Cascarilla

The Bahamian cascarilla is a Croton eluteria, in the family of Euphorbiaceae

Samana Cay, Acklins, and Crooked Island have been the traditional source of cascarilla bark oil, dating back to the 18th Century.

The bark is used for the manufacture of incense, sachets, potpourris, liquor (Campari) and tobacco flavorings. it also used as a therapeutic aromatic bitter tonic for the treatment of various stomach ailments.

The oil is used for commercial perfume and flavor marketplace. Today, the highly desired and sought after cascarilla bark essential oil is used for flavoring aperitifs, liquors, beverages, confections and fine perfumery.

It is very valuable in its purest form. With 500 grams Being sold for £147.00

On September 25th 2018 in continuation of fulfilling its mandate to expand The Bahamian economy the Bahamas development bank traveled to Acklins to advance its program to industrialize cascarilla. With 55 people in attendance

Key program objectives were to increase export, foster the sustainability of cascarilla through organized propagation of the plant, facilitate 2 commercially viable cascarilla oil processing facilities and support expansion of family island economies.

Currently The Bahamas exports cascarilla to The United Kingdom, Italy, France, the U.S. and Germany