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a8 local
Friday 18 OctOber 2024

Aruba: The island of Aloes

a bitter, yellow substance (called
aloin) which is a gentle but power-
ful laxative, and it is also the origin
of the industry of aloe in Aruba.

According to the website of Royal
Aruba Aloe, Aloe vera was intro-
duced in Aruba around 1840, when
most of the island’s inhabitants
were farmers of little means. Dutch
Governor Van Raders introduced
the plant after it had been intro-
duced in other islands of the Carib-
bean to cultivate and harvest the
aloe to produce the laxative.

Around 1920, about two-thirds of
Aruba was aloe fields, earning our
ORANJESTAD – Aloe vera, a succu- island the nickname “The Island of
lent plant species, is renowned for Aloes.”
its incredible properties for the skin.
It is widely distributed and usually Under Commander Jan Helenus
grows in tropical, semi-tropical Ferguson (1866-1871), aloe experi- try arrived on Aruba, it changed is visible all around Aruba. While
and arid climates on the planet. enced a boom, which is why there the labor market on Aruba, shifting most homes will have a few plants
But this plant also had a very prom- is a road named after him, which away from agriculture. It would be for personal use and decoration,
inent role in the history of Aruba, goes through the aloe fields. In the after World War II that aloe would houses are also decorated with
and its significance to the island’s 19th century, Aruba was the main make a comeback. And eventu- aloe motifs, and at some point,
economy endures to this day. supplier of aloin for laxative, which ally, as science learned about the aloe even featured on post stamps.
was imported abroad to the United amazing properties of aloe gel, Around 1920, about two-thirds of
The leaves of Aloe vera contain a States and Europe. The aloin from the industry shifted from produc- Aruba was aloe fields, earning our
good amount of gel which when Aruba and Curaçao was known to ing laxative to producing skin care. island the nickname “The Island of
used topically, is great for the skin. be one of the best in the world and An interesting fact is that in 1951, Aloes.” And in 1955, the aloe be-
Traditionally, Arubans use this gel was more expensive, which meant the production of Aruban aloe came a part of Aruba’s coat of
to treat minor burns and other skin that at the time, it had significant amounted to around 30 percent of arms, symbolizing prosperity for the
ailments, or just to keep skin supple economic impact, particularly for the total global production! island. q
and looking bright and nourished. the local farmers.
Aside from the gel, aloe contains The impact and relevance of aloe Images from the archive of the Na-
However, by the time the oil indus- tional Library of Aruba.

Aruba to me

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