Da Lime in Da Coconut Rum!

In the Caribbean, there is a rich history of rum manufacturing. It dates back to the 17th century when they first started harvesting sugarcane, which is a thriving crop in the Caribbean. In early years, there were many large sugarcane plantations, which was a major source of income for the islands. Today, many of the plantations are left in ruins and are a popular tourist attractions. Still, there are many distilleries scattered though out the Caribbean, and some admired ones are right here in the United States Virgin Islands. (You may be familiar with Captain Morgan or Cruzan rum)

We are crazy about Cruzan Rum here in the USVI. Everywhere, you see Cruzan Rum this, Cruzan Rum that… even when you step off the airplane, there is a rum stand waiting for you with a complimentary Cruzan Rum shot! They make this beloved rum over on the largest United States Virgin Island, St. Croix, and you can tour the factor and see exactly how they make it!

When you're visiting, sit back, relax and have a drink. But wait a minute, what drink are you going to pick?! Well every restaurant and bar have their signature drink, and here at Da Lime in Da Coconut, we have one of the most unique. Let me start with the fact that we pick our coconuts right off the palm trees in St. Thomas! After, we (carefully) use the machete to cut off the top, and then pour the fresh coconut water out and instantly chill it. After that, we add 3 different flavored shots of Cruzan Rum and a fresh squeeze of lime! Then we pour the rum and coconut water back into the coconut and garnish it with a lime and a cute umbrella. Thus, making Da Lime in Da Coconut!

There are many other great drinks as well! Order a daiquiri! You can get them in many different flavors, like lime, strawberry, raspberry and much, much more. Also, it’s not a real trip to the Caribbean until you try a painkiller. It was first created only a few miles away from St. Thomas on the island of Jost Van Dyke at the infamous Soggy Dollar Bar! But if you're yearning for this tropical beverage, don’t worry about bringing your passport and traveling to the BVIs, we can make a mean painkiller right here at Da Lime in Da Coconut! If your craving something to appease your sweet tooth, try a bushwacker! There is no set recipe for this creamy drink, so every bar tender makes it slightly different. The origins of this drink was said to have been created right here on St. Thomas, so it’s safe to say, we make them the best! If none of those are your style, just take a look at our menu, and you’re guaranteed to find something that you like!

So, when you’re on vacation, remember, sit back, relax and drink rum. It’s more than a drink, it’s a way of life. I’m not saying you have to drink until you're silly, I’m saying you just have to kick back sometimes and take life one sip at a time!

Wild Life of the Month: The Green Iguana

Iguanas use head bobs to communicate

When vacationing in St. Thomas, there is no doubt that you will see a green iguana. These dinosaur like reptiles look intimidating, but can be quite friendly. Most have grown up around humans and have grown used to our company. A lot of the time, they even walk up to people at restaurants, begging for food like dogs.




You can find the green iguana in numerous places. A few popular places are South America, Mexico, areas in and around Florida and, of course, the Caribbean. Like people, the green iguana comes in many different shapes and colors. The colors typically depend on the region they come from. For example, islands like Bonaire, Aruba and Grenada have iguanas ranging from green to light purple and even black to pink. In the western region of Costa Rica they tend to have a red tint to their skin and the northern regions (like Florida and Mexico) can appear orange. Here, in St. Thomas and the rest of the USVI, they are green to greenish brown.

Adults grow to be 3.9-5.6 ft in length. Males adverse 8.8 lbs and woman 6.6 lbs

When looking at the green iguana, you may be intimidated by their dinosaur-like appearance, but they are really peaceful creatures. They have spikes lining their back, just as many different types of prehistoric dinosaurs did. These spikes are meant for protection, not for attacking. Their tail is also a defensive tool. They can be used as a whip to fend off predators and even detach themselves if something gets a hold of them. They also have long nails that make them great climbers and are sometimes used to fight off predators.

The green iguana has excellent vision in the sunlight, seeing shapes in motion at very long distances, because they have double cone cells that gives them sharp color vision and enable them to see ultraviolet wavelengths. This helps the cold blooded creature find the best spot to get their vitamin D. In low light though, they have poor eyesight. What's even more interesting, is that the green iguana, unlike most lizards today, have a photosensory organ on the top of their head, their "third eye". This feature died out in most species, but the green iguana still utilizes it. The "third eye" can't form images, but it can spot shadows and movement. This helps the iguana from predators attacking from above.

