DTS NV: The Local Distributor Behind Suriname's Everyday Drinks and Snacks
Not a restaurant, but the wholesaler quietly stocking the fridge of half of Paramaribo.
Why Go
Order a cold water at a warung, grab a juice from a corner shop in the Palmentuin, or crack open a bag of chips on the road to Brownsberg, and there's a good chance it came off a DTS NV truck. This Bonistraat-based distributor is the invisible engine behind a lot of Suriname's daily eating and drinking.
The Experience
DTS NV (Distribution and Trade Services Suriname) is a wholesale operation, not a sit-down spot, so the 'experience' for travelers is really about noticing the brands rather than visiting the building. From their warehouse just off the Kwattaweg corridor, they push out Basic One drinking water, Twist juices, and Holiday Snacks to warungs, mini-markets, hotel minibars, and roadside kiosks across Paramaribo and beyond. If you're staying in town for more than a couple of days, you'll see these labels again and again ΓÇö the branded blue Basic One bottles at breakfast buffets, Twist bottles in coolers at the Central Market, Holiday chips at gas stations on the way to the interior. Understanding that a handful of local distributors like DTS NV shape what's on the shelf is a small but real window into how Suriname's food economy actually works.
What to Try
Look for Basic One bottled water (the go-to safe option when tap water isn't ideal, especially outside the capital), Twist juices in tropical flavors like passion fruit and orange, and Holiday Snacks ΓÇö the cassava chips and puffed corn snacks that show up at every road trip pit stop. Grab a Twist and a bag of Holiday cassava chips from any warung before a river tour; it's the unofficial Surinamese travel snack combo.
Insider Tip
Don't try to visit the Bonistraat address as a walk-in ΓÇö it's a distribution warehouse, not a retail shop or tasting room, and you'll just get blank looks at the gate. If you actually want to buy their products in bulk (handy if you're stocking up for a jungle lodge trip or a long stay), head to any of the larger supermarkets like Choi's or Tulip, where DTS-distributed brands are usually on the bottom shelves at wholesale-friendly prices.
The Practical Stuff
Address: Bonistraat 66, Paramaribo. This is a B2B distributor, so there are no public opening hours, menu, or dining room. Best treated as background context on what you're drinking and snacking on, rather than a stop on your itinerary. Payment and ordering are handled through their business channels; travelers should buy their products at retail shops, warungs, and supermarkets instead.
Pair It With
- Central Market (Centrale Markt) — The best place to see DTS-distributed drinks and snacks in the wild, stacked next to fresh produce, Javanese spices, and Maroon crafts ΓÇö a proper look at how everyday Suriname eats.
- Warung Rono (Blauwgrond) — A classic Javanese warung in the neighborhood where you can pair a bottle of Basic One or a Twist juice with saoto soup or bami ΓÇö exactly the kind of spot DTS supplies.
- Any roadside stop en route to Brownsberg or Bigi Pan — Long drives into the interior mean stocking up on bottled water and chips; you'll almost certainly be buying DTS-distributed brands whether you notice or not.