KM – 11 Oct, 2025

In early August, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Cashain and Danielle David, the father–daughter founders of Kromanti Rum, for an insightful and nourishing conversation. From listening to them, it’s clear that their approach is steeped in intention, cultural reverence, and innovation.

Together, we spoke about the rum industry’s deep ties to colonial violence and how Caribbean histories are often co-opted or erased in mainstream rum narratives. Kromanti offers a different perspective; one that honours ancestors, preserves herbal practices through intergenerational storytelling and care.

From the story of Kromanti Kojo and the legacy of resistance and resilience carried in his name, to the medicinal herbs, fruits, and spices infused in the rum itself, Kromanti is a brand that faces both backwards and forwards. Their work sets out to remind us of what has been lost and how we might carry it forward, honouring the legacies and traditions of those who came before us. They know where they come from, where they’re going, and, most importantly, they’re bringing their community along with them.

What stood out most was how they consider the cultural, spiritual, and social significance of rum across African and Caribbean heritage. We learned how rum has traditionally been used in various ways, from marking celebrations of life, commemoration, and renewal, to being infused in medicinal remedies with healing properties.

Danielle began by recalling a bush rum tour she took in Dominica, the land where her grandfather was born and raised, retracing the tours her elders would take during family visits in her childhood. She explained that bush rum, made from sugarcane, has been a part of Caribbean life for generations, with infusions and recipes that are hundreds of years old.

In her retelling, she described a moment at Shorty’s Bar where she was served a garlic rum that kept ailments at bay for months.This led to Cashain sharing his “two-shot story,” an encounter at a bush rum shack in the lead up to his wedding, where the owner recommended an aniseed rum to inspire remembrance, just as Cashain had begun delving into the histories and cultural narratives of rum.

We discussed how these bush rum shacks are not merely sites of pleasure, as they are sometimes perceived by non-locals. For Danielle and Cashain, they are spaces of community care, where owners have historically acted as alchemists, community pharmacists and healers, crafting special infusions kept under the counter for particular ailments or life events.

We were also lucky to hear the stories and ideas that inspired both their tamarind and plantain rums. Cashain shared how the Kromanti Tamarind Rum recipe came from a story his mother told him about his upbringing in Carriacou, while Danielle explained that the Kromanti Plantain Rum's flavour and infusion was inspired by a desire to offer something that unites people across the diaspora.

Danielle and Cashain’s work with Kromanti also highlights the cultural and historical significance of ingredients. Danielle noted that part of what they hoped to do with Kromanti was ensure it was flavour forward without being full of sugar:

She explained that the legacy of slavery in the Caribbean and its aftermath shaped access to food, leaving communities with diets high in sugar and salt. During enslavement, foods like saltfish, often the offcuts of what enslavers did not want, were preserved with heavy amounts of salt.

For Danielle, this history speaks to a complex relationship between colonial violence, survival, and nourishment, where the same preservation methods born out of necessity also became symbols of endurance and creativity. She reflected on the importance of distinguishing between “what was ours,” the resilience and resourcefulness that enabled survival, and “what we were told was all we could have,” the sugar and salt that marked systems of control.

This attention to how and what we consume, what nourishes us and what we build around us, is central to Kromanti’s ethos. Just as their ingredients speak to histories of healing and repair, the same goes for their commitment to fostering spaces where people can connect and care for one another.

Cashain, whose background includes a career specialising in mental health services for the Black community, grew up in a household where rum came out to mark momentous occasions.

He shared how this broader perspective informs Kromanti’s approach tp building and nurturing community. They have an intentional approach to gathering people, "socialising with a purpose", where alcohol might be present but connection is the real aim.

In his experience, the strongest protection against mental health struggles or problematic drinking isn’t medication but meaningful social connection. He reflected on how gatherings like the dominoes nights they host create simple, purposeful opportunities for people to come together in spaces where community as the real focus.

Kromanti is not just a commercial product, it’s a living practice of cultural preservation, care, and ancestral wisdom. Their intentional partnerships include dominoes gatherings on the last Thursday of every month at Brixton House, their work with the British West Indies Regiment, and their ongoing participation in the Black Culture Market, where they’ve been active for three years. These are just some of the ways that Kromanti continue to gather community, connect people through shared experiences, and reclaim traditions in contemporary spaces.

You can support their work by purchasing some of their incredible rum from their website, as well as by contributing to their crowdfunder.

You can also follow their journey at @kromanti_rum on Instagram and on their YouTube page.

You can listen to our full interview together here: