St. Thomas is a small island so we don’t have much in the way of manufacturing. But we do have some amazing, artisanal local products made right here. This is your guide to the best (and only) local products made here in St. Thomas.
Beware of Fake Local Products
If you are looking for locally made products in St. Thomas beware of the vast number of “fake local” (aka generic, unoriginal, mass produced in China, India, etc., ) products that are passed off as local. Products that claim to be made in St. Thomas but are really made somewhere else with a label slapped on them that says in bold print: “Product of St. Thomas” or “Made in St. Thomas” or “Manufactured in St. Thomas”. And yet, almost every one of these products’ only connection to St. Thomas is that they are being sold in a souvenir shop or store on island. And mostly likely, they’ve spent more time in a shipping container from China or New Jersey then in the hands of a Virgin Islander.
Some of these “local fakes” are easier to spot than others. Sometimes, if you look carefully at the label, in small print you’ll see something like, “bottled in St. Thomas” or “manufactured in Wisconsin for distribution in St. Thomas”. Which basically means the product was made somewhere else, shipped to the Virgin Islands and then sold to an unsuspecting visitor wanting to support or enjoy an authentic island product.
And the labeling is often so vague that the product’s origins are unclear or unknown. In the world of manufacturing this is known as “white labeling”.
I think the entire practice of white labeling is deceptive. It pi$$e$ me off when a store or company tries to pass their product off as “authentic” or “local”. It could mean you traveled all the way to the Caribbean only to buy a product that you could have bought at a store in your hometown in Cleveland.
So, in an effort to root out “imposter products”, we scoured the shelves of local shops and public business license databases to see just who is actually making a local product. And until proved otherwise, the products listed below are the only authentic St. Thomas products you can buy here in the islands. (There are a decent number of folks that make various sauces, soaps, and lotions that only sell at festivals. Their products aren’t sold in stores and they are not licensed products that I was able to find in any of the stores and shops on island.)
1. Handmade Sandals
Zora of St. Thomas
Zora has been around for decades. Zora is the owner and, as of this writing, still alive and and still handmaking custom sandals (I believe she is in her 90s but she’ll never tell). Every person I know that owns a pair of Zora’s sandals says they are the best, most comfortable they’ve ever owned.
When you come to the shop Zora and her team will sit you down in a big comfy chair and start measuring every angle of your feet. They will take those measurements and create a perfect sandal to your foot.
This is a must-do if you appreciate old-world craftmanship. You’ll get to watch her team build your sandal from a thick piece of leather.
Her shop is also filled with artwork and antiques all from St. Thomas. Her shop is located on Main Street in Charlotte Amalie.
2. Local Rum Distilleries
There are only 2 distilleries in St. Thomas that make rum, or any spirits for that matter. All other supposedly “local” rums are being imported. So at best these off-island distilleries are bottling the rum on St. Thomas. Basically their “counterfeit local” rum is produced in some foreign, commercial distillery only to be shipped to St. Thomas to be sold as a Virgin Islands rum. Apparently this is legal, but I think it’s garbage.
3 Queens Distillery
3 Queens Distillery is a beautiful craft distillery with loads of old oak barrels filled with rum and other spirits. 3 Queens is located on Back Street in downtown Charlotte Amalie. The oldest distillery in St. Thomas, they make rum, vodka, gin and small batches of tropical wine. When you visit you can tour the distillery, enjoy the full tasting bar, a mini-museum and private tropical gardens on site.
3 Queens only sells their spirits at the distillery. You can’t find it anywhere else on island so you must be sure to visit to taste these local flavors! They also offer packing boxes if you want to take a few bottles home with you.
For a full tour and tasting you can take our St. Thomas Rum Distillery Tour.
Rock City Rum
Rock City Rum Distillery is a small craft distiller across from Fort Christian. This is one of the tiniest distilleries you’ll ever see. Their pot still is something you’d find in the back of a woodshed in the backwoods. This is a true micro-distillery. You can find their rum in a few retail locations. Definitely worth stopping by.
3. Tropical Creations, aka Tulip’s Place
If you want a slice of local flavor check out Tulip at her shop in Royal Dane Mall in town. Tulip makes and creates island-inspired gifts with island materials. Her skill with the calabash fruit is legend. Her creations have moved around to different shops in town but she’s the only one on island making handmade calabash products. She’s also the sweetest human being ever.
