives on the island, too, but lacks the yellow streak on the front. They tend to hang out in the mountains, whereas the broad-billed bros stick to the low land. They love to chatter away, as they bob around on branches, and make a terp terp whistle-like call. They can also make a noise with their feathers that sounds like running your finger along the teeth of a comb quickly. You’ll hear that a lot in mating season, which is April to July. Todies don’t migrate, and like to stay close to their home nest, even when they’ve grown up. Aww. El Choco National Park If you’re keen to see some tropical birds, El Choco National Park might be one for the holiday list. There are guided bird trails, where a local expert will take you around the unmarked trails of the park and teach you all about Cabarete birds. El Choco is just a short moto ride from the centre of Cabarete, down the Callejon de la Loma. Here, you’ll find 77 square kilometers of limestone hills, lush forest, small farms and pasture land. You’ll also find lots of birds to spot. It’s recommended that you go to El Choco with a guide for your first time at least, as there aren’t good maps of the trails and it’s really easy to get lost. In the heat, this is a bad idea, and could turn your dream vacation into a nightmare. Best appreciate
Semana Santa: Holy Week in the Dominican Republic
Easter, Semana Santa, is the most important holiday in the Dominican religious calendar. It’s even bigger than Christmas, and more solemnly celebrated. This makes sense, since Easter remembers the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all mankind, his death on a cross and resurrection. While the resurrection is cause for celebration and joy, the week leading up to Easter Sunday is a more serious reminder of the suffering of Jesus’ last days on Earth before he died. For this reason, you may find you notice a shift in the general mood during Holy Week in the Dominican Republic. The dates for Semana Santa are April 5th to 11th 2020. The DR is a Roman Catholic country, with the latest census showing that over 85% of Dominicans who identify as religious are Catholic. Many Dominicans choose to travel home over the weekend to be with family, much like the annual Thanksgiving home visit in North America. In Cabarete, the Semana Santa weekend means our beaches are full to capacity with Dominicans from all over the country who have come to party! Some areas may experience little disruption to the normal routine, but many Dominicans in cities and towns are entitled to take the whole Holy Week off work. You may find there are some activities that are not running because of the national religious festivities. Many areas ban motorised boats near public beaches, for instance. Good Friday is the most serious day of reflection because it marks the day when Jesus died on the cross. Traditionally, a sort of sabbath is observed: businesses and stores are closed, and the day is spent in church and with family. Noise restriction policies will often end early, say at 6 or 7pm, and you might find clubs and bars are closed that night. In some areas there will be a ban on loud music all weekend. In Cabarete, only classical music is heard on Good Friday, but the party mood will be in full swing once midnight marks the beginning of Saturday! Expect big crowds of party animals in the Cabarete beach clubs, with live music and DJs playing all weekend long. In cities and major towns, there will be a noticeable increase in the presence of the military, police and emergency service volunteers on the streets over the weekend. They are there to ensure the festivities run smoothly and without dangerous disturbances. If you are near a city, you should definitely check out the city-wide parades and processions throughout Semana Santa, they are quite spectacular! Many streets are closed off, and all but the main roads out of the city will probably be totally empty of cars and other vehicles. Santo Domingo has especially amazing processions and beautiful services. There are special mass services during the week to commemorate Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday), Miercoles de Ceniza (Ash Wednesday), Jueves Santo (Holy Thursday, day of the Last Supper), Viernes Santo (Good Friday), Sabado Santo (Holy Saturday), Domingo de Resurrection o de Pascua (Resurrection or Easter Sunday). On the Saturday night, many dedicated Dominicans will hold a vigil from around 11pm until dawn to bring in Easter Sunday and observe the last hours before the resurrection. Special food is prepared for Semana Santa, usually in large quantities for extended family and visitors. Dominicans traditionally abstain from meat for Holy Week, so seafood and fish are eaten a lot. There is a special Dominican potato salad that is a favourite dish on this holiday. One classic Easter feature is Habichuelas con Dulce, which is a spiced, cold, sweet bean pudding of sorts, made with condensed milk. Like a bean version of rice pudding, if you’ve ever had that! This should go without saying, but please be respectful of this highly significant religious observance. This is pretty much the only week of the year when Dominicans are not inclined to party, so be sensitive and take note of the vibe during Semana Santa. If you’re in Cabarete and the party is rocking, follow the lead of the local Dominicans as to when to let loose! Remember to always stay safe when there are lots of people crowding the beach. Don’t take valuables with you, don’t drive, and don’t swim drunk! Have a dance, have some rum, and enjoy the celebrations!
Dominican Higüero Gourds
The first higüero gourd I saw was a lampshade in a restaurant. I assumed it was made of dried-out coconut shell, as it was rounded and had that lovely brown colour. But, when I asked the waiter, I found out it was actually a seed from the higüero tree. It was beautiful. The artist had pierced it with little holes so that it projected pretty patterns onto the walls, when the light shone through it. I was fascinated. I learned that the hard shell comes from a fruit which dries and hardens in the sun to form a wood-like material. You can scoop out the white flesh and carve patterns into the skin that dry on. Kind of like an inedible pumpkin. The fruit take a really long time to ripen, up to seven months of hanging on the tree. While the higüero tree is found in other tropical countries, the gourds elsewhere tend to be more rounded, like a grapefruit. The Dominican higüero variety produces an elliptical capsule about the same size and shape as a watermelon. Fibre from the tree can be twisted into ropes, and the wood makes strong tools. All, in all, it’s a very useful tree. The two dots above the ‘u’ indicate that higüero is pronounced ee-gweh-roh. In ‘gue’ syllables in Spanish, the ‘u’ is normally silent (pronounced geh), unless it carries an umlot which means the ‘u’ can join in the fun. There you go. But back to the higüero at hand. Nowadays, the higüero fruit is mostly used to make decorative objects and ornaments. But, historically, it was used in all sorts of ways. The skin is strong, durable and holds water, making it ideal for kitchenware. Folk made big serving bowls (fruit cut in half lengthways), little eating bowls (fruit cut in half widthways), sieves, ladles, spoons, cups, vases, and much more. Higüero pods that had been hollowed out through a small hole at the top were used to carry water. How’s that for an all-natural water canteen? With a bamboo straw, you’d be set. But that’s not all. The Taino people native to the island used the higüero gourds to make music. They filled small hollow gourds with little pebbles or hard peas to shake: maracas. They carved grooves into the shell on one side of the fruit and a hole on the other to make a scraping board: a güiro. The Taino may have used the higüero to make hunting masks. The idea was that birds and animals were not frightened of the dried husks, so hunters cut out eyeholes and wore them over their faces as masks. This would work especially well in water, where the hunter could wade in and be dismissed as a floating fruit by the prey. S-M-A-R-T. Artisanal higüero products can make for a great souvenir from your vacation to Cabarete. Keep an eye out for sellers and stores around town, there are many that sell the handmade ornaments. If you want a real traditional Dominican experience, you could even have a go at carving your own higüero decoration! Go out there and make some memories! Just don’t cut yourself.