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Cochineal, how does this red insect dye works? Episode CCXXXI- 231
Every week, Etnia Nativa unveils a new episode re- the cultivation of a local plant was but the use of pesticides has reduced
garding culture and heritage, focusing on native implemented, known as the catash its occurrence.
knowledge, transcendental wisdom, and the impor- tree, or Loki Loki (Phyllanthus botryan- The mealybug tick is round, reddish-
tance of defending Aruba’s true identity. Articles that thus), whose leaves, rolled into a cone black in color, and covered in white
connect the reader with a mystical aspect of the is- shape, the locals called “cartuchi” or powder. If we crush this insect, when it
land, its culture, and its traditional heritage encourage “peperesh,” were used as protection is fully developed, it will give off a red-
all to interact with the native environment by adopting against wind and bad weather so that dish or carmine tint. When the insects
an authentic island state of consciousness. the tiny insect could thrive by being are mature, they are collected with a
nailed to the cactus using a Breba (Le- brush not to harm or damage the prod-
During this episode, we share about a small industry maireocereus griseus) thorn. uct and placed in the sun or dried in
that was established in Aruba during the 19th cen- Different families were dedicated to its the oven. To get an idea of how much,
tury and that currently supplies a globally demanded cultivation, such as the Dutch Strakbein one pound of color is the work of ap-
natural product. It is the grana, or cochineal, and has family in Sabana Grandi. We know it proximately 70,000 mealybug ticks. The
its origin in an insect known as the cochineal tick that was exhausting work. The women were dye obtained is called cochineal red
parasitizes the leaves of the prickly pear and thrives taught how to treat the insect with soft and is the natural source of carmine,
by extracting its juice to ripen. cactus spines and then how to collect a red dye in great demand and the
it in paper bags. They could earn five protagonist of the most intense reds in
At the time when Aruba was dedicated to the cochi- guilders per pound when the industry the cosmetic industry, which, from the
neal industry, specific areas were designated for its was flourishing, which was a good in- point of view of quality, is the most de-
cultivation. Within the limits of Oranjestad, it was com- come for that time. manding and accepts only high-purity
mon to see plantations in Socotoro, Companashi, In the mid-19th century, aniline dye carmine in its production.
Mon Plaisir, Sividivi, Canashito, and Quivarco, but began to be marketed in Germany, Although the appearance of synthetic
there were also in Savanata, Sabana Grandi, Sta. the commercial value of cochineal dyes caused the cultivation of cochi-
Cruz, and Noord, near Shaba, Cunucu Abao, Pos plummeted, and local crops gradually neal to decline today, when natural
Abao, Tanki Flip, Tanki Leendert, and Ponton. To im- disappeared. The bug or tick can still products are preferred by consum-
prove the production of cochineal, at the same time be found in gardens all over the island, ers, its extraordinary demand has pro-
duced a price increase of up to five
times. Countries such as Peru, Chile,
and the Canary Islands stand out as
global exporters of cochineal. In 2022,
Peru positioned itself as the main world
producer, in addition to being recog-
nized since ancient times as one of the
most experienced in the use of cochi-
neal in the textile industry and in arti-
sanal techniques.
In the pharmaceutical industry, cochi-
neal carmine is used in the preparation
of tablets. It is also used as a food col-
oring in the sausage industry and in the
coloring of alcoholic and non-alcohol-
ic beverages, jellies, jams, ice creams,
yogurts, and soups, among others.
Standing out as a basic ingredient in
the food industry, it is added to almost
everything, from yogurt to ice cream,
including drinks and donuts.q
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