• Ángel Salas is a Chocoano who has managed to highlight the rich culture of his department through his innovative product: the ancestral drink ‘Vigua’, which combines ancestral knowledge and experiences of the region, seeking to highlight the cultural and gastronomic idiosyncrasy of the territory.
• ‘Vigua’ dates back to 2011, when Pedro Salas, Ángel’s father and a primary school teacher in a rural area of Chocó, was looking to generate additional income.
• Today, more than a drink, Ángel and his family present Vigua Empresa, in which they are dedicated to the manufacture, transformation and distribution of Chocó products throughout Colombia, committed to rescuing and giving visibility to the essence of Chocó.
Ángel Salas is a Chocoan who has managed to highlight the rich culture of his department through his innovative product: the ancestral drink ‘Vigua’. This drink, which combines ancestral knowledge and experiences of the region, seeks to highlight the cultural and gastronomic idiosyncrasy of the territory.
The story of ‘Vigua’ dates back to 2011, when Pedro Salas, Ángel’s father and a primary school teacher in a rural area of Chocó, was looking to generate additional income. After several business ideas, Pedro created a refreshing drink based on traditional recipes from his parents and grandparents. This drink, accepted and appreciated by the community, became the main project of the Salas family.
‘Vigua’ is not only a drink, but an experience that connects special moments. With a low alcohol content and a unique mix of 100% natural ingredients extracted from the Colombian countryside and of excellent quality, such as ginger, cane honey, cinnamon and cloves. Each bottle offers a balance between sweetness and spiciness that highlights its relaxing and healthy properties.
The unique aroma and combination of ingredients have multiple benefits. Ginger and cinnamon, recognized for their vasodilating properties, improve circulation and reduce blood pressure. These ingredients also benefit digestion, have antioxidant properties and contain essential vitamins such as A, C, B6, E and K.
‘Vigua’ has also been associated with improvements in fertility, relief from colic, aphrodisiac properties and support for the proper functioning of the prostate and regulation of the menstrual cycle, among other benefits that highlight its positive impact on health and general well-being.
Today, more than a drink, Ángel and his family present Vigua Empresa, in which they are dedicated to the manufacture, transformation and distribution of Choco products throughout Colombia, with the vision of expanding internationally, committed to rescuing and giving visibility to the essence of Chocó, in addition to being the vehicle to promote the development and pride of its community.
Their most recent launch is ‘Origins Atrateño’, a drink that transmits the folklore, joy, enthusiasm and Afro-descendants of Chocó. They are cocktails based on Viche/Biche with natural citrus fruit juice and some aromatic spices such as rosemary and mint that give it a touch of freshness, with authentic flavors that are becoming the favorite drink of many young people, cocktails with that generates pride both with its unique recipe with authentic flavors and with its presentation and sets the tone for continued generation of innovation through tradition.
For Ángel, the challenge of entrepreneurship was not easy at all, so, taking advantage of the fact that he is a student of the Specialization in Project Management and Business Intelligence at the Grancolombiano Polytechnic, Medellín, he received support from the institution’s Entrepreneurship Center, which guide on the path to promote this family dream.
Their innovative approach has allowed them to obtain notable recognitions, such as the award at the E-Fest 2021 (a festival that highlights business projects and ideas), and the 2023 graduate of the year award in the category of “entrepreneurs, entrepreneurship and innovation.” , in addition to participating in strengthening calls that support its commitment to quality and innovation.
The company aspires to lead the production of indigenous, completely natural and artisanal beverages from the Pacific, seeking to keep the essence and unique flavors of the region alive, while taking care of the natural environment that inspires them. It already has twelve points of sale, five in Quibdó, one in Itsmina, five in Medellín and one in Bogotá.
