Meet Jan Busman, A 70-year-old vegan cheesemaker. We talked with him at a charming local market in Curaçao, where he sells his delicious plant-based cheese. He has been traveling his whole life and has seen many countries around Asia, America, and Europe. An interesting and very kind man.
His biggest hobby is culinary food. He cooked everything that moved and didn't move, as he creatively explains in his own words. Until 2012, when he started his journey to a plant-based diet. At that time, he lived in Hong Kong and worked a heavy job in the textile industry. He weighed more than 105kg but quickly lost many pounds and ended up 25 kilograms lighter than before. All because of his new diet, he tells us with a kind smile.
In that same period, they decided to move to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to start a retreat with his wife, Karin. She is a detoxification and nutrition expert specializing in holistic health sciences. They created a lovely place with two bungalows, a yoga studio, a restaurant, and an organic garden. They welcomed guests from around the world who came to detox and relax. Jan began to focus on his love for culinary food and created his first plant-based products. As they ran a healthy retreat, he only worked with the best organic wholefood ingredients and challenged himself to make it absolutely delicious.
After four years, in 2018, they sold the retreat and moved to Curaçao to continue their work there. Jan is now selling his cheese in different places around the island. You can also find him every month on the "Merkado Fresku Hofi Kalebash," a charming market where you will find many local and organic products from all over the island. 100% recommended if you are ever visiting Curaçao.
At the end of our conversation, Jan let us try all his different products. And one thing we can promise you, these products taste insanely good! You feel and taste the love and passion he puts into his creations. So If you wonder where to buy his products, visit Nuthouse Curaçao or the local market we mentioned earlier.