Iguanas of all ages prefer to be near the water, and are great swimmers. While swimming, they put their legs to their sides and use their powerful tail like a paddle. When being approached, they will flee and if they are near a body of water, they will choose to swim away. Also, if they are feeling threatened, they will expose the dewlap under their neck, stiffen and puff up their body, bob their head and hiss. The men will protect the females with their body if they see a predator approaching too! 

In the wild, the green iguana has about a 20 year life span. After laying their eggs, they leave and give them no protection. Once they are born, the juveniles say in the same area for about the first year of their life.

In 1995, during hurricane Luis and Marilyn, the green iguana endured a journey that many biologist almost couldn’t believe. Fifteen iguanas on the island of Guadaloupe were caught in the middle of two different hurricanes and took salvage near an uprooted tree. They traveled these uprooted trees 200 miles in the ocean until they washed ashore on the island of Anguilla. They were weak when they were found on Anguilla, an island that’s never had been inhabited by green iguanas, and it's believed they had survived on the plant life growing off of the tree they were using as a raft. Biologist stuck around trying to figure out how they came to the island. Once they spotted the uprooted trees on the beach, they came to the conclusion they road the trees 200 miles, even though it seemed improbable. Today, the green iguana still remains and has grown in population. This story is still wowing people today and makes you see what nature can really do.


The green iguana is a popular pet in the US and other countries. If you're thinking about adopting one of these creatures, do your research. Even though they have a 20 year life span, a lot of iguanas die within the first year because the owner is uneducated and doesn't know how to properly take care of the animal. They can make great pets, but they are a handful and require a lot of love and attention!

If you want a unique look at the green iguana in its natural habitat, come down to Tree Limin' Extreme. There is a huge chance that you will spot one or more of them on the tree tops. Typically, you have to look up to see them sunbathing, but when you're up on the course, you get to be the one looking down on them.

Johnny Cake Recipe

Before moving down to the Virgin Islands, I wasn’t one for trying new foods. I’d shy away from anything flavorful or foreign and would get the same dish at every restaurant; chicken breast. Since moving down to St. Thomas, I couldn’t let myself be afraid anymore! When I moved, I promised myself I would submerge myself into the Caribbean culture and wouldn’t settle for anything less, which means, I had to expand my palate. I’m not going to lie, Caribbean food can be a little intimidating at first! It’s known for its vibrate flavors, cooking from memory rather than recipe, and lots of herbs! Once I tried it though, I couldn't believe I ever was afraid.

These are the ones I made

I’m starting today with a Johnny Cake recipe for a reason. It’s a very popular snack in the Virgin Island and it’s very similar to other snacks back home. It was my Caribbean gateway food, if you will. After eating this biscuit/doughnut like snack for the first time, I was curious as to how you would make it. Once looking it up, I realize it’s not hard at all!

You can either make Johnny Cakes fried or baked, but fried is the preferred way. Unfortunately, my studio apartment doesn’t come with a frier, so, obviously, baking was the next best thing. If you have a frier, defiantly use it. That’s the way a Johnny Cake was intended to be made and it creates a delicious glaze, compared to baking them, which leaves them a little dry. Either way, they are tasty! 

This recipe makes about 8 Johnny Cakes

(I cut this recipe in half because I only wanted to make four)

Ingredients

3 Cups of Flour

1 Tablespoon of Baking Powder

1-1/2 Teaspoon of Salt

2 Tablespoons of Sugar

1/2 Cup of Shortening

2/3 Cup of water or milk (or enough to make it doughy)

Oil for fryer, depends on fryer

Directions

1. Mix all dry ingredients together. (Flour, baking powder, salt and sugar)

2. Cut in the shortening.

3. Slowly add the milk or water. Just enough to make it soft!
4. Knead it until it is smooth and sticks together.

5. Let it sit for 10-20 minutes.
6. Make into palm sized dough balls and then flatten them

7. Use a fork to poke a few holes in the flattened dough

For Baking

8. Set oven to 350
9. Let them bake for about 15-25 minutes (depends on the size), or until done.

For Fryer

8. Make sure the fryer is hot, then gently place in fryer.
9. Use medium-high heat over stove, flip over every few minutes until brown and crusty on each side.
10. It’ll take about 15-20 minutes

Not Your Typical Island Vacation

When you think of a tropical vacation in St. Thomas, you think of drinks, beaches and relaxing, right? Well, I think it’s about time you kick it up a notch. St. Thomas is much more than just a place for relaxing… it’s a place for adventure. Sure, you’re overworked and you wanted some time to kick back, but there will be time for that afterwards! Plus, you’ll be glad you did something new. 

