siolim:In a world where festivals serve as a beacon of joy, unity, and tradition, Jermaine Mendes from Siolim has found a unique way to spread happiness far and wide. Her venture, ‘Jemma’s Basket of Joy,’ offers handcrafted, eco-friendly festival hampers that celebrate the essence of various Indian festivals, catering to Hindu, Catholic, Muslim, and other communities. These hampers, filled with traditional Goan items and personalised touches, have become a symbol of love and connection, even for those miles apart.
Jermaine’s journey into the world of festive hampers began as a response to her son’s health issues. A science graduate working in a corporate job in Dubai, Jermaine and her husband, Anastasio Mendes, decided to take the plunge into creating preservative-free jams and pickles. This decision was driven by her son’s asthmatic attacks, which she believed were exacerbated by adulterated foods. “If such unhealthy and adulterated foods can do this to my son, they can do the same to others,” she explains. This realisation marked the beginning of her journey in 2009.
In 2017, the Mendes family decided to return to Goa, driven by a desire to raise their children in the Goan way of life. Back in their homeland, Jermaine and Anastasio started a café in Oxel-Siolim, offering a fusion of Indian and Western classics.
The café was well-received, but the Covid-19 lockdown dealt a severe blow to their business. However, instead of succumbing to despair, Jermaine turned adversity into opportunity by launching ‘Jemma’s Homemade Hampers,’ a concept that quickly gained popularity.
The idea for these hampers was born during the lockdown, when Jermaine noticed at people were stressed all the time. “During the lockdown, when everything had come to a standstill and religious events were stopped, we realised that a ‘smile’ was missing on the faces of humans. My family, including my husband and in-laws, embarked on the noble task of making essentials available to people, and there would be a queue of people to buy the items. It was really a rewarding feeling to do such social service then. Gradually, I also realised that many women were jobless as markets were closed, and they did not know where to sell their artwork or food products. It was then that I managed to build my team of entrepreneurs, which was a stepping stone towards the success of ‘Jemma’s Basket of Joy,’ as I called it later. Though initially it was my own hamper with limited items, later on, I diversified by including
such talented people and created a women’s business network.”
Each hamper has its own charm, quite unique as they are all eco-friendly and Goa-specific, consisting of traditional Goan items ranging from masalas to sweets and snacks made by her network of entrepreneurs, to her own products such as flower syrup, cinnamon syrup, syrups of lemongrass and ginger, butterfly pea, etc. She claims she has packed as many as 40 hampers on a single day during the Christmas rush, and works to deliver even last-minute orders all the way until Christmas eve – but Christmas day is fully devoted to her family.
Jermaine’s hampers have become a hit not only in Goa but also amongst corporate clients, as well as internationally. Jermaine takes pride in the fact that her baskets have travelled abroad, spreading festive joy to those far from home. Despite the growing demand, she remains committed to her principles of sustainability and eco-friendliness. “For me, it’s not just about festivals, but an occasion to share joy, express love, and make others feel special,” she says.
Beyond her business, Jermaine is a certified Yoga instructor, a nature lover, and an animal enthusiast. She balances her busy schedule with her role as a mother, raising her children without the need for tuitions, thanks to her and her husband’s careful management of work and home life.