From the hills of Trinidad and Tobago to the skyscrapers of Shanghai and the tropical shores of Hainan, the country's world-famous Trinitario chocolate, with its signature smooth yet complex range of flavours, has made its way to customers in China. 
In an exclusive interview with Loop News, Director of the Trinidad and Tobago Fine Cocoa Company, Ashley Parasram, said to date, four tonnes of these exquisitely crafted, fine chocolate products have been shipped to China.
Parasram said the company has entered into a partnership with Orient International Shanghai Foreign Trade Co. Ltd. to distribute Trinidadian fine chocolate to Shanghai, as well as a partnership in Hainan. 
"We're looking at putting our chocolate into the Chinese market and coming up with innovative new products for the China market, and work with designers and packaging companies there, so it's a very exciting partnership."
He said the company has signed another partnership to ship 12 more tonnes of Trinidadian fine chocolate to China. 
The company has previously had a partnership with Harrod's in the UK and is now going to work with their Shanghai location to create unique chocolate products made with Trinitario cocoa. 
"We participated at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai as part of the ExporTT stand, we've had a lot of support from ExporTT and InvesTT, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry in getting the products to China.
"We've also had a lot of support from the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Port of Spain and the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago to China in Beijing."
"We're hoping that next year will be a very exciting year for our export."
He said chocolate consumption is still a developing market and there is much room for Trinidadian companies to expand there, thanks in major part to China's focus on trade via the Belt and Road Initiative, of which Trinidad and Tobago is a member. 

"The Belt and Road Initiative is very key in terms of facilitating trade and there is definitely an appetite for interesting products into the China market. It's a huge market; 70 per cent of the population is online, they have very good, sophisticated platforms such as WeChat which can be used, so I think it's a market that is ready for products from Trinidad and Tobago and the Caribbean, so it's very exciting in that regard."
"From seeing our own company's experience, it's worth other companies taking a look at that market and exploring further trade opportunities."
Parasram said there are plans for several other exciting products, for example blending Trinitario chocolates with China's famous baiju as well as the popular 'rum and chocolate' combination. There are also plans to incorporate quintessential Chinese ingredients such as tea. 
"Historically, chocolate is new to the Chinese market, but as we've seen with things like wine and whiskey, there is a growing market for that so the opportunity is there, definitely, so we think there are other products like rum, spices and peppers that can also be popular in the Chinese market."
Customers in China will be able to order the chocolates online and have them delivered to their homes. 
Trinidad and Tobago is also the first Caribbean country to benefit from China's BRI with the launch of region's flagship project, the Phoenix Park Industrial Estate, in Point Lisas. 
The project will be commissioned in early 2024 but already one client, Summit Luggage, has completed its first container of branded luggage for export to North American markets. 
Trinidad and Tobago was the first country to sign on to the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018 - currently, eight of 15 CARICOM countries are signed on as members of the BRI.
In 2019, Trinidad and Tobago became the first CARICOM country whose trade with China exceeded US$1 billion.
For local customers, the T&T Fine Cocoa Company also has a range of fine chocolate with unique flavour combinations; for more information visit them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/trinitario.tt or their website at https://trinitario.tt/

As any typical Trini child my mother believed in certain traditonal practices associated with the advent of a new year. She ensured that all laundry was done and a thorough cleaning of the home be done on New Years Eve followed by burning of incense throughout the house. This was her way of conducting a spiritual cleansing of the home to get rid of negativity and any evil forces.
On New Years Day we were not allowed to sweep the house since she had grown up to believe that you would sweep away the good luck the new year ushered in. Also if you did laundry on New Years Day you will be washing away the life of a family member in the new year.
My father on the other hand believed that your wallet must always have money in it when the old year ended. This he said was to l ensure that you will always have money in your wallet throughout the New Year. These are but a view of the superstitious beliefs I remembered growing up.
What superstitious beliefs do you remember that is associated with New Years Eve or as we say in Trinbago Old Years Day. ?
It would be interesting to hear the beliefs from different parts of the world since we have members who live in many countries other than T&T so please use this opportunity to share your beliefs.
Painting courtesy Rudolph Bissessarsingh (Source: Virtual Museum of Trinidad & Tobago, Dec 28 2023)

Mickela Panday, daughter of former prime minister Basdeo Panday, has issued a statement confirming her father's death. He was 90 years old. 
In a statement this evening, she said Panday, who served as the country's Prime Minister from 1995 to 2001, passed away on New Year's Day.

Panday had flown to the United States in mid-December, reportedly to "investigate medical concerns about his health".  (Source: The Loop, Jan 1, 2024)