Sensory knowledge

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The story behind every sip, every bite and every draw. Five products connected to Dominican culture.

01

Dominican Rum

The key fact

The history of Dominican rum is closely linked to sugarcane and its establishment on the island of Hispaniola.

Dominican rum
The birth of the modern industry
1852

Erasmo Bermúdez creates “Amargo Panacea” in Santiago de los Caballeros.

1888

Andrés Brugal Montané founds Brugal & Co. in Puerto Plata.

1930

Julián Barceló founds Barceló & Co. in Santo Domingo.

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Designation of Origin

Dominican Rum has a Designation of Origin and technical specifications that regulate its production.

Aging in barrels

Aging in barrels is a fundamental part of the rum-making process.

02

Dominican Cacao

The key fact

Cacao cultivation has a long tradition in the Dominican Republic.

Cacao dominicano
Cacao fermentation and processing
Unfermented

Sánchez Cacao

Cacao traditionally marketed without fermentation.

Fermented

Hispaniola Cacao

Cacao that has undergone a fermentation process.

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Producing regions

Regions of the country such as Duarte, El Seibo and Sánchez Ramírez maintain significant cacao-growing activity.

Fermentation and drying

Fermentation and drying are part of the post-harvest processes that influence the final characteristics of cacao.

Fine or flavor cacao

The Dominican Republic is internationally recognized as an exporter of fine or flavor cacao.

03

Mamajuana

The key fact

Mamajuana is a traditional beverage from the Dominican Republic made by macerating a combination of roots, barks and other ingredients.

Mamajuana dominicana
Ingredients and preparation
I

Dominican rum

II

Red wine and honey

III

Roots and barks

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Different recipes

There are different preparations and recipes for mamajuana.

Curing

The wood used in the preparation may undergo a curing process before the final mixture is added.

Bottled production

In addition to its traditional artisanal preparation, mamajuana is also produced and commercially sold as a bottled beverage.

04

Dominican Coffee

The key fact

Coffee is part of the agricultural and cultural tradition of the Dominican Republic.

Café dominicano
Cultivation and processing

Arabica species

Arabica coffee is grown in the Dominican Republic, including different varieties.

Wet processing

Wet processing, or the washed process, is one of the methods used to process coffee produced in the country.

The culture of “cafecito”

Coffee consumption is deeply rooted in everyday Dominican life.

Specialty coffee

The country also produces specialty coffee, with greater attention to origin, farms, production processes and bean traceability.

05

Dominican Cigar

The key fact

Tobacco has a long history on the island of Hispaniola, and its use dates back to the pre-Columbian period.

Tabaco dominicano
Anatomy of a premium cigar
1

The filler

A combination of leaves that forms the interior of the cigar.

2

The binder

A leaf that wraps around and holds the filler together.

3

The wrapper

Outer leaf of the cigar.

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Cibao Valley and Santiago

Tobacco cultivation and production have a particularly significant presence in the Cibao Valley and the Santiago de los Caballeros region.

Development of the industry

Santiago de los Caballeros became one of the country’s main centers for cigar production.

Artisanal tradition

The production of premium Dominican cigars preserves a strong tradition of handcraftsmanship carried out by skilled artisans.

Learning the history behind what you taste transforms a tasting into a complete experience.