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Some 40 residents learn art of making Guavaberry Liqueur

Participants received information on the history of the traditional Virgin Islands holiday liqueur and a demonstration on how to mix the special syrup for the final product. Persons were also given the opportunity to create their own guavaberry rum brew. Photo: GIS
The workshop was held on October 7, 2026, and was facilitated by Mrs Janice Nibbs Blyden, who has been making Guavaberry Liqueur for fifty (50) years. Photo: GIS
The workshop was held on October 7, 2026, and was facilitated by Mrs Janice Nibbs Blyden, who has been making Guavaberry Liqueur for fifty (50) years. Photo: GIS
The upcoming Christmas season promises to be merrier for approximately 40 residents who completed a workshop on ‘The Art of Making Guavaberry Liqueur.’ Photo: GIS
The upcoming Christmas season promises to be merrier for approximately 40 residents who completed a workshop on ‘The Art of Making Guavaberry Liqueur.’ Photo: GIS
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The upcoming Christmas season promises to be merrier for approximately 40 residents who completed a workshop on ‘The Art of Making Guavaberry Liqueur.’

The workshop was held on October 7, 2026, and was facilitated by Mrs Janice Nibbs Blyden, who has been making Guavaberry Liqueur for fifty (50) years. 

Ms Blyden is also a retired Deputy Chief Librarian and a local author who in recent times has published two (2) children’s books: I Want to be a Thatcher Man and I Want to be a Baker. She has also published a mini recipe booklet which serves as a guide to making The VI traditional Guavaberry Liqueur.

Participants received information on the history of the traditional Virgin Islands holiday liqueur and a demonstration on how to mix the special syrup for the final product. Persons were also given the opportunity to create their own guavaberry rum brew.

'An important part of BVI culture'

According to a press release from the Government Information Service (GIS), Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Ms Anne A. Lennard, welcomed participants and expressed that the department has been very pleased with the response and support by the public for these workshops. 

Ms Lennard said, “Guavaberry Liqueur may have been around for centuries, and while Virgin Islanders call it our own, it is also made in neighbouring St Maarten and the Dominican Republic, with trees also likely found in Cuba and other select countries. Guavaberry Liqueur is traditionally served around Christmas time as a holiday drink. This liqueur is an important part of BVI culture, and through this workshop we are doing our part to help preserve it.”

The workshops have formed part of the Department of Culture’s ongoing series of cultural educational efforts designed to document, preserve and share aspects of Virgin Islands heritage with the wider community. This event was also supported by The Jennie Wheatley Virgin Islands Studies Institute at H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC).

16 Responses to “Some 40 residents learn art of making Guavaberry Liqueur”

  • … (11/10/2026, 09:28) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    At lease much better than the fake Guavaberry media
  • NONESENSE (11/10/2026, 09:34) Like (2) Dislike (12) Reply
    How this news???
  • Mehson (11/10/2026, 09:42) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    good mawnin good mawnin I come for my guavaberry
    • Where ?? (11/10/2026, 11:41) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
      Where does she find the guavaberries, I havent seen the plants in a while,they used to be wild at some point but I know they take many years before they bear fruit if at all.
      • Mehson (11/10/2026, 16:41) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        like we gon tell you the spots up by sage
        • @Mehson (12/10/2026, 11:48) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          Heard the spots up Sage Mountain was free for all. Y’all don’t go up Sage Mountain trying to turn a profit or start no Guavaberry war. Heard you can make over $200.00 for a bucket.
      • @Where?? (11/10/2026, 16:44) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
        Hear you can find Guavaberry up Porter Ghut. They say there is a tree up on the Smith boy property that his father died and left.
        • isyou (12/10/2026, 09:24) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
          Stay off my property
          • @isyou (12/10/2026, 11:41) Like (1) Dislike (2) Reply
            Ain’t nobody want to come on
            Your property bush boy.Heard you out here going on other people property wanting to take over and do as you please you damn bush boy ignorant mumu.
        • @@Where?? (12/10/2026, 10:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
          Heard when the father was alive, he was selling a bucket for $300.00.
        • @@@ Where?? (12/10/2026, 16:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
          That boy acting like he own up Porter Ghut. The elders from up Porter Ghut would roll
          Over in their graves at the way that boy be acting up that hill.
  • ——————————— (11/10/2026, 14:38) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I ready for Xmas with my Guavaberry Liqueur.
  • Raw, Unfiltered, Unpolished and Unvarnished (12/10/2026, 04:26) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    Need conference/ class on how to cook authentic BVI peas soup. Hear Dis Ya! Authentic BVI peas soup contain “tulamah” ( wah de correct spelling?) dumpling, read beans/black eyed peas, pig tail, brown cane sugar, milk, preferably local cow milk, ground provisions ( sweet potato, Tannia, pumpkin, etc). Real peas don’t contain carrots. GTFOH wid dat $hit. GTFOH wid mayo sauce crap too. Butter sauce is the real deal.
    • Probably is not the real thing (12/10/2026, 10:00) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
      I have some real Guavaberry sitting under the bed that my grandfather made for me ten years ago before he passed. All I do is add liquor to it.
    • Marty Probasco (12/10/2026, 10:03) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
      Raw unfiltered U R an Ingrate.
    • @raw unfiltered (12/10/2026, 11:27) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      you right on many but wrong on mayo sauce. Mayo sauce is the real deal BVI culture. i dont think they do it anywhere else actually


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