LANZAROTE - Our Holdiay Island ! 
Here in the El Jardin de Cactus you can see more cactuses that
you ever dreamed of.
Almost 1.400 species fo cacti and succuelnts are placed in the grounds and
the
sorrounding terraces. And they are well worth a visit! Just keep your hands
off!
The Cactus Garden was the most recent of the Lanzarote Island Council's
Tourist
Centres to open. Built in circular shape in the form of an amphitheatre, the
garden is
sorrounded by walls of thick volcanic rock. The beds housing the cacti are
covered with
layers of the black porous volcanic grains, known as lapilli (picon
in Lanzarote) which
you find all over the island
.
Historically, one of Lanzarote's major agricultural crops has been the
prickly pear or
'tunera' cactus cultivated to attract the cochineal beetle, Dactylopius coccus.
Squeeze it in your hand, and out comes a strong red dye. When dried
and processed, is used as
colouring by the pharmaceutical and drinks industries. The surrounding area
outside the garden,
is the centre of this cacti's cultivation on the island.
Think of those tiny cosy louses, Dactylopius
coccus which you
can credit the beautiful colour of your lipstick, next time you use it!
It is said that the insects are
killed by either immersion in hot water or by exposure to sunlight,
steam, or the heat of an oven. The variety in the appearance of commercial
cochineal is caused by
these differing methods. It takes around 70,000 insects to make one pound
of cochineal.
Female-lous with newborn
tiny nymphs -
washcloth dyed
with cochineal and cactus
pad.
(Foto fra Wayne's Word)
Together with ammonium carmine they can
be found in alcoholic drinks, bakery products
and toppings, biscuits, desserts, drinks, icings, pie fillings, variety of
cheddar cheese, sauces
and sweets.
It is one of the colours that the Hyperactive
Children's Support Group recommends be eliminated
from the diet of children.
This part has been taken from the following web-site:
'E120
Cochineal, Carminic acid,
Carmines'
at: http://www.bryngollie.freeserve.co.uk/E120.htm
more text to follow
Click on the three small pictures for larger view!
All pictures on this page are COPYRIGHT!
