Rainforest Chemistry

Inicio
Panama
Panamá
Rainforest Chemistry

Página web

Discover the rainforest through medicinal plants, cacao, and ancestral knowledge.

Rainforest Chemistry connects scientific research, ethnobotany, and cultural experiences, exploring the links between tropical biodiversity, Indigenous knowledge & nature. RAINFOREST CHEMISTRY is an experimental platform comprising a number of different research projects and ventures in the rain forest of Central America and the Caribbean. It includes studies in agriculture, biology, chemistry, the culinary arts, sustainable land use and development, native ethnography, and the arts. Educational programs and economics ventures will demonstrate and support some of the many facets of this platform.

03/11/2026

🌿 Medicinal Plants: A Conversation Across Cultures

Thank you to SERTV for featuring Finca Flora and Botanika Garden in their recent video!

Botanika Garden explores medicinal plants through Indigenous, European, and African traditions, each shaping Panama's botanical heritage and our relationship with these plants.

🌱 One garden, many stories.

🌿 Join us Thursday mornings at Botanika Garden, Finca Flora!
📩 Contact us to arrange your visit.
----------

🌿 Plantas medicinales: una conversación entre culturas

¡Gracias a SERTV por presentar a Finca Flora y Botanika Garden en su reciente video!

Botanika Garden explora las plantas medicinales desde las tradiciones indígenas, europeas y africanas, que han moldeado el patrimonio botánico de Panamá y nuestra relación con estas plantas.

🌱 Un jardín, muchas historias.

🌿 ¡Acompáñanos los jueves por la mañana en Botanika Garden, Finca Flora!
📩 Contáctanos para coordinar tu visita.

31/10/2026

🌿 Coming This Week at Rainforest Chemistry.

In the coming week, we’re offering three cultural and educational experiences rooted in shared knowledge, respectful exchange, and care for people and plants.

📅 DATE – Next activity will be on Monday November 9th.
Cultural Immersion: Natural Dyes, Fibers & Ngäbe Cosmovision.
A half-day cultural experience in the San Cristóbal community centered on ancestral techniques for extracting natural dyes and fibers from rainforest plants. The experience includes a talk and shared presentation on Ngäbe spirituality and cosmovision, offering insight into the worldview that connects plants, people, and territory through living knowledge.

📅 DATE – Thursday November 5th.
Botanika Garden Experience.
A 75-minute guided walk exploring the colonial history of tropical plants that shaped medicine, food, and trade in the Americas.

📅 DATE – Friday November 6th.
Medicinal Plants & Natural Dyes Path.
A gentle rainforest walk focused on medicinal plants with Ngäbe women in the San Cristóbal community, followed by a traditional tribal lunch prepared over a fire pit, and a demonstration and hands-on workshop on the extraction of natural fibers and plant-based dyes.

🔔 Important information:
All activities are by reservation only.
🚫 No walk-ins.

📩 To receive full details (schedule, meeting point, price) and to reserve your spot,
please contact us by private message.

⏳ Reservations close 24 hours before each activity to allow proper preparation and coordination.

🌱 Thank you for supporting cultural and educational experiences grounded in shared knowledge, respectful exchange, and care for people and plants.

26/10/2026

🌿 Medicinal Plants & Natural Dyes Immersion – San Cristóbal on Friday October 30th 🌿

An authentic rainforest experience created from more than 18 years of collaboration, learning, and trust with the Chami Jablablo Ngäbe women’s association.
Step beyond traditional tourism and enter the living world of rainforest knowledge shared by the Ngäbe women who have maintained a deep relationship with the forest for generations.

We begin with a gentle-paced 2-hour jungle walk through San Cristóbal, discovering medicinal plants and natural dyes through:
🌱 Traditional Ngäbe knowledge and plant uses
🌿 Botany and rainforest ecology
🧪 The science behind plant properties
🌎 Cultural traditions and the relationship between people and the forest

After the walk, enjoy a Tribal Cuisine Experience: a traditional home-cooked meal prepared by the Ngäbe women using local ingredients, followed by a cultural exchange and a natural dye demonstration, including the traditional process of preparing plant-based colors and weaving the Ngäbe Kra bag.

During the experience, Mathilde Grand shares a short reflection:
🍫 “The Theorem of Theobroma” — exploring cacao through the connection between science, culture, and rainforest knowledge.
This is a small-group cultural immersion designed for curious travelers who wish to slow down, learn, and connect with the rainforest and the women who share its knowledge.
A tropical rainforest environment means walking in warmth and humidity, so comfortable shoes, water, and an open mind are essential.
Small groups only (maximum 12 people).
Guided in English, Spanish, or French.

🌿 A meaningful encounter with the forest, its plants, and the women who carry this living knowledge.

25/10/2026

🍌✨ The Secret Life of the Banana: A Journey Through Time.

What if I told you that the banana you peel today hides the story of an extraordinary botanical transformation?

Imagine opening a wild banana to discover a constellation of large, hard black seeds nestled inside its flesh. 🌿 This is a glimpse into a world that existed long before the familiar, seedless bananas found in our markets today.

