fair trade Archives

Go Eat Give Artisan Box – Gifts That Give Back

For the first time, we are offering a curated artisan gift box for this holiday season! Go Eat Give has partnered with GlobeIn, an online marketplace that offers handcrafted products sourced from direct relationships with artisans as well as vetted partner organizations. By buying on GlobeIn, you are supporting artisans from around the world and in developing countries where, after agriculture, artisan goods are the second largest source of employment.

Here is what I have handpicked for the Go Eat Give box…

DIRECT TRADE COFFEE FROM NICARAGUA

A socially responsible dark roast that’s as unique as it is complex. This Direct Trade blend of Nicaragua’s finest estate varietals offers an experience like no other.

Boca Java sources their Nicaraguan single origins coffees via Direct Trade relationship with a family-owned, environmentally-friendly coffee farm that was established in the late 1850’s.

PURE GROUND VANILLA FROM MADAGASCAR

Lafaza’s Pure Ground Vanilla contains only hand-selected Madagascar Bourbon vanilla beans that have been sun-cured and dried to remove nearly all of the moisture in the pod. The beans are then ground to a fine powder and sealed for freshness. Its superior quality and unique flavor makes a convenient and delicious addition to baked goods, spice rubs, coffee, tea, specialty drinks, smoothies, dry mixes and can be used in many recipes as a substitute for vanilla beans or vanilla extract. With no preservatives or additives, this is an all-natural, organic and gluten-free product.

SPOON REST FROM PALESTINE

Add a splash of Middle Eastern flair to your countertop with this hand painted spoon rest from the Palestinian Territories. The ornate floral design is an aesthetic staple of Palestinian heritage.

Hebron is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, with archeological finds dating back some 5,000 years. Shards of ancient pottery may even bear floral patterns similar to the classic Palestinian design curling delicately across your new spoon rest. Nour Diba, whose skillful painter’s hand deftly tends to the design’s fine eddies and curves, is an employee of Hebron Glass, a family company of glass and ceramic handicraft employing 60 artisans.

ORGANIC LEMONGRASS LIP BALM FROM ZAMBIA

Ingredients: organic beeswax, organic coconut oil, organic sunflower oil, organic jojoba oil, lanolin, organic lemongrass oil, organic peppermint oil, organic rosemary oil, vitamin E.

As a company, Zambeezi is committed to providing the people of Africa’s pristine subtropical forests sources of income other than timber and strip mining, sources more sustainable for people and land alike.

KITCHEN TOWEL FROM TURKEY

This 100% cotton towel absorbs water faster than a regular towel, dries quickly, and folds up small–perfect for drying dishes in your kitchen. Plus, it has tassels!

Hatch, a rare female who has mastered the craft of weaving (traditionally done by men) is a member of Atlas, a growing organization of weaving families in Buldan. Membership with Atlas enables weavers to earn a living while keeping a deep cultural tradition alive and sharing it with the world—and with your kitchen!

HANDWOVEN BASKET FROM MEXICO

These decorative and whimsical baskets make beautiful home storage options, lending a pop of color and handcrafted warmth to children’s bedrooms, bathroom storage, kitchen countertops or as gift packaging for loved ones. Baskets measure 6″ diameter x 5″ tall.

For the people of the Mixteca region of Mexico, basket-weaving is a way of life that also sustains life. On the outskirts of Oaxaca City, Doña Martina Garcia and her group of eight artisan basket weavers produce roughly 700 baskets per month. For each artisan involved, basket-weaving means a stable monthly income used for building a house, starting a small business, or purchasing food and medicine.

Get the Go Eat Give curated artisan box for only $50 inclusive of shipping within U.S. through GlobeIn. It makes for a great hostess gift, a special treat for someone who likes to cook or travel, and the best part is, you will be supporting 6 families around the world by purchasing this box.

You can also gift someone a monthly subscription to GlobeIn, through which they will receive a new theme box each month! Subscriptions cost $35-40/ month.

The 100-year Old Flute Maker in Bali

I first discovered NOVICA a few months ago while researching for an article I wrote for CNN. A partnership with National Geographic, NOVICA is a online shopping portal that connects buyers with artists all around the world. The basic philosophy is that you don’t need to purchase fake souvenir items and haul them back in your luggage when you travel. Instead, go to the website and order genuine handmade pieces directly from the creator and get them delivered right to your door. This provide artists another outlet to market their products at non binding, fair trade prices.

When I was in Bali for Go Eat Give’s Yoga Retreat this September, NOVICA’s local staff offered to meet our group for dinner and invited one of their local artists to join. We met at Baleudang, a beautiful restaurant near Ubud, that has floating dining huts known as bale. We sat on mats with our legs dangling over the large pond of coy fish, as the evening breeze lingered around us. flute1

At the head of the table was an elderly man dressed in traditional Balinese attire of a sarong, shirt and head tie. He had a big toothless smile beaming from under his grey mustache. We exchanged pleasantries through a translator, as he didn’t speak any English. Nyoman Lentong

This was Mr. Nyoman Lentong, a 95-years old antique bamboo flute maker. Born in a highland village of Bali in 1920, Lentong use to operate a warung (casual restaurant) along with his wife for most of his professional life. It wasn’t until 1971, that he got interested in crafting bamboo flutes with traditional paintings. Designing antique bamboo flutes painted in traditional styles allowed him to merge his passion for painting and music.

