Q & A with Regina King MD, King’s Specialty

King’s Specialty promises to provide its customers with high quality tropical drinks creations “for guaranteed drinking pleasure”. Included in this promise is consistency of quality, affordable offerings, and positive and memorable experiences through the art of her homemade drinks.

The business also provides a delivery service for customers’ ease and convenience, especially during the hectic Christmas season.

King’s Specialty drink offerings include classic Ponche de Cr?me in a variety of flavours as well as various liqueurs, all infused with “the ideal mix of rums and spices for that one-of-a-kind taste”.

While Ponche de Cr?me is especially known as a Christmastime Trini must-have, she says her business’ mantra is “a good time is always in season.” Regina recalls her love for “shadowing” her late grandmother in the kitchen: learning family recipes for sweet bread, black cake, and Ponche de Cr?me. Her love for observing and learning from her grandmother is one of her ingrained childhood memories that lasts to this day: “So much so, one day when she was making Ponche de Cr?me I asked to taste Puncheon rum, just out of childhood curiosity,” Regina remembers playfully.

“Against her warnings, I begged and she poured it into my mouth. We need not think too hard about how that ended, right?” she quips. She says her mother is similarly gifted in the kitchen but neither of these forbearers ever entered into the realm of business. “As such, I decided to take up the mantle as a way of sharing what they taught me with the world, whilst adding my own twists.” Today, Regina shares the process of bringing her creations to life, the importance family and tradition play in her business and products, her more “untraditional” offerings that have sparked conversation and adoration alike, and the ways her womanhood makes her a unique entrepreneur and open to the possibilities of resounding success.

Q Your business was borne out of family tradition – can you tell us about your traditional offerings and the importance of upholding local customs as a business owner?

Based on what I learnt from my mother and grandmother, I felt that it was imperative to continue to offer that “original” traditional product. To me this is a true representation of home, who we are as Trinbagonians. I have encountered many customers who cherish coming back from abroad and enjoying these local homemade drinks. It brings back heartfelt memories and also adds to the joys of new memories created today.

Local customers are at the heart of what we do at King’s Specialty. They are the ones who weave wonderful stories to us about how much they enjoy our products, and they are also the ones who keep it real. We appreciate the love shown as well as the positive criticism. Every smile we receive from customers when we attend promotional events, meet someone for the first time, and make a delivery adds to our experience. We believe in experiencing the local love and sharing it also. We would be nothing without out local customers.

Q What about other offerings that may have a less traditional lilt? Can you tell us about them?

When we started creating flavoured Ponche de Cr?me, we received many puzzled looks, which soon turned into genuine intrigue and pure fascination and enjoyment. Our Cherry and Choc-de-Cr?me (chocolate Ponche de Cr?me) have been received well, as well as our 2016 addition of Cinna’ Cr?me (cinnamon Ponche de Cr?me). Additionally, our Liqueurs have also been considered different. Fruits such as Five Finger, Guava, Mango and Banana have been used to create a base for what is again, true to what makes Trinbago wonderful. Customers have been pleased to “actually taste the fruit flavour, and not just a hint of it” from Liqueurs made with fresh locally grown fruits.

Q You have an eye-catching logo for King’s Specialty – can you tell us the story behind this logo and the head wrapped woman?

When one sees the name “King”, it is automatically assumed to be male and one expects to see what is the traditional look of a crown. I’ve received many suggestions that the logo should’ve included that type of crown because of the business name. The logo started off as being an image of me; however, this quickly evolved into being what I believe represents strength, versatility and depth.

I find black to be powerful and it’s personally my favourite colour. The gold border surrounding the lady and also the gold head wrap signifies “regalness” because this is what I want the brand to represent and what our customers deserve – products that are great. The white balances everything out. Your crown is what you want it to be and it’s up to you to create with it what you want. When you envision a head wrap, it can be wrapped and designed in so many ways; so too with our drinks. No one has to dictate when you can have it and why.

Gone are the days when we only enjoyed Ponche de Cr?me at Christmastime or the only flavour Liqueur you knew of was Sorrel. The aim is to expand way beyond that, whilst holding dear and honouring the strength of the women who provided the foundation.

Q What is the process of creating your specialty beverages?

[Initially], the process involves a bit of brainstorming; thinking of “what next” that will be enjoyable and continue in the vein of “tradition with a twist”.

Q How do you ensure you have created something that you can be proud of and that you know customers will enjoy?

By testing on the consumers themselves. I conduct taste tests both with people I know personally as well as others to obtain objective feedback. Where required, changes are made to ensure that the right balance is there. Instinctively, you also know when you’re heading in the right direction.

Q How much experimenting do you engage in to create your cr?mes and liqueurs? What are your personal favourites?

It varies. Ideas may manifest for a beverage and come together in a day. Others require more testing; experimenting and sampling could take a few months. I love all my drinks! That was an expected answer, right? This year, creating the Cinna Cr?me was a joy, and the icing on the cake was the reaction of others who tasted it and quickly determined that they just had to have a bottle.

Q What do you believe is King’s Specialty’s greatest qualities?

I believe people feel the love, joy and effort that go into what you do. They can also understand the importance of wanting to create something, not for your enjoyment, but for the enjoyment of others. That’s one of the greatest things we can do. These things, coupled with our emphasis on consistency and quality, I believe transcends through all of our products. Whether it’s our Mini sets, already wrapped and ready for gift giving or our lovely gift baskets created for our clients, they know and can feel all that went into it.

Q What have you learned through the process of operating and running your own business?

Every day I say to myself, the only way to grow is to live outside of your comfort zone. The moments that draw on your last drop of strength and fortitude are what adds to the stories to tell and the perfecting of what you do.

Q Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you believe are unique because of your womanhood?

I have learnt not to be offended when I am underestimated. I have experienced many times where customers could not believe that I was the owner of the business, much less a female owner; I was once asked, “Where is Mr. King?” I have learnt that sometimes I need to get out of my own way and that it’s ok to see success as something that is very real, possible, and it should be embraced. Coming from generations of strong women, I have seen and experienced hardship and understand the importance of continuing to push through, with the support of friends and family, doing what no one, including me, could’ve imagined.

Q Who are you trying to reach and how do you connect with your customers?

We want to connect with local consumers.

Our current consumer base is predominantly female; however, it does include males and has been patronized by patisseries, bakeries, variety stores and we have also provided specialized packages to corporate entities.

Q Are there any markets or pop up shops you will be partaking in this Christmas season?

We have participated in and met new customers at several events thus far in South (South Side Expo and Fair; In Point Expo and Fair), Central, East and North, spanning both public and private events. We will be attending UpMarket in the coming weeks.

You can find King’s Specialty on Facebook: King’s Specialty Drinks; Instagram: kingsspecialtytt; email: kingsspecialty@gmail.com or call 685-9979