We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Howe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have always wanted to give back to my community and give people the opportunity to make new and lasting memories while pursuing my passions. During the pandemic, I began making confectionary treats to share with my friends and family to share some joy during a difficult time. My family and friends encouraged me to turn my hobby into a business. Being a business owner allows me to give joy to persons through this unique culinary experience.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The Munching Unicorn is a space where I can create wonder in the kitchen and pass the joy I feel inside to others. I wanted to take the flavours and experiences I cherished and share them with others. Our products utilise local flavours and quality ingredients to bring the taste of Jamaica to the world. Using Jamaican rum, locally grown vanilla from the Blue Mountains, we are able to give our customers the Jamaican culinary experience in a delicious, fun and portable snack.

Doing business in Jamaica has it’s limitations and we have limited resources on the island, but with good planning I have been able to create top quality product for our customers. After sourcing top quality raw materials, the other hurdle became how to distribute the product. Jamaica’s tropical climate poses some threat to our products which can sometimes be sensitive to heat. However, Jamaicans by nature have to be adaptable and I have been able to adapt and create a great product that showcases the best flavours of Jamaica.

The best part of doing business is being able to show people how many different ways we can experience flavour. Seeing how people react to the flavour profiles and textures is truly satisfying. Tastes invoke some of the strongest memories and our brand is able to give a hug to you whether you’re a child or a child at heart.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Kingston is the “Kulcha” capital of the world and there are so many things to do! I would start with sunrise yoga and surfing in Bull Bay. It’s 30 minutes from Kingston and has the most beautiful black pebble stone beach. The water in the morning is cool and refreshing. On our way back into Kingston i’d stop at Freedom Skatepark. It’s Jamaica’s first official skatepark and if we are lucky we’ll catch Girls Skate in action empowering young girls to enjoy the freedom of skating.

For lunch i’d head to beautiful Cafe Blue in Strawberry Hills. This scenic cliffside cafe has Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee and an amazing soup for lunch. My favourite part is the view, it overlooks the lush green base of the majestic Blue Mountains- Jamaica’s highest peak.

No trip to Jamaica is done without some nightlife activities. I’d head downtown to F&B to enjoy some live music from local reggae and jazz artistes and shop local made designers like Tribe Nine Studios.

Taking it outside of Kingston there is even more to explore. Checking out the music history in beautiful Portland at Geejam Studios, exploring the Blue Lagoon and snorkeling at Monkey Island.

Every moment is Jamaica is a vibe, with music being heard on every corner and laughter in the belly of the people, it truly is the best place on Earth.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I think my journey to success has been one that would be impossible without the love and support of my family and friends. Their encouragement kept me going on my darkest days. I also wouldn’t be here without my mentor Nicole Walters. Her community and encouragement to pursue business as an Afro-Caribbean woman is invaluable. I think representation is so important and being able to see a fellow POC woman successfully have a business was very encouraging.

Website: www.daniellemilan.com

Instagram: elle_milan

Image Credits
Danielle Howe

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