If you visit our online shop you can buy products made with fresh, 100% organic Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller without any chemicals. Everything is grown, manufactured and sold in L'Aloe Vera Fresca di Fuerteventura. This means you receive the freshest products directly from the manufacturer. We can therefore guarantee the highest quality for all our Aloe Vera products. All of the plants that we use come exclusively from Fuerteventura, the easternmost of the Canary Islands, where we manufacture our products to the highest standards of quality. Because of the specific climate and soil, Fuerteventura is one of the best places in the world to grow Aloe Vera. Our experts regularly check our plants and the leaves are only harvested from plants that are at least 4 years old. Only a few leaves are taken from the plants each year, leaving them enough time to grow and develop all of their amazing properties.
Most people think that ALOE VERA is a type of cactus, it is in fact a desert lily. It has been known and used for several thousands of years for its healing properties. Out of the 300 known varieties of Aloe, "ALOE VERA BARBADENSIS MILLER" contains the most active ingredients, especially Acemannan (Aloverose). This type of Aloe Vera is believed to be native to the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. The variety from Fuerteventura is endemic. Here are a few examples of how Aloe Vera has been used throughout history: it was considered a beauty treatment by Cleopatra and Nefertiti, Christopher Columbus took it with him on his ship to help survive the long voyage, Alexander the Great never went into battle without it for healing his injured soldiers. WHAT DOES ALOE VERA DO? There are two ways of using Aloe Vera. You can use it internally to help strengthen your immune system, to boost your body's defenses, to cleanse and detoxify your intenstines. You can use it externally for fast moisturization and for healing wounds because it accelerates the renewal of skin cells. It is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. Therapists, doctors and specialists recommend it for sunburn, sun allergies, skin irritation, acne, psoriasis, stomach problems, general fatigue and much more!
1. Percentage
Many people think that the percentage written on the label of a product reflects its quality. This is not the case. The percentage of Aloe Vera only indicates the quantity inside. But it does not reveal how it has been made or what kind of Aloe Vera has been used to make it. (Example: 99% Aloe Vera could mean of a mixture Aloe Vera powder with water.)
2. Fresh Leaves Compared with Powder
In most products available on the market, manufacturers use Aloe Vera powder, or "Aloe Vera concentrate". The powder has been made with Aloe Vera but the plants have been dried out. This process loses a large amount of ingredients and around 70% of the plant's properties. Unfortunately at this moment in time it is not compulsory to inform the consumer if the product has been made with fresh Aloe Vera gel or Aloe Vera concentrate. Another good example is the difference between fresh milk and powdered milk. You should also be careful with misleading products with "Fresh Aloe Vera" in their description because the Aloe Vera concentrate is also classed as "FRESH" which enables manufacturers to use it as a selling point. Be aware that many names on the INCI ingredient list are confusing to consumers. For example, if you read: Aloe Vera Gel, you will probably think of fresh Aloe Vera gel. But this description is actually a mixture of Aloe Vera concentrate with water. On all our products you will find the following description: Aloe Barbadensis (from fresh leaves).
3. Age of the Plants
How old the plants are is also an important sign of quality when it comes to the final product. For the first two years the plants are growing and they need all of the ingredients for themselves. At 3 to 4 years of age, the plants begin to store the ingredients in the gel of their leaves. From this point the concentration, for example, of Acemannan is clearly higher than in the previous years. This highlights the obvious fact that the older the plant, the higher the quality. Unfortunately such information is not always available, that is why you should always consult a dealer before you decide on a product.
4. Varieties and Area of Growth
Aloe Vera grows all over the world. There are more than 300 varieties. The plant with the highest percentage of active ingredients is Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller. That is why it is known as "Real Aloe Vera" Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller has been growing in Fuerteventura for many years. This makes it an endemic plant because it is one of a kind, there are no other plants like it in any other part of the world. You can grow Barbadensis Miller almost anywhere, even in the UK and in many other countries but the quality will not be the same. This depends on many factors. Weather conditions, air humidity, rainfall, sunshine and even the type of soil are key factors when it comes to growing Aloe Vera. Environmental influences and air pollution also affect them. Usually there are products on the market made with Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller that is in no case from Fuerteventura. Be sure to check the origin by calling or emailing the manufacturer.
5. Volume of Water
Like all plants, Aloe Vera needs water in order to live and grow. You should realise how much a plant is watered by its appearence. Giving Aloe plants a lot of water makes them grow fast and you get very nice, dark green, succulent leaves. The proportion of water will be greater and therefore the positive properties will be diluted. (However, these plants may be considered 100% Aloe Vera. See point 1.) Quality Aloe Vera plants are grown slowly and with very little water. This process is called "cresco secco". The leaves of these plants have a maximum length of 30cm and weigh about 400 grams. Only through this long process of growth can you achieve the highest concentration of essential ingredients.
6. Quality and Price
When a quality manufacturer meets the criteria mentioned above, you can be sure that the products will not be cheap. But do not be fooled. Unfortunately there are always "black sheep". Merchants that sell cheap products at expensive prices, trying to convince the customer with certificates and quality seals. The best thing to do is to make inquiries before you buy anything.
Aloe Vera Barbadensis Miller is desert lily that grows in harsh environments and for millions of years has had to "take care of itself". The plant contains more than 200 ingredients. Here are some examples:
13 Vitamins16 Enzymes 13 Minerals 21 Amino-acids 12 Anthraquinones (analgesic) Saponins (antifungal) Salicylic acid (antipyretic, analgesic) Essential Oils Lupeol (analgesic and antiseptic) Flavonoids Magnesium Lactate (not yet found in any other plant, analgesic) Mucopolysaccharides (the most important being Acemanan, found only in Aloe Vera) Acemannan is produced by the human body until puberty. It is one of the substances responsible for the rapid healing of wounds in infants and children. At the age of puberty, our genetic code is "finished" and so our bodies stop producing Acemannan, even though it could be very useful afterwards. This is why Acemannan should be used as a supplement.
Could 8.000 years of history and knowledge be wrong? Or maybe pharmaceutical and chemical industries are not interested in a natural cure made from nothing more than a plant? Aloe Vera has been known for its elegance, beauty and its healing properties. In some civilizations it was even worshiped as a God. Aloe Vera has been described as the "queen of all healing plants". There are historical documents from thousands of years ago. Ancient Egyptians used Aloe Vera as a source of eternal youth, for embalming mummies and the pharaos used it for prolonging their beauty. Throughout time, every ancient civilization had a special use for this spectacular plant. It was used by natives but as time passed its use was lost. Only in the 1930's was Aloe Vera starting to be reused for treating irradiated patients suffering from skin burns. Anyone who studies the history of this plant is amazed by its incredible properties and spectacular results, both for treating illnesses and improving overall health.