4. Charlotte Amalie Art scene
Over the years St. Thomas has bred and attracted many talented artists. While the art scene isn’t world-famous, we have 2 gems that showcase the island’s artistic side.
The Creative Native
Creative Native is one of my favorite places to visit when wandering the streets of Charlotte Amalie. Her photo gallery has stunning prints of island life and culture. Every time I visit I see something new and enchanting. On most days Ama, the owner and artist, is there to greet you and share her photos and island stories. She is a wealth of island knowledge.
Ama is a seriously intense person when it comes to preserving and celebrating St. Thomas life. Her passion is infectious. And her photos are amazing. If you want to support local culture, come visit and open up that pocket book. 🙂
81C
81C is a traditional art gallery featuring an array of visiting artists (both from St. Thomas, the wider Caribbean and world). The intimate space is beautiful and they have a wine bar for inspiration.
The gallery is just off the beaten path and worth a detour. You’ll walk down Main Street and at that first light after Market Square you’ll take a left. It’s a couple hundred feet down the road. Say hello to Zack and Joseph the owners and curators.
5. Locally Made Hot Sauce
Buyer Beware: This is another product ripe with “fake local” imposters. The vast majority of the sauces you’ll find in tourist shops that claim to be “local” are white labeled, made in a foreign place and contain zero locally made ingredients.
That being said, here are the few out there that are actually made here in St. Thomas.
(There is only one company that uses locally grown Scotch Bonnet Peppers.)
First off, there are many homemade hot sauces here in St. Thomas. Locals make their own hot sauces and sell them at festivals and roadside stands. And some of them are spectacular. But you’ll have to go hunting for these. You won’t find them in stores. So if you find a roadside stand with some sauces, definitely give them a try. But for purposes of this article I’m referring to sauces sold at stores and manufactured by a licensed facility.
Spicy Sam’s
Don’t let the simple label and bottle fool you. Sam makes some delicious hot sauces. Her Mango Madness and Papaya Passion are two of my favorite sauces ever. For me they strike the perfect balance of heat and sweetness.
Not always easy to find, but when you happen upon these babies in a shop, snatch up at least a half dozen to take home.
A Little Juicy Fruit
The name sounds sweet and harmless, almost playful. But man do these sauces have a kick. The husband/wife team behind these hot sauces do offer some milder options but even those aren’t for the lighthearted. They aren’t sauces that are so hot to make them unusable. It’s just that they use locally grown Scotch Bonnet Peppers.
The scotch bonnet has the same heat as a habanero. So a bit spicier than Sriracha. On an island that has almost no farming whatsoever, this company grows the Caribbean-born, Scotch Bonnets for their sauce. They also use mangos from their very own orchard. So truly a local product.
And it is believed that they are currently working on fermenting the sauce in rum barrels…no word yet on when/if that will make it to the shelves.
6. St. Thomas Coffee Roasters
There are 2 companies on island that produce roasted coffee.
Virgin Islands Coffee Roasters
The big dog on island is Virgin Island Coffee Roasters. You’ll find their roasted beans at stores, hotels and restaurants. They import beans from all over the world and roast them in their roastery on St. Thomas.
A Little Juicy Fruit
The same husband/wife team that make the hot sauces are also behind the coolest little roastery in town. You can come in and enjoy the sounds and smells of the coffee beans being roasted and then enjoy a cup in their on-site cafe and outdoor garden.
This small, artisan coffee roaster ages their coffee beans in rum barrels from the on-site distillery. After they are roasted and packages weekly for some seriously fresh coffee. They only sell their coffee on-site at their shop.
7. Chocolate and Rum Balls
Belgian Chocolate Factory
We don’t grow our own Cacao here on St. Thomas so it is imported. That being said, this local chocolatier makes many unique flavors that capture the island’s traditions. We love their Bushwhacker candy.
The Rum Ball Factory
This tiny “factory” churns out some seriously good rum balls. A traditional Danish invention that includes everything you could want in a confection – chocolate and rum. You can stop by the factory and see how things are done. Nothing earth shattering, but a way to kill some time and get a sample or two. Or three.
Conclusion
St. Thomas is not a big island and we don’t have a lot of locally made products available for visitors. But the few local options we have are definitely worth trying and taking home with you. And you may find you need to come back again and again to restock after your supply runs out.
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