Page 19 - AHATA

Thursday 14 december 2023 LOCAL
A10

Aruban snacks and where to find them

ORANJESTAD — Want to Or perhaps you might for on-the-road lunch
taste something different want to try a croquette, break.
for a change? How about locally called a “kroket,”
some Aruban snacks that which is a crusty fried snack While you’re at it, why not
you can find all around the with typically a meat and accompany your snack
island? Hop in your car, dough mix filling. The Aru- with a refreshing “batido”?
and go to these locations ban kroket is based on its Batidos are fruit shakes,
to find some of the most Dutch counterpart, the typically made with add-
popular and tasty snacks “bitterbal”. ed milk for some creami-
that are beloved by our ness. However, you can
locals. These two snacks are also ask to hold the milk.
typically found in all lo- Batidos are commonly vendors carry their little 4. At the Alto Vista Cha-
One of the staples of Aru- cal snack trucks, which found in snack shops too. shop at the back of their pel.
ban cuisine and snacks is can be found all over the You may find some batido truck, so they are ever-
the Pastechi. Pastechi is island, including on the shops next the flee markets moving around the island. These vendors may also sell
a Caribbean fried pastry side of the main road that downtown, or if you’re on However, there are a few other delights, like the be-
that is filled with cheese, stretches from San Nico- your way to San Nicolas, spots where you can al- loved coconut-based des-
meat, chicken, veggies las to the Hotel Area. You at Mauchi Smoothies and most always find a coco- sert “cocada” or peanuts.
and sometimes even fish! can also find pastechis Juice Bar in Savaneta (lo- nut/shaved ice vendor: All in all, in Aruba, you can
and krokets at local bak- cated at the side of the 1. Right next to the Red always find some place
eries and snack shops, like main road). Anchor in San Nicolas, to take a break and have
Bright Bakery in Piedra Plat, on the way to Baby a bite of something lo-
Huchada in Santa Cruz or If you are looking for some- Beach. cal, you maybe just might
Pastechi House in the city thing a bit more fresh and 2. Along the main road have to look for them!
center. These places may healthy, why not try some next to the airport field.
also sell other snacks and coconuts, or shaved ice 3. At the California Light Photo credit: wheninaruba.
sandwiches too, perfect from local vendors? These House. com

Episode LXXXV – 85 Island’s famous succulent

Although this famous suc- being the most widely used the gallon and was trans-
culent appears on our is- followed by Aloe vera with ported in small covered
lands code of arms it is light orange flowers. casks, tied on donkeys in
not really local specie. The pairs, to the boiling pots
unique vegetation of our is- Aruba`s aloe, also known in order to be reduced by
land is part of the local cul- as ‘barbaloin’, has an al- evaporation. This reduc-
ture and national identity, oin content of 22 percent, tion of the sap to resin took
so in order to protect it we a bitter yellowish-brown place in open brass bowl of
hope to allow future gener- compound seen in the exu- about 200 liters of content.
ations to enjoy the special date of at least 68 species Subsequently, the thick liq-
environment it creates. of aloe, while the content is uid was poured into boxes
assumed to of aloe in other of where it cooled and co-
Thorny shrub, tree cactus, parts of the world is 15 per- agulated into a mass that
and agave varieties are ter that in its place of origin and skin products used to cent at the highest. Harvest contracted to a consider-
abundant, though not in some say. In reality this now protect against the harsh used to be brought in from able degree. Such a box
large numbers of species. famous succulent was intro- sun, in shampoo`s and to March to June, a very suit- contained 57.5 kilos of res-
The cactus grows in the duced to Aruba to encour- mitigate the negative ef- able time for Aruba since in. Sometimes the resin was
wild. Its seeds are dispersed age its cultivation and cre- fects of chemotherapeutic this is the dry season, during poured into tree calabas,
by the wind and fauna, es- ate new sources of income burns. It also can be found the time which in the seven- Crecentia cujete which
pecially birds and bats that for the islanders. Some vari- in laxatives, consumed to teenth century and virtually could be packaged at a
delight with the delicious eties of aloe were imported treat constipation and as a till about 1928, there was slightly higher price. Today,
fruits it creates. from the island of Socotra detoxification agent. little employment. To ex- modern aloe products are
and others from the island tract or resin-sap from aloe, manufactured locally.
In this succulent vegetation of Barbados around 1840 Aloe had a prosperous ex- is called ‘azeta’ mean-
we find the best known and and had begun to gen- istence on our island. The ing oil in Papiamento, the To get to know a little more
most famous of all which is erate great additional in- limestone soil and dry cli- thick, pulpy leaves and ser- regarding Aruba’s and its
the aloe, although this fa- come for those who had mate were the best condi- rated at the edges, were cultural origins, we highly
mous succulent appears decided to invest in it. tions for the aloe to thrive. placed in an inclined drip recommend you to book
on our islands code of arms For the more than 500 spe- channel box, consisting of your participation in our
and is called the Aruba Nowadays the so called cies, only a few were tradi- two boards with long two cultural encounter session.
aloe, this plan reality is not Aruba Aloe has become tionally used as medicinal legs and two shorter legs in A mind opening revelation
an endemic or local specie an important ingredient herbs, with Aloe barbaden- the front. Payment for this and entertaining island ex-
but has adapted even bet- in many pharmaceutical sis having yellow flowers heavy work was made by perience. Mail us at etni-
anativa03@gmail.com our
Article by: Etnia Nativa facilities and activities take
place close to high rise ho-
Whatsapp us +297 592 2702 and book tels.
your Aruban exprerience Source; Island Insight Column
Etnia Nativa is close to the high rise hotels by Etnia Nativa