Where To Find Organic Foods & Eco-Friendly Home Products That Are Made In The Bahamas
These days, those in search of organic “made-in-the-Bahamas” products will find an eclectic mix of all-natural foods, home and body products that offer an authentic Bahamian experience for both locals and visitors alike. From Farmers’ markets to specialty artisan boutiques, we’ve put together a list of our top spots for getting your hands on organic food and eco-friendly home products available in Nassau and produced by Bahamian entrepreneurs.
Genuinely Bahamian Boutique
Credit: Tru Bahamian Food Tours
Specializing in all-natural Bahamian spice rubs, hot sauces, jams, jellies, drinks, and confections, the Genuinely Bahamian Boutique is a must-stop during your stroll through downtown Nassau. The owner of this unique gem, Linda Myers, originally started out operating the Tortuga Rum Cake Bakeries here in Nassau. Their cakes are undeniably delicious, but the Myers noticed early on that their customers also wanted to take other local products home with them. To meet that demand, the couple started showcasing sauces and jams made by local artisans, but the products were very difficult to obtain regularly. That’s when Linda decided to take matters into her own hands! She began experimenting with traditional Bahamian recipes that she’d been making for years, but then friends and family started volunteering their own recipes. By 2012, Linda launched the Genuinely Bahamian brand!
Their most popular products include old Bahamian favorites like Tamarind Rum Jam, Steamy Mango Hot Sauce, and Goat Pepper Powder, but the staff is constantly cooking up delicious new goodies. Best of all, the store still features brands made by other local artisans including V&V Condiments, and with their online shopping option coming soon, you’ll have access to your favorite products all year-round!
Must Try: Pineapple Jam, Bahama Flava Guava Jam, V&V Goat Pepper Powder, Cat Island Boiling Hole Scorchin’ Hot Sauce, Preacher’s Wife Fudge
Store Location: Charlotte and Bay Streets, Downtown Nassau
Hours: Mon-Sun, 9:00am-6:00pm
More Info: (242) 356-2242 / Facebook / Website
Biggity Boutique & Bistro
Credit: Biggity 242
Talk about your one stop shop! Along with serving up an amazing meal, the Biggity Boutique & Bistro offers a wide array of products, from pepper sauces to candles, glass-bottle cheeseboards to driftwood centerpieces. Established by self-proclaimed Bahamian Ambassador, Amanda Ferguson, who wanted to create a brand that would remain true to Bahamian culture and heritage. Ferguson began her line with her family’s famous Biggity Pepper Sauce, made from fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs grown here in The Bahamas. In The Bahamas, the word “biggity” means bossy, haughty, and bold, and that’s exactly what the brand’s pepper sauce is, slapping you in the face with a flavor so wild you just have to have another bite! Ferguson wanted all of her products to speak with the same pride, so she started making candles that have become quite the sensation here in Nassau.
Biggity’s candles are all soy-based and come in an assortment of intriguing aromas that derive from organic and indigenous fruits, herbs, and spices. With scents like Sky Juice, Switcha & Rum Therapy, Guava Duff, Banana Bread and Juicy Mangra, Biggity will have your mouth running and senses swooning with all the aromas of The Bahamas! Biggity’s products are featured in stores on several major islands here in the archipelago, but in Nassau, the company has its own convenient location downtown on Bay Street. The proprietors also take part in cultural showcases like our annual Jollification Festivities and Rum Festival, so if you’re out and about, you’re sure to hear the shout of Biggity!
