In times of challenge, creativity and an entrepreneurial spirit are key allies in turning difficulties into opportunities. Ivando Romão dos Santos, founder of the Boca brand and a native of Maputo, has reinvented himself like few others and given new meaning to tradition, bringing to the Mozambican market an innovative and authentic approach to the world of craft drinks.
Born on 19 October 1980, Ivando grew up in a large family, the second of six siblings. Trained in Accounting and Management, he has had a varied professional career, working for several companies as well as acting as a freelancer. However, it was in 2020 that he took a decisive step towards independence, creating his own business: the production of organic caipirinhas under the Boca label.
His path in the world of caipirinhas began unexpectedly. During a gathering, two foreign women expressed a wish to try an authentic Mozambican drink, something they could take away as a memento. Inspired by the occasion and by the unemployment that was afflicting him at the time, Ivando accepted the challenge and created two varieties of caipirinha: one pineapple-flavoured and the other passion fruit. The customers' enthusiasm and their subsequent order for bottles marked the start of his entrepreneurial journey.
Although he already made caipirinhas for his own consumption, Ivando decided to professionalise his passion. With encouragement from the same customers, he took an online course on organic caipirinhas, honing his techniques and expanding his knowledge. Since then, he has devoted himself to producing and selling his creations, winning more and more fans.
Ivando's organic caipirinhas stand out for their authenticity and richness of flavours. The Boca brand has become synonymous with innovation and quality, with the passion fruit version as its main speciality, followed by other exotic combinations such as cinnamon, malambe, mint and mapfilua. The use of traditional sugar-cane spirit, known as tontonto, combined with infusion with local fruits and herbs, results in an innovative drink capable of arousing the curiosity and palate of Mozambicans, and not only them.
Public reception has been extremely positive. At the fairs and events where Boca takes part, it is common to find customers surprised by the unusual blends. Many, after the first taste, make a point of buying a bottle, while others, even without the means to buy straight away, end up coming back later to make sure of their share of the brand's craft drink.
Currently, his drinks can be bought through the social networks Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp, as well as at fairs and public events. There are two regular fairs where he sells his products: at the Matola City Municipal Council building, on Wednesdays, and at the Casa da Cultura do Alto Maé in Maputo, both from 7am to 5pm.
The journey of Ivando Romão dos Santos and his Boca brand is a testament to the capacity for innovation and resilience of Mozambican entrepreneurs. Starting from a moment of difficulty, he turned his passion into a promising business, reviving a traditional product with a contemporary touch
