by Roderick St. Clair Exclusive to Grenadianconnection.com A small agro processing plant comes on stream in the rural village of Tivoli in St. Andrew. The company, Barguna Enterprises Ltd. manufactures a line of products under the brand name, Keno. An impressive array of products are manufactured to include herbal teas, wines and other alcoholic beverages. A concoction of herbs and spices called “Health Tea” is the flagship product according to the chemist and owner, Kenneth Thomas. This natural product is made from multiple herbs and spices and is said to be effective in the control of diabetes, cholesterol, and body weight loss. Thomas boasts of receiving numerous testimonials to this effect including the very positive results of an informal clinical trial at Hermitage Medical station. Another member of staff, Nurse Olive indicated that she personally benefited as well. She testified that after a series of tests, her cholesterol level was dramatically lowered while using Health Tea. These startling results were to the surprise of both herself and her doctor. She further added that she is quite happy that the product is now widely available. According to Nurse Olive, there are currently 13 known diabetic patients in her district who are using Health Tea on a consistent basis and she recorded the improvement in their sugar levels. In fact, she noted that most of these patients experienced sugar levels above 300 mg/dl and since using the Health Tea the sugars levels range from 101mg/dl to 175mg/dl. Health Tea is also blended with a grape juice made from 100% grape concentrate to allow for a pleasant tasting ready-to-drink diabetic beverage. It will soon be made available in capsule form also. Other local herbal teas being manufactured are Black Sage which is said to be good for purifying blood, Lemon Grass also known as fever grass, Sour Sop (leaves) said to be a natural sedative - good for promoting relaxation and sleep.Thomas was quick to point out that he is not an herbalist and that information was primarily obtained by talking to elders in the community and internet research. Each product has an indigenous component at the very least. He added that Health Tea use is not intended to preclude consultation with health care providers. Frequent testing and monitoring is imperative and therefore is strongly recommended. Thomas is a graduate of Howard University and has vast experience in the area of industrial chemistry having worked in the United States and U.S. Virgin Islands. He says he is presently writing a research paper to document the clinical findings. Other Keno products: Spicy Grape Drink non-alcoholic, Grape Wine, Spice Wine, Noni Wine, xxx Boisade - Bois Bande (pronounced bwabanday) alcoholic and nonalcoholic Wines, Tibli Grog -"Under the Counter" Rum. This is a pure molasses distillate which is cut and processed by the infusion of herbs and spices including bois bande. Currently, Thomas and his marketing agent are conducting a series of taste promotion for the “Under the Counter” Rum and the Bois Bande Wine throughout the island with the intention to release commercial quantities before Christmas season. With the CSME (Caribbean Single Market and Economy) coming on stream in 2006 it is Mr. Thomas’ vision to have most of his products especially the Health Tea entering the regional and international markets. Plans are afoot to obtain USFDA approval for the Health Tea. Thomas says that he is grateful to the Government of Grenada for support through I.D.C. for waiver of import duties on equipment and supplies. Barguna Enterprises Ltd. can be reached at the following numbers: (473)438-0792, (473)407-6717,(473)418-9911. e-mail: kt@caribsurf.com