Must Try: Native Pepper Sauce, Sky Juice Soy Candle, Sweet Girl Soy Candle, Wine Bottle Tumblers
Store Location: #329 Bay Street
Hours: Mon-Sat, 8:00am-5:00pm
More Info: (242) 322-2222 / Facebook / Website
Tasty Teas
Credit: Tasty Teas
We love tea here in The Bahamas! The Governor-General herself even hosts monthly garden parties celebrating the British tradition of high tea which is a throwback to our British heritage. But since you may not be in town on the exact date these events take place each month, the chances of nibbling coconut tarts and sipping tea with Nassau’s finest are pretty slim. Thankfully, Jonathan Forbes provides locals and visitors alike with outstanding traditional Bahamian teas at Tasty Teas for all the other days of the year. Since The Bahamas has never grown caffeinated tea leaves nor coffee beans, Tasty Teas employs indigenous ingredients like fruits, herbs, spices, flowers and vines, making what Bahamians fondly call “bush teas.” For years, Forbes’ mother sold her organic bush teas at local farmers’ markets, but in 2013, Forbes took the side-hustle and turned it into a burgeoning business that specializes in iced teas, juices, nectars, filtered tea bags, whole-leaf teas, smoothies, and ice creams.
The drinks come in many varieties, some using unique Caribbean fruits and plants like soursop and braziletto, while others use medicinal herbs like moringa and neem that still manage to taste absolutely delicious. Their most popular drinks are the Junkanoo Nectar and the 21-Gun Salute. We’re not sure what’s in the Salute, but it’s a top seller for couples, so it must be really “healthy!” The store lies just 10 minutes away from the main Downtown area in Nassau, and with their email order option, Tasty Teas provides amazing, all-natural Bahamian alternatives to caffeinated drinks. As Forbes jokes with all his customers, “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy Tasty Teas, which is pretty much the same thing!”
Must Try: Junkanoo Nectar, Pomegranate Tea, Sweet Margaret Iced Tea, 21-Gun Salute, Soursop Ice Cream
Store Location: #21 Delancey Street, Downtown Nassau
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9:00am-4:30pm
More Info: (242) 322-2222 / Facebook
Pasión Tea & Coffee Company
Credit: Tru Bahamian Food Tours
Did we mention that we love tea in The Bahamas? Teas are more than just for sipping in the islands, our bush teas are used as medicinal remedies as well, and for generations these bush teas have helped with cold and flu symptoms, diabetes, and hypertension. No one knows this better than Julie Hoffer and her staff at the Pasión Tea & Coffee Company! Hoffer was born and raised here in The Bahamas, but her love for teas has sent her around the world to experiment with different blends and soon she began introducing hot sauces and spices to her boutique too. The Company focuses on creating all-natural, high-quality products using organic and fair trade ingredients that taste amazing!
Today, Nassau cruise ship guests can take a look Hoffer’s products right outside the port in Festival Place while guests on the island for a few days can visit their Plantation Hill location 5 minutes away from the International Airport. Hoffer’s all-natural, organic products include therapeutic bush teas like Hibiscus and Neem teas, delightful summer time teas, hot sauces using Bahamian ingredients like papaya, key limes, goat peppers, and mangoes, and Caribbean spice rubs like Lemon Pepper and Jerk Seasonings. The company has even branched out into spa products as well, including fragrant oil and sea-salt scrubs. Pasión Tea & Coffee products are the perfect gift to take back home for family and friends to give them a taste of the islands and of course, to treat yo self!
Must Try: Briland Passion Fruit Tea, Zesty Lemon Pepper Rub, Bahamian Hot Pepper Tonic
Store Location: Festival Place, Prince George Wharf and The Pasión Boutique, Caves Road
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9:00am-9:00pm / Sun, 10:00am-8:00pm
More Info: (242) 327-7011 / Website / Facebook
Ridge Farms Calypso Brands
Credit: Ridge Farms
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right? Well, for Rionda Godet, life gave her tomatoes, so she made tomato sauce. Of course, Godet thought the sauces were just a lucrative way of getting rid of her surplus produce, but those tomato sauces soon made Godet and her Ridge Farm products a household name for organic food here in The Bahamas. An attorney turned farmer, Godet decided to take a sabbatical from her law practice in 2009 and established the second largest hydroponic greenhouse in the country. She quickly made contracts with gourmet stores due to the popularity of her plump, juicy tomatoes, but then a larger supplier came along and undercut her prices. Godet lost her customers and her drive to compete, so she began giving away her tomatoes. On a whim, though, Godet decided use some of those tomatoes to make tomato sauce. What started off as a going-out-of-business sale turned into a staple brand of tomato sauces, hot sauces, and sweet and pepper jellies and jams!
