IN the heart of Gizo, Western Province, a woman entrepreneur from Malakerava community is drawing attention with a simple but powerful product — homemade ginger tea.
Known as the ‘Malakerava Ginger Tea,’ the drink is the creation of Andrison Anita, a mother and female market vendor who has turned a traditional preparation into a small-scale business that is both affordable and healthy.
Prepared locally in Gizo, the ginger is boiled in clean pots, carefully extracted, and its liquid extracted before brown sugar is added for taste.
The end product is neatly packed and sold for only $5 per 100 grams — making it an accessible alternative for families across town.
Anita sources raw ginger from suppliers in Honiara but does all the processing in Gizo. Her aim, she says, is to promote local products while also encouraging healthier lifestyles among Solomon Islanders.
“Too often, people rely on imported coffee mixes and sweet drinks from shops,” she told the Solomon Star in an interview last week.
“Our ginger tea is natural, made with care, and has many health benefits. It’s good for the body, especially for digestion and boosting the immune system,” she added.
The product has become part of a wider push by the Gizo Market Vendors Association to promote homegrown food and drinks.
According to the association, local products like Malakerava Ginger Tea not only give people healthier options but also support livelihoods by putting money back into the hands of local families.
Many residents in Gizo are now turning to ginger tea, praising both its unique taste and its benefits.
For Anita, it is also about identity: “This is something we can proudly call our own. When people buy ginger tea, they are not just drinking — they are supporting local enterprise and culture,” she added.
As demand grows, Anita hopes to expand production and inspire other local entrepreneurs to explore traditional food and beverage products.
“We have many resources around us,” she said. “It’s just about putting our ideas into action,” she further added.
Besides ginger tea, other local products are also on display at the Gizo Market Wind Breaker including tomato chutney, pawpaw jam, coconut jam, and several other items produced by hardworking vendors for the public.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
