We left very early the next day knowing we had a lot more kilometers to cover and many more places to visit. The north coast has several rum factories you can visit, but we decided to limit ourselves to one, Domaíne de Séverín. 
Over the years the property has grown in size and produce has changed to include coffee, pineapple, sugar cane, sugar, and eventually – Rum. Today they also have 16 ponds where they grow and harvest Quassous, or Crayfish – about 12,500 crayfish from each pond with the little critters weighing up to 1/3 of a pound apiece. They are grain fed and considered a delicacy world wide. 
As we rode the train touring the property we learned that Domaíne de Séverín grows about 1/3 of their sugar cane needs and purchases the balance from other growers. Their rums are what is known as Rhum Agricole or Natural Rum, 100% organic. It is a different process than what is used by the industrial rum producers like Bacardi. The end result of the natural organic process is a rum that is very smooth with wonderful flavor. I can attest! Their rums have won several international gold awards 
The property is very hilly and steep, so all their own sugar cane is harvested by hand, just as it was in the 1600’s. The bundled cane stalks are brought to the crushing plant where the gears turn the crushers from the energy generated by a very large water wheel, naturally powered. This same wheel has been in use for centuries. Hard to imagine in this day. 