Don’t think just because you brought the whole family you can’t go on adventures! There are so many activities that can be fun for the whole family! Also, it’s a good way to tire out the kids so you can have that peace and quiet on the beach you were yearning for. 

Hiking is a very popular activity in the Virgin Islands! When you're trying to find a good trail in St. Thomas, you really have to know where to look. It can become trying to find a needle in a hay stack, but they exist. One quick and easy trail you can enjoy is the self-guided Megans Bay trail. It’s right off the beach, a 3 mile hike up and back, and can get quite challenging. It also has a vast amount of local vegetation and signs to educate you about all the different plant life. What really is great about this hike is that you can utilize the trail, and then finish the day on the beach! 

I suggest if you really like hiking, set aside a whole day to hop on over to St. John. It’s a quick ride over and has some of the most amazing and scenic hiking trails in the world. That’s not hard to believe since about 3/4 of St. John is national park. You could close your eyes and point in any direction and there would be a trail waiting for you. 

Some popular St. John trails are Reef Bay Trail and Ram Head Trail. These two trails are some of the best according to frequent hikers (and myself), and include more than just trail itself. Reef Bay has the famous St. John sugar mill ruins and petroglyph and, last but not least, lush tropical forest. It’s a total of 3 miles, and is mostly downhill, but don’t think this hike will be a cake walk. The terrain is uneven and has many short sections where you will find yourself walking uphill. Even if you are an avid runner and health nut, uphill sections mixed with the heat and humidity can get strenuous, so don’t forget to bring water and a little snack! 

Ram Head is only a mile (two miles if you go there and back), but it reaches up to 200 feet above Caribbean sea level! Unlike Reef Bay, this trail is exposed to the sun (so don’t forget your sun screen and water!!) and has many incredible exposed rock face ledges that’ll take your breath away! Be careful though, the uneven terrain can become challenging and there aren’t any hand rails or railing of any kind. Don’t let that scare you away though, this hike is well worth your time and is filled with some unforgettable views! 

If hiking isn’t your thing or you already got your hiking fix in, get a load of this… there are rental shops on a majority of beaches! Hey, you might even have a rental hut where you’re staying. These beach huts come in many different shapes and sizes and feature a wide range of water activities. Not every beach hut has everything, but they all have something that all ages can enjoy. From kayaking to wind surfing, it can keep you busy for hours and have you learning something new.

Kayaking is easy and something that all ages can try. Also, nearly every beach rental shop will have some sort of a kayak available. Whether it is a single or a double, it’s a unique way to explore your surroundings and, most importantly, it’s fun! 

A stand-up paddle board is another water sport you can rent at most beach huts. At first it can be challenging, but with a little bit of practice and getting your balance down, you can feel like a pro. It’s also great for the whole family to try, from the kids to the grandparents! 

If you’re looking for something different that the whole family can do together, try sailing! Even if you’ve never done it before, most places offer lessons for a reasonable price on small Hobie Cats or other small sail boats. 

For something more challenging, try wind surfing. Like sailing, most places offer lessons, or, if you’re feeling up to the challenge, try it on your own. Even though it is challenging, it can be just as fun! Once you get your balance down, you won’t want to stop.

If you’re looking for the ultimate adventure though, try zip lining at Tree Limin’ Extreme Canopy Tour. It is a great way to see St. Thomas and many other islands like, but not limited to, St. John, Jost Van Dyke, and Hans Lollik. You also get to witness wildlife in their natural habitat and a plethora of local vegetation. Oh, and of course, the thrill of zip lining through the tropical tree tops! People of all ages have enjoyed their ride at Tree Limin’ Extreme and are planning to endure it once again on their next vacation because they simply couldn’t get enough!