Page 20 - AHATA

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local Thursday 25 sepTember 2025

Aruba: The island of Aloes

ORANJESTAD – Aloe vera, a gel which when used topi- of Royal Aruba Aloe, Aloe
succulent plant species, is cally, is great for the skin. vera was introduced in
renowned for its incredible Traditionally, Arubans use Aruba around 1840, when
properties for the skin. It is this gel to treat minor burns most of the island’s inhab-
widely distributed and usu- and other skin ailments, itants were farmers of little
ally grows in tropical, semi- or just to keep skin supple means. Dutch Governor
tropical and arid climates and looking bright and Van Raders introduced the
on the planet. But this plant nourished. Aside from the plant after it had been in-
also had a very prominent gel, aloe contains a bitter, troduced in other islands of
role in the history of Aruba, yellow substance (called the Caribbean to cultivate
and its significance to the aloin) which is a gentle but and harvest the aloe to best in the world and was to around 30 percent of the
island’s economy endures powerful laxative, and it is produce the laxative. more expensive, which total global production!
to this day. also the origin of the indus- meant that at the time, it
try of aloe in Aruba. Around 1920, about two- had significant economic The impact and relevance
The leaves of Aloe vera thirds of Aruba was aloe impact, particularly for the of aloe is visible all around
contain a good amount of According to the website fields, earning our island local farmers. Aruba. While most homes
the nickname “The Island will have a few plants for
of Aloes.” However, by the time the personal use and decora-
oil industry arrived on Aru- tion, houses are also deco-
Under Commander Jan ba, it changed the labor rated with aloe motifs, and
Helenus Ferguson (1866- market on Aruba, shifting at some point, aloe even
1871), aloe experienced a away from agriculture. It featured on post stamps.
boom, which is why there would be after World War Around 1920, about two-
is a road named after him, II that aloe would make a thirds of Aruba was aloe
which goes through the comeback. And eventu- fields, earning our island the
aloe fields. In the 19th cen- ally, as science learned nickname “The Island of Al-
tury, Aruba was the main about the amazing proper- oes.” And in 1955, the aloe
supplier of aloin for laxa- ties of aloe gel, the indus- became a part of Aruba’s
tive, which was imported try shifted from producing coat of arms, symbolizing
abroad to the United States laxative to producing skin prosperity for the island.q
and Europe. The aloin from care. An interesting fact is
Aruba and Curaçao was that in 1951, the production Images from the archive of
known to be one of the of Aruban aloe amounted the National Library of Aruba.