Hakim-Michael Meziani: From Rote Rosen” star to rum expert!

Hakim-Michael Meziani: From Rote Rosen” star to rum expert!

After 13 years and over 3,000 episodes, Hakim-Michael Meziani is leaving the popular ARD telenovela “Rote Rosen”. His role as Ben Berger has made him one of the most recognizable faces on the afternoon program. On Friday, June 18th, he celebrated his last performance and is moving into a new chapter of his life. “Rote Rosen” is not only known for its dramatic twists and deep emotions, but also an integral part of the German television landscape, especially in the telenovela genre, which has enjoyed great popularity since the 1980s.

“It was like winning the lottery,” says Meziani, describing his experience on the series. He greatly values ​​this valuable time in which he gained many fans as a heartthrob. Despite the security that comes with a permanent position, the actor considered leaving the “hamster wheel” to take on new challenges. This includes his ambition to establish the rum brand “Alder Rum”, which he founded together with his friend Harry Geiseler. Inspired by a friend who told him about fine rum in Paraguay, Meziani set the course for his distillery in Hamburg-Bramfeld four years ago.

A new path as a rum maker

Again Picture reports, Meziani produces organic and fair trade rum, which is made without additives and colorings. The rum is made from sugar cane that comes from an organic sugar cane factory in Paraguay. His product is not only environmentally conscious, but also of high culinary quality - a bottle costs 34.90 euros and can be refilled. “Sustainability is close to my heart,” emphasizes the actor and rum maker.

In his new phase of life, Hakim-Michael Meziani will not only produce, but also actively participate in the market by offering “private tastings”. This shows that he is ready to combine his passion for rum and his acting experiences. “It’s important for me not to forget my roots,” he says. And although he's in an exciting new business, he's also made it clear that he can't tolerate a lot of alcohol. “But you don’t have to be full to enjoy the taste,” he adds with a smile.

Telenovelas in focus

Telenovelas, like “Red Roses,” differ from soap operas in their clear narrative structure and limited format. This type of entertainment, which originated in pre-revolutionary Cuba, has been very popular in Germany since the 1980s. The genres are characterized by gripping stories and the treatment of social issues. The example of “Red Roses” shows how much this form of television can captivate viewers by dealing with both emotional and social issues. Contemporary telenovelas are now produced in many countries and have become a global phenomenon.

While Hakim-Michael Meziani now dedicates himself to the art of making rum, he remains a part of telenovela history in Germany. It will be exciting to see how his career develops in this new direction and what creative ideas he brings to life in the world of rum in the future.