Aloe vera satisfies healthy, thirsty people<\/p>\n
By Maria Goretti Tamen<\/p>\n
PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): We know aloe vera as the
\nbasic material in the production of good shampoos. It can also be
\nprocessed into an allegedly healthy beverage. In Pontianak the
\naloe vera drink has found its way into the community. Some 60
\nbooths selling the drink along Jl. Budi Utomo are perhaps an
\nindication of how popular the drink is among city dwellers.<\/p>\n
Drivers of oplet (collective taxis), buses, taxis and other
\npeople are regular customers at aloe vera booths in the Bumi
\nIndah Khatulistiwa housing complex on Jl. Budi Utomo.<\/p>\n
\"On busy days and under fortunate circumstances we earn
\nbetween Rp 50,000 and Rp 300,000 a day,\" said Ani, 34, a drink
\ntrader in the area.\" On Saturdays and Sundays the sales are even
\nhigher with families taking a walk and having a drink.\" Ani's
\nweekly net profit ranges from Rp 500,000 to Rp 700,000.<\/p>\n
According to the traders the process of making the drink is
\nnot complicated. Cut from the plant, an aloe vera stem is peeled
\nto harvest its solid flesh containing mucus. From this pieces are
\ncut to the desired size and washed with cool water to remove the
\nmucus. The pieces are boiled for 15 minutes, washed clean and
\nboiled again with sugar added. The syrup must be mixed with
\nwater or ice for consumption.<\/p>\n
One kilogram of raw aloe vera stems costs between Rp 1,000 and
\nRp 1,500. Cut from the extracted flesh, the pieces weigh between
\n400 and 500 grams; enough for 4 or 5 glasses. The drink is sold
\nfor Rp 1,000 per glass.<\/p>\n
Generally the drink traders grow their own plants to reduce
\nexpenses, a practice they say is not difficult. Fertilizer is
\napplied every three months, and the plants are weeded regularly.
\nNew aloe vera plants are transplanted in order not to disturb the
\nfertility of the mother plant. Usually after one year the desired
\nsubstance can be harvested.<\/p>\n
Apart from its refreshing quality, the drink is also believed
\nto cure many diseases. \"There are 1001 kinds of benefits from
\naloe vera as a medicine. It smoothes a small child's skin and
\novercomes fever, gastric problems and kidney trouble in adults,\"
\nAni said, speaking like a Chinese medicine man. Fam Shin Fo, 69,
\na Chinese medicine man living at Siantan Hulu, confirmed the
\nplant's properties.<\/p>\n
Pontianak's Chinese community believe the aloe vera drink is
\ngood for the health of women in advanced pregnancy and their
\nchildren; the hair of the baby to be born will be shiny black and
\ndense. Bamba, whose wife is six months pregnant, buys the aloe
\nvera drink every day for his wife, \"so the birth of the baby will
\nbe smooth.\"<\/p>",
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