Page 7 - AHATA

a7
local Saturday 23 auguSt 2025
Planning on snorkeling? Get to know our “Dorado”

(Oranjestad)—If you’re ever the line, often the others will
planning on snorkeling dur- stay close or can keep the
ing your vacation on Aruba, group interested by giving
you may spot fish that you shrimp or squid.
can’t recognize. One of
these may be the “Dorado”, Description:
a common fish that swims Dorado has a distinctive
all year long in the waters body. It has a large tail and
of Aruba. Here’s some infor- its long, flat body ends in a
mation about the beloved large blunt head. Its color
Dorado. of yellow and green or blue
makes it immediately rec-
Dorado has many different ognizable, even with small
names it can be referred to. variations in these colors.
Dral, Dorao, Drals, Drado,
are some of them in Papia- Dorado has clear differenc-
mento. In English, it is also es between adult females
called Mahi Mahi, Dolphin- and males. The male is larger
fish, or Dorado. It’s a good and can easily reach 50 to
example to reflect on why 80 pounds and has a much
there can be many names. flatter head compared to
The same fish becomes the female. Therefore, male
known by different com- Why it’s called Dolphinfish fishermen as an exciting age. Most become adults Dorados are also called “bull
mon names, why? Common in English is not well defined catch and a fish that puts within 1 year but many be- Dorado”.
names come only when a and while there are several up a good fight. Its meat is come reproductive after just
group of people, to under- stories around this, none very good for consumption 5 or 6 months and reproduce Dorado can be found in our
stand each other, assign a have been confirmed. and it is also commercially very quickly too. waters around the island all
name to a fish. Mahi Mahi, fished for that reason. They live in open water on year round, but there are
for example, comes from Dorado is found in all tropi- the surface most of the time. periods when it is easier to
Hawaii and means “very cal to subtropical oceans They grow very fast, up to Many fish seek them around find than others.q
strong”. Dorado is based around the world. Dorado 2.7 inches (almost 7 cm) sushi lines or floating objects
on Spanish and refers to the is very popular both for rec- per week. They can live up on the sea. Often you will Source: The Department of
golden yellow color that the reational fishing and for con- to a maximum of 5 years al- find a group landing togeth- Agriculture, Livestock, and
fish shines with under the sun. sumption. It is known among though very few reach that er and if you keep a male on Fisheries (Santa Rosa).

Lessons from our elders: Plants and fruits for medicinal use

(Oranjestad)—Though to elders, the skin of a pine- treat rheumatic diseases,
western medicine is now apple is great to use to re- like arthritis.
widely used for common fresh your body. Clean the
illnesses and to keep our skin thoroughly and make However, breastfeeding
bodies healthy and happy, tea or warapa* with it. It is women who cannot pro-
it is still very common in said that this tea can also duce much milk are ad-
every household in Aruba be drank after an opera- vised not to consume too
(and around the world) to tion on the ovaries or uter- pineapple, and people
have staple home rem- us. This gets rid of irritation with acid reflux are recom-
edies that is passed on and inflammation. mended to not consume
through generations. Here any pineapple at all.
are some tips that our el- When the fruit is unripe and
ders have passed on to us green, this can be used to Arrowroot
over the years. stimulate menstruation flow Arrowroot is native to tropi-
in women. This also stimu- cal America and can be
Pineapple lates the passing kidney sold as a powder or whole. porridge consistency. If you fy your blood. However, do
Pineapple has more uses stones. When ripe, the fruit It is said that you can take make a shalup with milk, make sure to drink slowly;
than topping it on your can be used for poisoning arrowroot powder and add a pinch of salt. Raw let it mix with your spit and
Christmas ham. According in the gut and can help make a “shalup” (porridge) arrowroot powder can be then swallow.
for stomach pain or when used to powder babies.
you’re feeling weak. You Eggplant kataplan* can
can make it with milk too, Eggplant/Aubergine also be used to treat skin
but it is advised to best Eggplants, or aubergines, tumors, abscesses and
use just water. You can are easy to find in super- hemorrhoids. Eggplant kat-
also add prunes for a bit of markets around the world aplan can also be used ex-
sweetness. Arrowroot sha- and can be grown all year ternally to treat arthritis.
lup is also good to treat an round on the island. Relat-
unhealthy gut or for diar- ed to potato and tomato, *warapa: term referring to
rhea. eggplants are good to a water and sugar solution,
calm nerves. It can also be a.k.a simple syrup.
To make arrowroot shalup, used to lower blood pres- *kataplan: porridge-like
boil a bit of water and add sure, by steeping its leaves mixture used externally
one tablespoon of arrow- in boiled water and drink- for wounds or parts of the
root powder and stir con- ing it. You can also make body that are painful or
tinuously until you reach eggplant juice to help puri- swollen.