The story behind the third edition of Roastel Parang Blend.
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Nearing the end of the year, we usually attend back to back weekend markets where we get to meet and chat face to face with our dear customers. We found that folks were interested in a bold coffee, a blend that had a little extra kick for the hectic season, and flavourful to enjoy with the traditional, seasonal goodies like black cake, butter cookies, pastelles and more.
Parang Blend, South of France
We also realised that many people were travelling abroad or visiting for Christmas and wanted something special, something local to take with them. So we set out to create a unique blend using regional coffee and coffee grown in Trinidad. The local coffee brings more caffeine with a deep profile and the regional coffees add a bit of smoothness and spice. It turns out that this coffee is perfect to keep a parandero going and we named it “Parang Blend”!
Throughout 2018, customers asked for the Parang Blend but we insisted that it remained seasonal. Behind the scenes though, we wanted to create something special for the latest release and entered into two exciting collaborations.
Long time friend and parandero Krisy D
We approached long time friend and parandero, Kris (Krisy D) to “put the parang in the Parang Blend”. Kris and Hanson, friends for nearly 30 years, adapted Kris’s 2014 hit “Whole Year Paranging”. With a chorus, half of a verse, and Shalimar drafted for melody, we knocked on the door of friend and producer, Javed of Studio360. He provided much needed guidance and quickly pulled it all together. Music video here.
Story collector and coffee painter, Neala Luna
Soon after the musical adventure began, we had a conversation with story collector, Neala Luna. We received two of her pieces, painted with coffee, earlier in the year and like those, the Parang Blend packaging also had to be a keeper. From a simple idea, this aspect of the project evolved into a label that could be re-purposed into an ornament, bookmark, keepsake and the list can very well go on.
So this is the Parang Blend, 2018. We’re still rolling out deliveries to our retail partners and it’s also available right here on the website and at the events we attend (well…until December 2018 of course!)
Find Parang Blend:
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