TYPES OF ALOE

There are more types of Aloe Vera than there are weekdays in the year! I thought you might be as surprised as I was initially to find that there are over 300 varieties. I was reminded recently of my original belief that Aloe Vera was a cactus. Well, of course it does look like one, despite being a member of the lily family.

It’s related to other ‘medicine plants’ (garlic, onions and even asparagus) and most species originate from Southern Africa, which provides the arid conditions they like. There are at least four types with medicinal properties, Aloe Barbadensis Miller being the easiest to cultivate and perhaps the most potent medicinally. (It needs a mention here that this is the Aloe Vera grown and used by Forever Living Products).

Here are the other three:

TEQUILA from Aloe!

Did you know that the Mexicans produce their Tequila from Aloe Americana? I certainly didn’t until after starting my research. That has a somewhat different taste from Forever Living’s drinking Gel!

Then there’s Aloe Sisalina, fibres from which can be used to make, among other things, scratching posts for cats. Was there ever a more versatile plant?

Go from Types of Aloe to Aloe Vera History

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