Over thousands of years, nature and human ingenuity shaped the evolution of this remarkable fruit. Through domestication and selection, seeded wild bananas gave rise to the many cultivated varieties we know today, including the familiar Cavendish.

One of the wonders behind this transformation is parthenocarpy — the ability of a plant to develop fruit without fertilization. In cultivated bananas, this allows the fruit to grow without forming mature seeds.

And this story reaches far back into human history: archaeological evidence suggests that bananas were being cultivated at least 7,000 years ago.

From ancient forests to the fruits in our hands, bananas carry a hidden story of biodiversity, adaptation, and our enduring relationship with the plant world.

At Rainforest Chemistry, we love uncovering these botanical wonders and exploring the extraordinary science hidden in everyday nature.

✨ Sometimes, the most magical discoveries begin with something we thought we already knew.

24/10/2026

🌿 Coming This Week at Rainforest Chemistry.

In the coming week, we’re offering three cultural and educational experiences rooted in shared knowledge, respectful exchange, and care for people and plants.

📅 DATE – Monday October 26th.
Cultural Immersion: Natural Dyes, Fibers & Ngäbe Cosmovision.
A half-day cultural experience in the San Cristóbal community centered on ancestral techniques for extracting natural dyes and fibers from rainforest plants. The experience includes a talk and shared presentation on Ngäbe spirituality and cosmovision, offering insight into the worldview that connects plants, people, and territory through living knowledge.

📅 DATE – Next activity; Thursday November 5th.
Botanika Garden Experience.
A 75-minute guided walk exploring the colonial history of tropical plants that shaped medicine, food, and trade in the Americas.

📅 DATE – Friday October 30th.
Medicinal Plants & Natural Dyes Path.
A gentle rainforest walk focused on medicinal plants with Ngäbe women in the San Cristóbal community, followed by a traditional tribal lunch prepared over a fire pit, and a demonstration and hands-on workshop on the extraction of natural fibers and plant-based dyes.

🔔 Important information:
All activities are by reservation only.
🚫 No walk-ins.

📩 To receive full details (schedule, meeting point, price) and to reserve your spot,
please contact us by private message.

⏳ Reservations close 24 hours before each activity to allow proper preparation and coordination.

🌱 Thank you for supporting cultural and educational experiences grounded in shared knowledge, respectful exchange, and care for people and plants.

20/10/2026

🌿 Medicinal Plants & Natural Dyes Immersion – San Cristóbal on Friday October 23rd 🌿

An authentic rainforest experience created from more than 18 years of collaboration, learning, and trust with the Chami Jablablo Ngäbe women’s association.
Step beyond traditional tourism and enter the living world of rainforest knowledge shared by the Ngäbe women who have maintained a deep relationship with the forest for generations.

We begin with a gentle-paced 2-hour jungle walk through San Cristóbal, discovering medicinal plants and natural dyes through:
🌱 Traditional Ngäbe knowledge and plant uses
🌿 Botany and rainforest ecology
🧪 The science behind plant properties
🌎 Cultural traditions and the relationship between people and the forest

After the walk, enjoy a Tribal Cuisine Experience: a traditional home-cooked meal prepared by the Ngäbe women using local ingredients, followed by a cultural exchange and a natural dye demonstration, including the traditional process of preparing plant-based colors and weaving the Ngäbe Kra bag.

During the experience, Mathilde Grand shares a short reflection:
🍫 “The Theorem of Theobroma” — exploring cacao through the connection between science, culture, and rainforest knowledge.
This is a small-group cultural immersion designed for curious travelers who wish to slow down, learn, and connect with the rainforest and the women who share its knowledge.
A tropical rainforest environment means walking in warmth and humidity, so comfortable shoes, water, and an open mind are essential.
Small groups only (maximum 12 people).
Guided in English, Spanish, or French.

🌿 A meaningful encounter with the forest, its plants, and the women who carry this living knowledge.

18/10/2026

Rainforest Chemistry Presents: A Cultural Immersion in San Cristóbal 🌺
Join us Monday October 19th!

Step into the heart of Ngäbe culture with a unique half-day experience celebrating the ancestral art of extracting natural dyes and plant-based fibers from rainforest plants. 🍃 Learn side by side with an incredible group of Ngäbe women artisans who keep these traditions alive — transforming roots, bark, and leaves into vibrant colors and useful fibers. 🌈🌱 See how fibers are extracted and discover traditional weaving techniques through a live demonstration.

Introduction by Mathilde Grand, who has spent 27 years in Bocas del Toro learning from the rainforest and its people. This experience is about sharing knowledge, listening, and discovering together — a journey of connection between people, plants, and the natural wisdom that sustains both. 🌿

As we explore plant-based dyes and fibers, we’re also reminded that the materials we use matter. Natural resources, when harvested with knowledge and respect, connect us more closely to both culture and the environment. 🌍✨

☔ A perfect activity for a rainy day — creative, educational, and full of meaning.