The bamboo flute has special characteristics that have been commonly used by Balinese musicians to express artistic feelings through melodious flute music. Its sound is soft but sharp, that touches our ear and heart. In olden times, most Balinese men played flutes as a way of attracting women. The Balinese named this flute suling, or seruling. Lentong picks up a dozen of so flutes in all sizes and lays them on the table in front of me. He hands me one and raises another one to his lips, gesturing me to follow his league. We begin to move our fingers and blow into the flute. While Lentong’s flute produces a gentle melodious sound, mine makes what sounds like intermittent blow horn noises. I can barely manage to keep up with Lentong’s stamina, as I gasp for frequent breaths of air. It is amazing to see how at 95, he can manage to play the flute beautifully for long periods of time.

Balinese flute maker

Our dinner arrives. A large variety of plates including honey grilled prawns, deep fried carp, corn fritters, sautéed bean sprouts, water spinach, sambal, fried tofu, rice and much more. As we dig in, Lentong is the first one to notice that I am unable to open my water bottle and immediately asks the person sitting next to him to help me. At his age, he is more alert than a hawk.

We continue to discuss his flutes with the help of a translator. He points me to the carvings he has made by hand, depicting Balinese symbols, such as geckos, snakes and goddesses. At first, they looks like drawings made with a black pencil, but on closer look you can see that he has actually carved each design with a sharp knife and then added burnt coconut ash to give it the black coloring. The designs are so intricate, they require perfect vision and a stable hand, both of which Lentong is blessed with. Unfortunately, he is the only one on the island who knows this art and his children took no interest in learning it. After him, there won’t be anyone left to carry on this legendary craft.

flute2

It takes Lentong about two weeks to make each flute. He sells about half of them in local stores, and the other half online through NOVICA’s website. I couldn’t help but get one of his flutes, not only for their artistic beauty, but for the inspiration Lentong gave me. He is living his passion, creating what he loves, and age is not going to stop him.

Lentong signs his work as “Pan Nasib, Sangeh,” as he is known in his village. Pan means father of and Nasib is the name of his son. Sangeh is the name of the village where he lives.

Photo credit Rudy Adyana.

Ethical Chocolates, Both Delicious and Wildlife Friendly

As you begin to stock your pantries with chocolates and candies, pay attention to the list of ingredients listed on the package. Depending on the brand and quality of chocolate, it may be a product that is harmful to your own health, as well as to the environment and wildlife.

However, there is a chocolate brand that we like, as it surpasses all expectations of quality ingredients, refined taste, and global standards. Nuubia is a new ethical chocolate shop based in San Francisco that goes far beyond many other brands.

Hand Crafted and Environmentally Friendly

Nuubia hand-makes specialty confections from humanely sourced ingredients, without using either palm oil or GMOs. Founder, Alexandra Saunders, was born in Java, Indonesia, and has dedicated to life to conservation (cultivating palms for their oil is highly destructive of the environment so Nuubia has found a way to make ganache without the use of palm oil). Just a few weeks ago, Alexandra Saunders was an Honoree at Pongo Environmental Awards.

Nuubia is the first chocolatier to not only refuse to use palm oil but to ensure that what they make has no negative impact on the rainforests of the world. The company is also working to launch the Chocolate Wildlife Project which provides farmers with a viable source of income. For example, Nuubia purchases its ethical chocolate and ingredients directly from farmers who learn to produce sustainable, habitat-friendly crops.

With Indonesia being the world’s 3rd largest exporter of palm oil, the production of palm oil has devastated the natural habitats of the animals and orangutans that inhabit the area. Founder, Alexandra Saunders, took a personal interest in orangutan conservation when she lived in Indonesia and studied them in graduate school at UC Berkeley. It was through this passion that Nuubia created the Chocolate Wildlife Project, which provides small farmers living on the edges of the Orangutan habitat with a viable source of income to abstain from destructive farming practices.

The Delicious Products

Some standout ethical chocolates from Nuubia include fresh-squeezed lime juice with vanilla bonbons, Caramelized Hazelnut Spread Sauce, that can rival just about any Nutella out there, and finally Johnny Walker Black Espresso Ganache Half Spheres! So when a box of chocolates is under the tree, you know that no orangutans were harmed to make your chocolate and that your treat can be enjoyed guilt-free.

Not to mention the OMG Candy Bar was awarded “Best Foods in the U.S.” by Esquire Magazine. Layers of hazelnut praline, sea salt caramel, rice crisps, and dark chocolate come together in harmony to create the perfect mood-altering balance. The chocolatier at Nuubia is Lionel Clement in 2011 he was named Chocolatier of the Year by Pastry Live.

Nuubia also offers a heart-shaped chocolate special (for pick up only), filled with more chocolate bonbons. This is the ultimate sweetheart gift for any special occasion.

Connect with Nuubia Today

In February 2015, Nuubia San Francisco opened its first flagship retail space in the newly built “Market on Market” inside the Twitter building, bringing fine chocolates, confections, natural spreads, macarons, handcrafted ice creams and seasonal specials to the city. Either take a selection of these handmade items home or stay and enjoy a chocolaty treat with freshly brewed latte in-store while sitting at Nuubia’s Chocolate Counter. The chocolates can be purchased directly from their instore location or ordered online. When ordered online they arrive very well packed with an ice pack and delivered within a couple of days directly from the store.