Ridge Farm products are zany and fun with names like “Calypso Zomba” and “Zango Nana Blue Blaze” (which earned praised in The Wall Street Journal) and all contain organic and indigenous ingredients like goat peppers, mangoes, and natural sea salt. Take note of any word starting with the letter “Z,” however, for that’s your indication of how hot the product is! Ridge Farm products are always easy to find and featured in many local grocery stores and popular souvenir stores in Downtown Nassau. You can even special order gift packages with customized labels and Bahamian-themed wrapping. You can’t get more authentic than that!
Must Try: “Da Bomb” Tomato Sauce, Zango Nana Blue Blaze, Calypso Papa Love, Homemade Guava Jam
Vendor Locations: Super Value Quality Markets, Nassau Farmers’ Markets
More Info: (242) 376-9975 / Facebook
Firehouse Spice Co.
Credit: Firehouse Spice Co.
Ready to turn up the heat? Then grab a bottle of Firehouse Spice and prepare to call the fire engine! Founded by Regina Smith in November 2012, these products were initially only sold via social media but have since become so popular that Regina’s spices and hot sauces and jellies have started to pop up in several stores on the island. What’s truly unique about the Firehouse products is that they’re all made from indigenous Bahamian hot peppers like goat peppers and finger peppers, and other natural ingredients such as sea salt from the Southern Bahamian Family Islands. By using local ingredients, Firehouse products retain the essence of Bahamian cooking, providing the flavor and heat that we locals love.
Regina’s list of products are growing fast, and offer an amazing variety to fit any palate and meal. From spice rubs to hot sauces, pepper jellies to pastes, flaming pepper flakes to marinades, Fire House can add a bit of Bahamian heat to any home cook’s recipe.
Must Try: Ignite Spice Rub, Spark Spice Rub, Bonfire Jerk BBQ Sauce, Bush Fire Pepper Jelly, Flamin’ Flakes
Vendor Locations: Triple B Convenience Store, Craft Cottage, Drawbridge Patisserie & Gelateria at Graycliff, and home deliveries available for Nassau residents.
More Info: (242) 477-6310 / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Website
Graycliff Chocolatier
Credit: Graycliff Chocolatier
Amidst the colonial beauty of one of Downtown Nassau’s most regal properties, the Graycliff Chocolatier Boutique gives locals and visitors alike the chance to indulge in their passion for chocolate! Establish in 2012 by the Garzarolli family, the current owners of the Graycliff estate, the factory promotes fair trade and organic farming, using only regional, all-natural cocoa beans to make their chocolate. The chocolatiers also use organic ingredients from The Bahamas, ingredients like sea salt and goat peppers, coconuts, pineapples, guavas, mangoes, passion fruits, and key limes. They even use speciality Bahamian rums like John Watling’s Pale Rum! The chocolate factory produces a variety of hand-crafted dark, milk, and white chocolates available in solid bars or bits, filled bonbons, truffles, barks and cocktail pops.
The Graycliff Chocolatier is located near the outskirts of the Downtown area and offers not only boxes for purchase at their Boutique, but also tours that teach guests all about how their chocolates are made and pairings with a selection of spirits as well. What’s even more amazing is that the chocolatier is always introducing new flavors to their repertoire and often offers seasonal flavors like their White Chocolate Eggnog Bonbon or summer Dark Chocolate Seagrape. Make your way up to the Chocolatier next time you’re in Nassau, or better yet, take our Bites of Nassau Food Tour and taste the best selling bonbons in the store!