📍 When: Monday October 19th
🕘 Departure: 9:00 a.m. from Bocas Town
🕛 Return: 12:00 p.m.
👣 Where: San Cristóbal community
🧾 Send us a message for all details
🟢 With reservation only

Come learn, share, and reconnect with the natural colors and fibers of the rainforest. 🌳💚

18/10/2026

🌿 Coming This Week at Rainforest Chemistry.

In the coming week, we’re offering three cultural and educational experiences rooted in shared knowledge, respectful exchange, and care for people and plants.

📅 DATE – Monday October 19th.
Cultural Immersion: Natural Dyes, Fibers & Ngäbe Cosmovision.
A half-day cultural experience in the San Cristóbal community centered on ancestral techniques for extracting natural dyes and fibers from rainforest plants. The experience includes a talk and shared presentation on Ngäbe spirituality and cosmovision, offering insight into the worldview that connects plants, people, and territory through living knowledge.

📅 DATE – Thursday October 22nd.
Botanika Garden Experience.
A 75-minute guided walk exploring the colonial history of tropical plants that shaped medicine, food, and trade in the Americas.

📅 DATE – Friday October 23rd.
Medicinal Plants & Natural Dyes Path.
A gentle rainforest walk focused on medicinal plants with Ngäbe women in the San Cristóbal community, followed by a traditional tribal lunch prepared over a fire pit, and a demonstration and hands-on workshop on the extraction of natural fibers and plant-based dyes.

🔔 Important information:
All activities are by reservation only.
🚫 No walk-ins.

📩 To receive full details (schedule, meeting point, price) and to reserve your spot,
please contact us by private message.

⏳ Reservations close 24 hours before each activity to allow proper preparation and coordination.

🌱 Thank you for supporting cultural and educational experiences grounded in shared knowledge, respectful exchange, and care for people and plants.

15/10/2026

Make your reservation today before 1pm!

🌿 Medicinal Plants & Natural Dyes Immersion – San Cristóbal on Friday October 16th 🌿

An authentic rainforest experience created from more than 18 years of collaboration, learning, and trust with the Chami Jablablo Ngäbe women’s association.
Step beyond traditional tourism and enter the living world of rainforest knowledge shared by the Ngäbe women who have maintained a deep relationship with the forest for generations.

We begin with a gentle-paced 2-hour jungle walk through San Cristóbal, discovering medicinal plants and natural dyes through:
🌱 Traditional Ngäbe knowledge and plant uses
🌿 Botany and rainforest ecology
🧪 The science behind plant properties
🌎 Cultural traditions and the relationship between people and the forest

After the walk, enjoy a Tribal Cuisine Experience: a traditional home-cooked meal prepared by the Ngäbe women using local ingredients, followed by a cultural exchange and a natural dye demonstration, including the traditional process of preparing plant-based colors and weaving the Ngäbe Kra bag.

During the experience, Mathilde Grand shares a short reflection:
🍫 “The Theorem of Theobroma” — exploring cacao through the connection between science, culture, and rainforest knowledge.
This is a small-group cultural immersion designed for curious travelers who wish to slow down, learn, and connect with the rainforest and the women who share its knowledge.
A tropical rainforest environment means walking in warmth and humidity, so comfortable shoes, water, and an open mind are essential.
Small groups only (maximum 12 people).
Guided in English, Spanish, or French.

🌿 A meaningful encounter with the forest, its plants, and the women who carry this living knowledge.

13/10/2026

🌿 Coming This Week at Rainforest Chemistry.

In the coming week, we’re offering three cultural and educational experiences rooted in shared knowledge, respectful exchange, and care for people and plants.

📅 DATE – Next Monday October 19th.
Cultural Immersion: Natural Dyes, Fibers & Ngäbe Cosmovision.
A half-day cultural experience in the San Cristóbal community centered on ancestral techniques for extracting natural dyes and fibers from rainforest plants. The experience includes a talk and shared presentation on Ngäbe spirituality and cosmovision, offering insight into the worldview that connects plants, people, and territory through living knowledge.

📅 DATE – Thursday October 15th.
Botanika Garden Experience.
A 75-minute guided walk exploring the colonial history of tropical plants that shaped medicine, food, and trade in the Americas.

📅 DATE – Friday October 16th.
Medicinal Plants & Natural Dyes Path.
A gentle rainforest walk focused on medicinal plants with Ngäbe women in the San Cristóbal community, followed by a traditional tribal lunch prepared over a fire pit, and a demonstration and hands-on workshop on the extraction of natural fibers and plant-based dyes.

🔔 Important information:
All activities are by reservation only.
🚫 No walk-ins.

📩 To receive full details (schedule, meeting point, price) and to reserve your spot,
please contact us by private message.

⏳ Reservations close 24 hours before each activity to allow proper preparation and coordination.

🌱 Thank you for supporting cultural and educational experiences grounded in shared knowledge, respectful exchange, and care for people and plants.

Photo: Mathilde Grand

Dirección

Bocas Del Toro
Panamá

Página web

http://www.citizensofchocolate.com/

Notificaciones

Sea el primero en enterarse: le enviaremos un correo electrónico cuando Rainforest Chemistry publique novedades y promociones. Su dirección de correo electrónico no se utilizará para ningún otro fin y puede darse de baja en cualquier momento.