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If you’ve Invested in St Lucia real estate, chances are you and your family are planning to start appreciating the relaxed Caribbean way of living. Thankfully, the Caribbean people are more than happy to share their laid-back vibe with anyone who wants to soak it up. Every day on this island is peaceful, tranquil and steady, and what better way to start it, or indeed end it, than with a cup of traditional cocoa tea? Cocoa Tea Made from the locally-ground cocoa that thrives in the hills that you can no doubt see around your St Lucia real estate property, the tea has a unique taste that at first may seem little odd but, after a while is hard not to fall in love with. Warm, smooth and chocolaty tasting, your kids are bound to be in favour. And it has great health effects too, including lowering blood pressure. Do you need more of a reason to indulge? The Rabot Estate – Hotel Chocolat The island of St Lucia is covered in cocoa plantations, many of which you can visit to learn more about the cultivation of the bean and production of chocolate. The Rabot estate is home to Hotel Chocolat, which is definitely one of the most beautiful. With views across to the Piton Peaks, the estate is surrounded by stunning, luscious rainforest scenery. Behind the estate stands the Soufrière volcano, with its sulphur springs; the very reason that the trees flourish here. Rich and fertile soils derived from the volcano’s existence, coupled with the high altitude and rainforest water, are conducive to efficient and productive cocoa growing. This estate covers 140 acres and is located in the south west of St Lucia. Real estate owners living in this area will be right on its doorstep. Divided into different areas of land, or ‘terroir’, as it is known in French, the individual sections have historically evocative names, such as L’Hermitage, Marcial, Rameau and Ti Jardin. The Fond Doux and Resort Tour The tour run at this estate is particularly educational and the guides take great enjoyment in telling you all about the French Kings, the chocolate and the organic fruits and vegetables also grown here. Beginning with a snippet of the resort’s history you are then brought right up to the present day, before the tour takes you to the Cocoa Fermentation House so that you can get an idea of what is involved in the production process. You’ll see the traditional cocoa-rina dance, which was once an integral part of the polishing process, as well as the finished product. I would always recommend buying a cocoa stick or two and trying out your own cocoa tea courtesy of the delicious ingredients so synonymous with St Lucia. Real estate owners will more than likely have the benefit of an outdoor terrace, which is the perfect location in which to indulge. The Recipe In a saucepan, bring 2 cups of water, ½ cup grated cocoa, ¼ tsp. ground cinnamon, and ½ tsp. vanilla to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for a couple of minutes. Add a cup of milk and stir. You can add sugar if you wish, before straining. Then, enjoy! Adam Gobat is a renowned expert on the Caribbean, with a passion for its culture, history, people and places. His indepth local knowledge and wealth of experience in luxury St Lucia real estate are key to the marketing and sales of the luxury villas and penthouses in The Landings, one of the most desirable freehold beachfront developments in the Caribbean.
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