BY PAM DELANY
When Dwayne Allen, owner of Big Marble Organics, tells the story of food and drink, his words flow like the thoughtfully curated ingredients that go into his creations. From growing up in Jamaica to owning a beverage company in Arizona, his journey is grounded in authenticity, sustainability, and an unyielding dedication to creating what he calls “good food that is good to eat.”
After arriving in Phoenix from Jamaica at 16, Dwayne struggled to adapt to a profoundly different food culture. The abundance of fast food, steakhouses, and processed ingredients in the 1990s did little to excite his palate, leaving him disenfranchised with food altogether.
“My palate was attuned much differently,” he explains. It wasn’t until a health condition forced him to reexamine his diet that Dwayne began to reconnect with food in a meaningful way. After discovering Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Dwayne began his personal food revolution. Inspired by Pollan’s exploration of food culture, local agriculture, and sustainable farming practices, Dwayne began to think differently about what he ate and how he could bring this experience to others.
This realization influenced his decision to open The Breadfruit & Rum Bar in Phoenix, a now-shuttered Jamaican restaurant that emphasized locally sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. “We actively sought out relationships with local farmers and ranchers,” he notes. With the help of local farmers like Emily Heller of Bene Vivendo Farm in the East Valley, Dwayne’s network of suppliers expanded. As part of the restaurant’s cocktail program, Dwayne imported the ginger beer he grew up drinking in Jamaica, which was widely considered the gold standard of ginger beer. After using the ginger beer for some time, he noticed that it began to taste different. After discovering that the product had begun being produced in Canada and also started to use high fructose corn syrup, Dwayne decided to make his own. Dwayne fermented his first batch using yeast given to him by his friend, Sam Pillsbury, owner of Pillsbury Wine Company in Willcox, Arizona.
“I never fermented anything before, and a day or so later, it started to bubble. The yeast action started, and it was the most thrilling thing,” he says. He also found that traditional steeping methods didn’t give him the fresh, punchy ginger flavor he wanted.
“I wanted a fresh taste akin to biting into a piece of root, similar to the experience of what’s served with sushi. I don’t recall how I came across the CO2- extracted [ginger] oil, but after researching the process to ensure it was eco-friendly, tasting it, and then playing around with it in the kitchen, it worked like a charm. It had the right bite, fresh flavor, and phenomenal taste, and it delivered exactly what I was after in a ginger beer.”
After running a successful restaurant for years, Dwayne’s passion for good food and drink led to a new business venture called Big Marble Organics. The company currently produces four organic beverages: Ginger Beer, Tonic Water, Proper Hibiscus, and Proper Lemon. Dwayne ensures his beverages are made properly, honoring the true essence of their ingredients, and are prepared with care and integrity. “All of our ingredients are USDA-certified organic and fair trade,” he says. “It’s important to us that we not only take care of the environment but also ensure that the people producing these ingredients are treated fairly and ethically. And that they have an appropriate stake in the work.” Big Marble Organics isn’t just about flavor; it’s also about telling a story. Each product reflects Dwayne’s belief that food and drink should be delicious and ethical.
“Good food doesn’t just taste good — it’s good at its root,” he explains. “That’s the philosophy we carry into everything we do at Big Marble.” As he did with The Breadfruit, Dwayne works to introduce traditional food cultures into the community with Big Marble. One example is the Big Marble Organics Proper Hibiscus, a version of the Jamaican drink, Sorrel. Hibiscus flowers, known as the Roselle, are harvested in the late fall and made into a rich, vibrant beverage enjoyed during Christmas. Adults often add rum, but it’s equally enjoyed by kids without alcohol. Dwayne gave Proper Hibiscus a modern twist by adding carbonation to accentuate its natural foam and beautiful pinkish hue. The result is a sublime combination of crisp, rosy, and refreshing flavors.
Dwayne is keenly aware of consumer preferences, including the rise in nonalcoholic beverages and mocktails, and sees the value in creating nonalcoholic options that are still flavorful and enjoyable to sip. Proper Hibiscus, for instance, has found its place in the growing mocktail trend. When served in a wine glass, it offers the same tactile and social experience as sipping on a sparkling rose but without the alcohol— making it a perfect option for festive holiday gatherings.
Production at Big Marble is as hands-on as it gets. Unlike many beverage companies that outsource their production, Big Marble does it all in-house, from creating the emulsions to bottling the final product. The process is meticulous. Using organic ingredients that Dwayne refers to as “all the goodness we use to create the experience,” it takes about 12 hours to complete a batch. His production facility in Phoenix has a capacity for about 10,000 bottles per single run. The company is operating at 30% of its capacity, with plans to expand regionally in the coming year.
A self-described tinkerer, Dwayne considers food his hobby. On a typical Sunday, one might find Dwayne bicycling down the quiet Phoenix streets to his facility to spend the day tinkering around. “Something as simple as greasing the machines is very satisfying,” he says. For Dwayne Allen, Big Marble Organics is more than just a business. It’s a continuation of his lifelong journey to honor the richness of his food culture and create a legacy of goodness. Every bottle he produces is an extension of his belief that food and drink are forms of storytelling, and each sip carries the values of sustainability, integrity, and tradition. Big Marble Organics can be purchased online at BigMarble.com, on Amazon, and at retailers such as Whole Foods, Total Wine, and AJ’s Fine Foods. Big Marble’s products are also served at restaurants and bars throughout the Valley.
