The Dominican Republic is the largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region not only known for its beautiful beaches and stunning landscapes.
The Dominican Republic is mostly known for being the number one tourist destination in the Caribbean, attracting every adventure and relaxation seekers from around the world to its beautiful white sandy beaches. Now, as you could imagine, this country is much more than landscapes and crystal clear waters, you’re wondering, what else does this amazing destination has to offer?.
Here’s a list of 5 things you didn’t know the Dominican Republic is known for:
1- Cigars
The popularity of cigars from this region stems from its history. At the onset of the Cuban Embargo, when all tobacco products became state-owned, farmers in Cuba migrated to South America. For many, due to the similarities in climate and soil, they settled in the Dominican Republic. The region is home to the most popular cigar brands in the world. If you wish to learn about the manufacturing process and in-depth history of Tobacco, take a look at this post.
2- Raw and roasted cocoa beans
As you probably know, cocoa beans (cacao) are the main ingredient in chocolate manufacture and the Dominican Republic is the perfect place for the cultivation and development of cacao because of the rich, fertile soil and the favorable climate. Individual farmers and large corporations grow cacao trees alike. The Dominican Republic is currently one of the chief producers of organic cocoa in the world. We invite you to enjoy a tour that will introduce you to the many agricultural products of the area, it’s a culturally rich experience!
3- Rum
The history of the Dominican Republic is well entangled with Rum production. Rum industrialism (1880) plays an important role in the early development of the Dominican economy. During this period, sugarcane production achieved its highest point, and technology renovation opened the door for investments and the creation of new sugarcane fields. Since then, Dominican Rum has been collecting international rum awards to this day within our most famous brands, Brugal and Barcelo rum, born and raised in the Dominican Republic. We take our rum very seriously, and we’ve taken under our responsibility to offer tasting and delight of our local rum brands to any traveler that comes with us to our activities, not one will leave our country without this!
4 – Precious jewelery (Amber and Larimar)
Larimar, also called “Stefilia’s Stone”, is a rare blue variety of the silicate mineral pectolite found only in the Dominican Republic. Larimar jewelry is offered to the public in the Dominican Republic, and elsewhere in the Caribbean as a local specialty. Most jewelry produced is set in silver, but sometimes high-grade larimar is also set in gold. It also has become available elsewhere.
Dominican amber differentiates itself from Baltic amber by being nearly always transparent, and it has a higher number of fossil inclusions. Resin from the extinct tree Hymenaea protera is the source of Dominican amber and probably of most amber found in the tropics. The region is home of tree amber varieties: Red, Yellow and blue.
5- Fashion
In only seven years, the Dominican Republic’s fashion week has become the most important event of its kind in all of the Caribbean and one of the fastest-growing fashion events in the entire Latin American fashion world. The country boasts one of the ten most important design schools in the region, La Escuela de Diseño de Altos de Chavón, which is making the country a key player in the world of fashion and design. And you’ve probably heard about world-famous fashion designer Oscar de la Renta was born in the Dominican Republic in 1932.
