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Tuesday 29 december 2020 locAl
A10

Islands famous succulent Episode LXXXV - 85

ORANJESTAD — Although this famous succulent ap-
pears on our islands code of arms it is not really local
specie. The unique vegetation of our island is part of
the local culture and national identity, so in order to
protect it we hope to allow future generations to enjoy
the special environment it creates.

Thorny shrub, tree cactus, and agave varieties are abun-
dant, though not in large numbers of species. The cactus
grows in the wild. Its seeds are dispersed by the wind and
fauna, especially birds and bats that delight with the deli-
cious fruits it creates.
In this succulent vegetation we find the best known and
most famous of all which is the aloe, although this famous
succulent appears on our islands code of arms and is called
the Aruba aloe, this plan reality is not an endemic or local
specie but has adapted even better that in its place of ori-
gin some say. In reality this now famous succulent was in-
troduced to Aruba to encourage its cultivation and create
new sources of income for the islanders. Some varieties of
aloe were imported from the island of Socotra and others
from the island of Barbados around 1840 and had begun to
generate great additional income for those who had de-
cided to invest in it. Aruba`s aloe, also known as ‘barbaloin’, oil in Papiamento, the thick, pulpy leaves
Nowadays the so called Aruba Aloe has become an impor- has an aloin content of 22 percent, a bit- and serrated at the edges, were placed
tant ingredient in many pharmaceutical and skin products ter yellowish-brown compound seen in in an inclined drip channel box, consist-
used to protect against the harsh sun, in shampoo`s and to the exudate of at least 68 species of aloe, ing of two boards with long two legs and
mitigate the negative effects of chemotherapeutic burns. It while the content is assumed to of aloe in two shorter legs in the front. Payment for
also can be found in laxatives, consumed to treat constipa- other parts of the world is 15 percent at this heavy work was made by the gal-
tion and as a detoxification agent. the highest. Harvest used to be brought lon and was transported in small cov-
Aloe had a prosperous existence on our island. The limestone in from March to June, a very suitable ered casks, tied on donkeys in pairs, to
soil and dry climate were the best conditions for the aloe to time for Aruba since this is the dry season, the boiling pots in order to be reduced
thrive. For the more than 500 species, only a few were tradi- during the time which in the seventeenth by evaporation. This reduction of the sap
tionally used as medicinal herbs, with Aloe barbadensis hav- century and virtually till about 1928, there to resin took place in open brass bowl of
ing yellow flowers being the most widely used followed by was little employment. To extract or resin- about 200 liters of content. Subsequently,
Aloe vera with light orange flowers. sap from aloe, is called ‘azeta’ meaning the thick liquid was poured into boxes of
where it cooled and coagulated into a
mass that contracted to a considerable
degree. Such a box contained 57.5 kilos
of resin. Sometimes the resin was poured
into tree calabas, Crecentia cujete
which could be packaged at a slightly
higher price. Today, modern aloe prod-
ucts are manufactured locally.q

To get to know a little more regard-
ing Aruba’s and its cultural origins, we
highly recommend you to book your
participation in our cultural encoun-
ter session.

A mind opening revelation and en-
tertaining island experience.

Mail us at etnianativa03@gmail.com
our facilities and activities take place
close to high rise hotels.