Meet the Kerala woman who started producing nutmeg-flavored vodka in Canada

A Canadian woman from Kerala has ventured into alcohol production and produced nutmeg-flavoured vodka.

Steffy Joy Puthushery is a native of Ernakulam and left for Canada in 2018 to further her studies. After completing a business management program in 2019, Steffy was granted permanent residency in Ontario, the largest province in the country.

After her husband Laiju Varghese, an IT professional, landed in Canada with their children, Steffy learned the secrets of the industry from her businessman father and decided to start her own business.

“In Canada, drinking alcohol is as normal a part of food as a cup of coffee. Responsible drinking is a way of life here. I thought why don’t we start a cause like this? So after talking to my husband, I decided on a dream project with vodka,” Steffy, a mother of three, told CNN-News 18.com in Canada.

The project will start producing vodka in 2021, but things will not be easy, Steffy said, adding that every step of starting a business in Canada must go through legal forms.

“However, the investment and risk factors in this area are smaller compared to India,” says Steffy.

After registering a company, it is necessary to obtain permission from the government.

“This is a big difference with India. Everyone involved in the alcohol industry, from sales staff in stores, to servers at bars and manufacturers, they should be fully aware of the relevant rules and regulations. Even for a glass of beer, they It is also necessary to know who can drink how much, or whether they can drive after drinking. To do this, they must obtain a certificate called a ‘Smart Service Certificate’ after learning the rules and regulations for responsible drinking,” adds Steffy.

Smart Service Certificates are issued by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO). Alcohol production requires a license from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). The LCBO is a company licensed to distribute alcohol in Ontario and operates under the authority of the Legislative Assembly through the Ministry of Finance.

After completing all legal formalities, Steffy’s venture now operates out of a leased brewery in Toronto, occupying approximately 5,000 square feet and employing 12 local people.

Even though the vodka is produced in Canada, almost everything associated with the drink has a hint of Kerala. It is made according to the recipe given by Indian experts and the main ingredient is aril extract of nutmeg spice grown in Kerala.

“We thought of many other flavours. However, we wanted to start with nutmeg. In Kerala, the land of spices, nutmeg is considered a medicine,” says Steffy’s husband Laiju, adding that the taste of nutmeg Can enhance the value of spirits.

“Naming a vodka was a somewhat difficult task. Many names were considered, but ‘Rooster’ was ultimately chosen as it is considered a symbol of success in many parts of the world,” says Steffy.

Therefore, this vodka named “Rooster” was launched on January 2, 2024, and was officially launched by Canadian football player Iain Hume. Iain Hume is affectionately known as ‘Hyoomettan’ by Keralites after he joined the ISL-affiliated Kerala Blasters Football Club.

It comes in a 750 ml bottle and contains 40% alcohol. The product is currently available online and will be available in CBO stores in three months.

Laiju said that with the completion of negotiations, the product will soon be available at duty-free shops at Kochi Airport (CIAL) as well, adding that more flavors will be added.