WITH her winning smile and girl-next-door personality, Alana Nedd has turned her dasheen punch business into a household name.

Nedd, a police officer, has been promoting her brand, Neddos Punches With A Kick, at the Tobago Blue Food Festival for several years. She also sells the product to her customers on a part-time basis, mainly by orders.

Asked how she came up with the name for her punch, Nedd, 40, became emotional.

“There was an officer by the name of Kester Best and he was a very close friend of mine. He passed away not too long ago, and he gave me the name 'Neddos.' So I decided to at least honour his memory, my business would be called Neddos,” she told Sunday Newsday.

Nedd described Best as an “awesome individual, excellent police officer and mentor and brother to me.”

Today, Nedd will again be among the 30-plus vendors at the Blue Food Festival, which is celebrating its silver jubilee at the Bloody Bay Recreation Ground.

She said the response to her dasheen punch continues to be phenomenal.

“My customers are always amazed at how good it tastes. They will buy seconds, thirds, even buy for their friends.

" Once a customer can confidently refer you, then you know you have a good thing.”

Nedd described the taste as “bold, rich, satisfying and soothing. “It is just like Grandma used to make – a party in your mouth.”

She said dasheen generally makes a good punch.

“When it is boiled, it is slippery in texture and gives you that rich, starchy thickness when blended.”

But Nedd laughed loudly when asked to share her secret.

“What I can say is that it is made with lots of love.”

Nedd tried several recipes before settling on her current blend.

[caption id="attachment_1040247" align="alignnone" width="878"] Alana Nedd says having Neddos Punches With A Kick on the shelves of major supermarkets and other establishments is in the making. -[/caption]

She believes: “The quality ingredients, special blend of spices, richness, the consistency and texture of the punch have all added to its uniqueness.”

She is a bonafide country girl who navigated between L’Anse Fourmi and Bloody Bay as a child.

She said her parents instilled sound values in their children and others, encouraging them to be self-sufficient.

In hindsight, Nedd said she has been exposed to sales for all of her life.

She said her mother did not have a government job, but always baked cakes, other delicacies and made fresh fruit juices to help support the family.

“She even sold doubles at one point in time. So I’ve been a part of putting things out there for the public, the customers, in relation to food and beverage. But at that time, I never saw it as a career path.”

Nedd credits her parents for her enterprising spirit.

“It has truly been a blessing.”

Owing to her parents' advice, Nedd said many of her relatives have established businesses in several areas, including poultry-rearing, arts and craft, makeup, photography and carpentry.

“You name it, we do it.”

She told Sunday Newsday her mother has been a cook