Must Try: White Chocolate Pineapple Passion Fruit Bonbon, Milk Chocolate Bailey’s Bonbon, Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel Bonbon, Chocolate Shots
Store Locations: West Hill Street, Downtown Nassau, US Departures Lounge (Lynden Pindling International Airport)
Hours: Mon-Sat, 9:00am-5:00pm
More Info: (242) 302-9190 / Facebook / Website
The Coconut Factory
Credit: The Coconut Factory
If there’s one thing we’ve got here in The Bahamas- it is coconuts, and we’ve got a lot of ways to use them! We add coconut flakes to bread, coconut milk to stews, and make coconut tart for dessert. But when Youlette Etienne found out that we were importing coconut oil into the country, she was shocked since the practice of doing so seemed unnecessary. As a local artisan specializing in Bahamian treats, soaps, and oils, Etienne decided to experiment with local coconuts, and after a year of establishing relationships with local suppliers, Etienne and her crew at Vennie’s Natural Factory started creating nutrient-dense and delicious coconut products! Coconut is so important at Vennie’s that the company has transformed into The Coconut Factory, and produces a wide array of coconut-related products!
Today, The Coconut Factory makes organic foods and body care items all made from local coconuts. Their products are creative and unexpected, including coconut flour (which is a great gluten-free alternative!), coconut butter and oil, coconut bowls, and all-natural coconut soaps and shampoos! The Coconut Factory is taking advantage of an easily-accessible food source and creating eco-friendly products that are great for cooking and the body!
Must Try: Organic Cold Pressed Coconut Oil, Organic Coconut Flour, Organic Lemongrass Salt Scrub
Vendor Locations: Harbourfront Coffee House, Craft Cottage Bahamas, The Organic Store, The Right Choice Pharmacy, Pasion Tea & Coffee Company
More Info: (242) 225-1233 / Facebook / Website
Field To Fork Community Farm
Credit: Field To Fork
There has never been a more intimate labor than an early morning stroll through a local farm market picking the freshest produce for your kitchen. In New Providence, there aren’t a lot of places you can do this, but one of the few is the Field to Fork Community Farm. Founded in 2011 by Selima Campbell-Hauber and her husband, Tim, this family-run farm is situated in western New Providence and offers only fresh, organic, locally-grown produce for the discerning cook. Selima has always had a keen interest in sustainable farming and exposing local farmers and gardeners to new crops, so she earned her degree in horticulture and established Field to Fork when she returned home to The Bahamas. At their Farmers’ Market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, Selima and her family provide freshly picked vegetables and fruits, along with potted herbs and jams, sauces, sprout mixes, confections and treats made by local artisans, like Om Grown Greens and Sydney’s Baked Goods, all incorporating local and organic ingredients.
The farm is also a beautiful place to spend a Saturday morning! You can browse the fields and enjoy live music, watch a cooking demo, and even attend a lecture on organic gardening and learn local recipes! The fresh produce attracts a variety of birds as well, making this farm the perfect spot for bird-watchers. So if you’re looking for fresh herbs for your salad, local tomatoes for stews, or home-made treats like Kombucha and Pico de Gallo, Field to Fork provides all of that and much more!
Must Try: Fruit Kombucha, Kimchi, Ginger Beer, Fresh Pestos, Wild Honey, Turmeric Tonic, and an assortment of fresh vegetable seedlings and fruit trees to grow in our own garden!
Farm Location: Rock Plant Road, Western New Providence
Market Hours: Wed & Sat, 8:30am-12:00pm
More Info: (242) 434-0818 / Facebook / Website
Chiccharney Farms
Credit: Chiccharney Farms
One of the most innovative farmers’ markets in The Bahamas, Chiccharney Farms takes an unorthodox approach to shopping organic. The farm is actually located in Andros, the largest island in The Bahamas. The farm derives its name from the mysterious “chiccharney” or “chickcharnie,” and mythical bird-like creature that roams the wild Androsian forests. Legend has it that if you were to encounter one these creatures, you’ll have good luck! The name “Chiccharney” fits the farm’s bounteousness perfectly, for the owners of Chiccharney Farms have been utilizing the island’s rich red soil for three generations.
Chavara Eneas continues the legacy of her grandparents by growing fresh, local fruits, vegetables, and herbs, while adding speciality items like Bahamian breads, jams, oils, spreads, grits, and sweet treats. What’s truly unique about Chiccarney Farms is their home-delivery box system. Customers in Nassau can pre-order $25, $50, or $100 packages that include an assortment of fresh produce of their choice from the farm’s weekly list like corn, papaya, bananas, sweet peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and sweet potatoes and the farmers in Andros collect a variety of items and deliver them to New Providence and then directly to the customer’s home! Just so you know, Chiccarney Farms takes orders on a first-come, first-serve basis, so we advise you place your order early in the week to ensure you get the pick of the crop!
