top of page
Search

The Mysteries of Abuelas

Updated: Jul 11, 2021

Mi Abuela es un misterio'". That’s how I always start the story of my grandmother - she is a mystery. Born on the somewhat lesser-known Caribbean coast of Guatemala, Izabal, homeland of the Garífuna people, Olga Emilia Hammer Cloter had a wild, early life. Her parents died when she was young, her sister ran away to join the circus (literally), and she eloped and became a mother before 17. Perhaps that’s some of the spice that gave her the adventurous, entrepreneurial spirit that’s always been a mystery to me.


I remember this giant, mysterious chest at her house where she stored all of her old recipes. Pan de coco, pan dulce, crepes, champurradas, unique recipes from the Caribbean life in Livingston. She would wake us up in the morning and say, “What do you want to make today?” We’d walk to the open-air mercado in zona 5 where we scoured the packed rows of fresh spices and fruits and nuts and freshly milled flour to make whatever our little hearts could dream.


For most all of her life, Abuelita was the proud owner and operator extraordinaire of panaderias - bakeries. Part of her mystery for me comes from watching the entrepreneurial spirit it took to do what she did - adaptable, creative, and unstoppable. She survived two strokes in her life, the first paralyzing her right side. She worked and worked to build back up her strength and start turning the dough again daily, just in time for the second stroke that landed her left side paralyzed. But no stopping Abuelita. She just learned a makeshift method leaning her body against the bowl and using her recovered right side strength to mix up the goodness. It's these qualities that inspire me in my own entrepreneurial journey with Convivio.


And, of course, "Abue" had her mysterious obsession with tea, as so many grandmothers round the world do. We couldn’t eat our panes and postres without a tea alongside to wash it down. Te de canela and Te de pericón for digestion. Period cramps? There’s a tea for that - rosa de jamaica. Stomach ache? Te de hierba buena (or te de boldo, but that was better for hangovers whether Abuela liked to admit it or not).





I’m unveiling a mystery of my own now as Convivio Café introduces our line of teas. Unique blends that combine the centuries of herbal wisdom from Mayan women in the mountains of Guatemala with some of the standard teas of the camelia sinensus species in Asia and Europe. Our artisan producer partners in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala are not only innovating new ways for us to look at these old, gorgeous, simple ingredients, but also creating economic opportunities for women - the teas are grown, processed, blended, packaged and exported by the beautiful hands of Mayan women. I think my Abue would be proud.



 
 
 

2 Comments


Win info
Win info
5 days ago

After trying several login managers, okwin login stands head and shoulders above the rest. The installation wizard walked me through each step, and the auto-fill feature is shockingly accurate every time. I also appreciate the biometric login support—my face is recognized perfectly, even in low light. Regular security audits and updates keep me confident that my information remains safe. It’s become an indispensable tool in my daily routine, and I can’t imagine working without it.

Like

Donating at CSL Plasma is one of the best side hustles I’ve found. I used a Plasma Coupon for first-time donors and walked out with extra cash just for helping save lives. The CSL Plasma donation center near me is always clean, and the team is efficient. I also tried BioLife, and their promotions are equally rewarding. Highly recommend checking both out if you’re looking to give back and get compensated fairly.

|| donating csl plasma || How to Improve Blood Flow Naturally || How Much Does Biolife Pay || How to Reduce Heart Attack Risk || immunotek make an appointment online || How to Increase Hemoglobin for Blood Donation || Does Donating Plasma Hurt Your Body || Octapharma Pay for Plasma Donations…

Like
bottom of page