OTC BEVERAGES
How many of us have family food traditions? My family is as diverse as the African diaspora comes – so whether it’s my Jamaican grandma’s ginger beer, my Sierra Leonean grandfather’s okra plasas or my Nigerian side’s jollof rice – I’ve known these to be the staples to look forward to at special occasions.
Shirley White, founder of OTC Beverages, has the same. After it dawned on her that her father’s traditional ginger beer and sorrel recipes won’t be passed down to the next generation unless somebody kept it alive, she made it her job to preserve and later create them for everyone to share.
Here’s more on OTC Beverages from Shirley:
For those who may not have tried sorrel, what’s it like and when would you traditionally drink it?
“Sorrel is a beverage made from the hibiscus flower, and is typically had over Christmas and Easter in Caribbean homes. Its flavour is super warming! While it has lots of health benefits such as lowering cholesterol and being rich in vitamins and minerals, you can also drink it as a chaser with rum or brandy.”
Your drinks are made from organic ingredients sourced from farmers. Was this a conscious decision and if so, why?
“Yes. This is to ensure we use quality ingredients in all of our products. Unfortunately there’s a lot of rubbish our community consumes. We can be blind to the fact that products based on our traditional, well-made traditions are often cheaply made and can kill slowly if consumed too regularly. We also pride ourselves on working with Jamaican farmers. This helps us source the product direct and create jobs locally.”