Must Try: Androsian Honey, Papaya Jam, Seminole Pepper Sauce, Coconut Bread, Traditional Benny Cakes, and their weekly box specials
Farm Location: #12 Bahamas Agriculture Research Center, Andros, Bahamas
Delivery: Weekly deliveries of fresh produce available to locations throughout New Providence
More Info: (242) 676-2977 / Facebook / Website
Abaco Neem
Credit: Abaco Neem
On many islands here in The Bahamas, locals only have access to rudimentary clinics, some of which having no resident doctor. For that reason, Bahamians have developed a very intricate medicinal systems using grasses, tree bark, vines, fruits, and herbs to make “bush medicines.” Bush medicines are tried and true, and one company has made a name for itself for its groundbreaking line of all-natural health remedies: Abaco Neem. Founded in 1993 by Abaco native Nick Miaoulis and his wife Daphne, the company creates a variety of alternative preventative medicinal products made from natural ingredients grown in The Bahamas, like ginger, coconut, and aloe. The most important ingredient in all 23 of the company’s products, however, is Neem.
Also known as Nimtree and Indian Lilac, Neem has numerous medicinal properties, being antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-septic, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral. Nick Miaoulis first became interested in the plant during a botanical show in Gainesville, Florida, where he learned about the plant’s ability to help control diabetes and high blood pressure, two diseases prevalent in The Bahamas. Miaoulis decided to experiment with the plant and acquired a piece of property in Abaco to establish a farm. Today, Abaco Neem has over 6,500 Neem trees from which the farmers make medicinal creams, soaps, lip balms, conditioners, lotions, capsules, extracts, oils, and repellants. These products aren’t just for health care, but for garden and pet care as well! Abaco Neem prides itself in it use organic ingredients and line of products that are safe for the body and the environment, having no adverse side effects. Abaco Neem has become so popular that it can be found in stores all across The Bahamas, so for a safer, natural remedy to your next bout of sunburn, grab some Abaco Neem!
Must Try: Hibiscus Soap, Neem and Aloe Body Lotion, Honey Lip Balm, Pure Neem Oil, Neem Bush Tea
Vendor Locations: Solomon’s Fresh Market, Cole Thompson Pharmacy, Lowe’s Pharmacy, Pasion Tea & Coffee Company
More Info: (242) 322-2222 / Facebook / Website
My Ocean
Credit: My Ocean
Tanya Klonaris and Eduardo Azevedo share a common philosophy that no matter where we come from, we are all connected by the ocean. They bring that ideology, along with their love and respect for the ocean, their inspiration for design, and their belief in sustainable quality products to My Ocean, an all-natural Bahamian craft store specializing in organic soaps, candles, ceramics, textiles, jewelry, and spa products. At My Ocean, artisans use essential oils and wild crafted extracts from common and indigenous plants, for Tanya and Eduardo deeply respect the wisdom of local bush medicine. They incorporate popular bush ingredients like cerasee, coconut, lime, mango and many more to create soothing island aromas that are easy on the skin.
At My Ocean, sustainable environmental practices are extremely important, so they source locally as much as possible and make use of every part of source materials they use. For instances, when you buy a Bush Soap Bar, which uses coconut oil, you can be sure that the coconut shell that produced the oil has been repurposed into a candle holder! Their medley of products are endless and dazzling, capturing the enamoring beauty of the country through their aromas, colors, and designs. For a lovingly made gift to remind you of your stay in The Bahamas, My Ocean creates the perfect keepsakes, all-naturally and organically made!
Must Try: Bush Soap Bar, Mango Soap Slice, Blue Hole Bath Salts, Wild Flamingo Hand & Body Lotion, Bush Coconut Bowl Candle
Store Locations: Festival Place Cruise Ship Terminal, Prince George Shopping Plaza Downtown, US Departures Lounge (Lynden Pindling International Airport)