by Sorana Mitchell
Tricia Simon and the agrotourism entity, Mt Parnassus Plantation, is currently featured in the popular nature and science magazine National Geographic Traveller.
Simon, a champion for agrotourism and agroprocessing, saw the inclusion in the magazine as a boost for both industries in Grenada.
Simon said, “This article, it’s more than me, it’s about country. It’s about the fact that Grenada itself and what we offer as the Isle of Spice, is highlighted in such a prestigious magazine. I am simply a small player in a larger landscape where there are lots of other players who help to boost both industries.”
Nestled in the quiet community of its namesake, Mt Parnassus, in St George North-East, Mt Parnassus Plantation is part of the larger Mt Parnassus Estate, which used enslaved African labour in the 1800s.
Simon, a lawyer in Canada and Grenada, moved back to Grenada in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After, she kicked off her own skincare line, Cocoa Pod Botanicals which required natural ingredients such as Grenada Cocoa, Grenada Nutmeg and spices. The signature Grenadian spices and other ingredients are all sustainably and naturally grown at Mt Parnassus Plantation. She then expanded her horizons, and Mt Parnassus Plantation was born with a focus on health and wellness. The signature tour at Mt Parnassus Plantation is the Grenada Cocoa and Spices Health & Wellness Tour, a collaboration between Mt Parnassus Plantation and the Grenada Tourism Authority for the 2024 James Beard Culinary Symphony.
As the name aptly states, this bespoke agrotourism tour features Grenada’s award-winning cocoa in the signature dish, Grenada Cocoa Stew — a farm-to-fork foodie experience. Grenada’s health and wellness tradition and heritage are also highlighted with the bush tea ceremony, where over 15 signature Grenadian spices, herbs and flowers are showcased.
The project is now under another expansion phase as Simon works to offer an expansive health and wellness experience. This is partly due to a Community Tourism grant from the Ministry of Tourism. Several other members of the group Grenada Agro Tourism were also grant recipients. Grenada Agro Tourism is a non-profit group operating under a cooperative model. Founded by Simon, its role to assist in the development of agrotourism and agroprocessing in the tri-island state.
Simon is ever grateful to the Grenada Tourism Authority’s (GTA) UK arm for recommending her and Mt Parnassus Plantation to highlight agrotourism in Grenada. She further stated that agrotourism and agroprocessing are key focus areas for the GTA as both have expanded Grenada’s product offerings to locals and visitors alike. She said, “GTA has done a tremendous job in terms of marketing Grenada as a premium, safe and authentic agrotourism destination.” This focus is a siren call to the growing female travellers who yearn for a safe and authentic experience where food, health and wellness are central themes.
The article featuring Simon and Mt Parnassus Estate appears in the National Geographic Traveller magazine’s April 2025 issue.
