Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlene Absalon.
Hi Charlene, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am an IT industry personnel who became a small business owner due to the lack of perishable & liqueur products directly from or inspired by Haiti. In 2012, I decided to venture in learning to cook every Haitian dish. Though I did not learn everything, I realized the importance of representation in a good product. Cremas Absalon was born a year later.
From home kitchen experimentation to commercial kitchen side hustle and now having space in a Brooklyn storefront, Cremas Absalon has evolved to solve the original problem and inspire others to do the same. The journey has been rough and not yet over, with so much more to come.
Today you can find Cremas Absalon in Park Slope, serving cremas ice cream, iced coffee with our signature cremas creamer and more. Cremas Absalon celebrates Haitian culture through its flavor profiles and its diverse product line.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely not been a smooth road.
As a woman of color, building an alcoholic brand has had its challenges and still does. Challenges include closed doors, lack of resources and little to none funding opportunities from financial institutions. Though this journey has been difficult, I will continue to move forward, creating a path for future industry founders to come.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Cremas Absalon was founded to expose Haitian culture and language to individuals not familiar with our story. Since its conception, the brand has developed Cremas, Cremas Ice Cream, and Cremas Coffee Creamer (non-alcoholic). Needless to say, we specialize in everything cremas!
As founder, creator, I am most proud that Cremas Absalon is unique due to the diversity and versatility of cream liqueur-based products that are currently in our portfolio, not including future products.
Any big plans?
There are good things planned for Cremas Absalon! Not ready to spill the beans just yet. The major focus is Cremas Absalon @ Bonbon Lakay and creating new cremas ice cream flavors.
I can say that there will be some mind-blowing cremas ice cream and new Cremas Creamer flavors coming down the pipeline. Last but not least, expect a new Absalon brand in 2023. =)
Contact Info:
- Email: info@cremasabsalon.com
- Website: http://www.cremasabsalon.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/cremasabsalon
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cremasabsalon
Image Credits
Ludwig Borgella
