TrovaBlog

A Suttle Papaya

November 27th, 2010

a suttle papaya

Oh praise the papaya
that melts in my mouth
with a suttle sweetness
that only few recognize and appreciate
your texture is like a warm clear morning
your tast is like a melting sunset
bs

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: papaya, papaya poem, Trova, Trova Imports | No Comments

Veracruz Vanilla

March 20th, 2009

Dried Vanilla Bean

Gutierrez Zamora, Veracruz is the birthplace of Mexican Vanilla. It is said Cortez when he took his spoils back to Europe, Veracruz being his primary route,  included gold, silver, chocolate, and vanilla.

Vanilla is a member of the orchid family. The plant flowers the months of March, April, and May, and it is carefully grown through December when it is harvested. During the months of January and February, the beans are tediously dried and turned making sure there are no mushrooms growing on the beans while they are drying.

Vanilla Flower

Green Vanilla Bean

Vanilla Plant

Categories: Mexico | Tags: Gutierez Zamora, Mexico, Onza Vanilla, papantla, Trova, Trova Imports, vanilla, veracruz | No Comments

Becal Campeche/Jipijapa Hats

March 13th, 2009

Becal, Campeche

Today, and since the 1850s, the best Jipijapa hats are woven by Maya men and women in the town of Becal, Campeche. The houses of Becal are characterized by caves that have been dug about 15 feet deep into the limestone bedrock of the backyards. The Maya weavers practice their art in these caves because only here can the natural humidity of the tropical climate be spared from the heat of the tropical sun.

Cave in back yard

This atmosphere keeps the palm fronds pliable so that the weavers can painstakingly form them into hats, baskets, lamps, or anything else they choose. Hats are their most important product, and play a driving role in the economy of the village.

Home in Becal

There are five tiers that describe the quality of the Jipijapa hats of Becal. The first level hat is constructed by splitting the palm leaf to produce a long even strip. In order to make a level 2 hat, that original strip is cut in half. The resulting hat is characterized by smaller strips, a tighter weave, and a softer, lighter end-product. This continues through to the Level 5 hat. Each higher level brings an exponentially higher time-commitment for the weaver (Level 4 hats, for example, take at least four weeks to weave; Level 5 might take months) and, ultimately, a higher price for the product.

Panama Hat

Becal’s Jipijapa hats are incredibly popular and stylish; sold all over the world. They are also very practical in the way that they protect the wearer from the harmful effects of the sun while remaining surprisingly light and ventilated. One of the most impressive characteristics of these hats is their durability – Jipijapa hats can be bent, folded, twisted and crushed and will always return immediately to their original form.

Categories: Mexico | Tags: Becal, Campeche, Jipi, Jipi Hats, Jipijapa, Mexcio, Panama Hats, Trova, Trova Imports, Yucatan | 1 Comment

Hammock Culture

March 6th, 2009

Hammock weaving in traditional dress

The hammock culture is very interesting in that it involves a large process from the products development to the end user. The manufacturing of Trova Hammocks does not include a large factory where people come to work everyday, but the hammocks are made in Mayan homes in the Yucatan. The hammocks are fairly traded in that the materials are delivered to the homes of the families, in certain communities, where on average the body of a hammock a day is made. Next, the hammocks are taken to another pueblo where the arms are put on the hammocks by other families. This is done for consistency and checks and balances. After the hammocksare complete, the families are paid a fair price to compensate for their time and patience to help them sustain their families and live more comfortably. Finally, the hammocks are delivered to Trova´s warehouse in Merida where they are inspected three times, repaired if needed, packaged, and delivered to the end user.

Blake with Mayan Family

The culture of the hammock does not only include the people that enjoy lying in their hammocks relaxing, reading their favorite books, and taking siestas, but it also includes over 500 families feeding their children, sending their children to school, and maintaining a comfortable and sustainable lifestyle in the beautiful and special towns of the Yucatan.

Hammock weaving in home

Blake with Poc Family

Categories: Mexico | Tags: Chumayel, hammocks, Kinil, Mama, Mani, Mayan, mayan hammocks, Merida, Mexico, Teabo, Tikit, Trova, Trova Imports, Xaya | 1 Comment

San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico

March 3rd, 2009

Palacio MunicipalSan Cristobal is one of the most beautiful cities in Mexico. After being in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala, Mexico seems like a first world country. It has been ten years since my first visit of San Cristobal. Since then, the city has developed enormously from the sleepy little town I remember; however, the city has done a great job of preserving its old buildings with the arrival of Sam´s Club and Dominoes Pizza. Some of my favorite buildings in the world include: Templo de Santo Domingo, Iglesia de Merced, Templo de San Francisco, and Iglesia de Santa Lucia.Templo de Santo Domingo