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LOCAL Monday 21 July 2025

Aruba: The island of Aloes

ORANJESTAD – Aloe vera, a island’s economy endures and looking bright and
succulent plant species, is to this day. nourished. Aside from the
renowned for its incredible gel, aloe contains a bitter,
properties for the skin. It is The leaves of Aloe vera yellow substance (called
widely distributed and usu- contain a good amount of aloin) which is a gentle but
ally grows in tropical, semi- gel which when used topi- powerful laxative, and it is
tropical and arid climates cally, is great for the skin. also the origin of the indus-
on the planet. But this plant Traditionally, Arubans use try of aloe in Aruba.
also had a very prominent this gel to treat minor burns
role in the history of Aruba, and other skin ailments, According to the website
and its significance to the or just to keep skin supple of Royal Aruba Aloe, Aloe
vera was introduced in
Aruba around 1840, when
most of the island’s inhab-
itants were farmers of little
means. Dutch Governor
Van Raders introduced the
plant after it had been in-
troduced in other islands of
the Caribbean to cultivate
and harvest the aloe to best in the world and was to around 30 percent of the
produce the laxative. more expensive, which total global production!
meant that at the time, it
Around 1920, about two- had significant economic The impact and relevance
thirds of Aruba was aloe impact, particularly for the of aloe is visible all around
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.

Aruba to me

ORANJESTAD — You are back or still enjoying your vacation?... we would like
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