J is for Jalao and Jarabacoa LADIES ONLY TO POST

Matilda

RIP Lindsay
Sep 13, 2006
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Continuing the A-Z of the Dominican Republic, here is letter J. This time a place and a sweet.

Jarabacoa is a very special place in the middle of the Dominican Republic, in that it is not at all what you would expect to find on a Caribbean island. There is no beach, as it is in the centre of the country. Whilst the sun shines as it does all over the island, it is cold. Not like English weather cold, but significantly colder than the rest of the country, with temperatures typically between 16 and 22 degrees all year round, but known to drop as low as 7 degrees in the winter. The reason for this is it is located at 530 metres above sea level.

The name Jarabacoa is a Taino Indian word meaning 'the place where water flows', and does it flow! There are three rivers, the Baiguate, Jimenoa and the Yaque del Norte, which at 298 kilometres long, is the longest river in the Dominican Republic. It goes all the way through the Cibao valley and enters the sea just to the west of Monte Cristi in the very North West of the country. With all of this water, Jarabacoa is famous for its waterfalls and white water rafting.

Jarabacoa was inhabited by the Taino Indians, and then the Spanish who came looking for silver and gold. It was then more or less abandoned as they moved on to explore other places, and was not inhabited again until around 1805 when the Haitian survivors of the massacres in Santiago and La Vega escaped there. They built a small settlement which grew during the Haitian occupation of the Dominican Republic from 1822 to 1844. In 1854 it was formerly declared a town.

Nowadays it is a place where Dominicans build their summer homes, to get away from the heat on the coast and especially in the cities. It is much loved by tourists, especially those who are into outdoor activities, as there is horse riding, canyoning, para gliding and a whole range more. It is also famous for its agriculture: coffee, peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, cabbages, aubergines, carrots, beetroot and strawberries.

A beautiful oasis in the centre of the country, fresh clean mountain air and stunning vistas.

Dominican sweets are on the whole, very sweet. Many also contain coconut, and the sweet called Jalao is no exception. They are basically made of honey or molasses and shredded coconut and are on sale in all the colmados, usually for a few pesos each. All of the Dominican members of my family adore them, and I must admit I am pretty partial to them too. I had no idea they were so easy to make until I found this recipe from Aunt Clara https://www.dominicancooking.com/954-jalao-coconut-and-honey-candy.html. Enjoy!

What is your J?
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
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South Coast
We have jagua trees on our property, and every Dominican who sees the fruit gets very excited and wants some.  I’m happy to give them away, because to me the juice made with it is totally repulsive, even with substantial sugar added.  It’s considered very healthy, with lots of medicinal uses.  

http://www.dominican-republic-live.com/dominican-republic/nature/fruits/jagua.html

I brought a bag of them to Matilda’s house, and Mr. Matilda was very happy to see them.  Matilda had the same response as I did.....yuck! 
 

Abuela

Bronze
May 13, 2006
1,952
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My "j" is jugo. With the wonderful choice of fruits here the juices are so wonderful & healthy. My favorite jugo is chinola,what's yours ?
 

AlterEgo

Administrator
Staff member
Jan 9, 2009
23,097
6,247
113
South Coast
My "j" is jugo. With the wonderful choice of fruits here the juices are so wonderful & healthy. My favorite jugo is chinola,what's yours ?



For me, hands down favorite is the fresh squeezed orange juice that they make right in the produce department at La Sirena, outstanding.  Cost about 800 pesos for a gallon, worth every cent.  

We have a lot of mango trees (50+), and when they’re ripe there are simply too many to eat, can’t use then all in mango bread, so we make mango juice.  Not easy, the fiber jams up and blocks most juicers.  Brought down a Jack LaLanne last year, and it’s much better.  Delicious natural juice.  

Like you, Mr AE is very fond of chinola, he adds it to other juices, and always to his batida de lechosa
 

Matilda

RIP Lindsay
Sep 13, 2006
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According to Dominicans, if a man drinks chinola juice he becomes impotent! He can eat the fruit but not drink the juice. No idea where that one comes from. My favourite is chinola too.

Matilda
 

Meemselle

Just A Few Words
Oct 27, 2014
2,842
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Ladies Only for the J

I have so many J's!

First and foremost is Juan, the major domo at Tropix, the hotel I managed 30+ years ago, and then did a redux. Juan came to Tropix (then called Las Brisas) when he was 17, as the cook to the building crew, and never left. When I came back to the DR after a 30-year absence, I poked my head into the kitchen, prepared to explain in my (then) non-existent Spanish, who I was/am. Juan saw me, and his whole fabulous incredible gorgeous face lit up with a fabulous incredible gorgeous smile, and he said: "Sra. Meems!"

Another J is Joli, my one-handed Haitian former security guard. I got him his passport. He's a piece of work, and every other manager at Tropix fought with him all the time. I decided early on that he is probably bi-polar, and even the worst day of my life is better than the best day in his life. I think we had 2 fights in 3 years. When my container of worldy possessions arrived, Joli came every day and unpacked, schlepped down empty boxes, moved stuff to make way for more stuff, and had it not been for him, I would not be living in the comfort that I enjoy today.

Jarabacoa has already been cited. When I was first on this island 30-some odd years ago, there was this hotel -- a preferred Trujillo Defloration Center -- in Jarabacoa. Hadn't been used in years, and the gov't wouldn't/couldn't do any kind of work on it bc it would have been seen as an attempt to rehab Trujillo. It was one of those incredible post-modern architectural wonders----sort of out of "Godfather 2" Cuba, with a dash of Ricky Ricardo. The skeleton staff greeted us with por fin: ¡alguien!. It is not there any more, which is sort of a shame. But it warrants a J.

The last J---and I could go on---is the JCNC. Jewish Community of the North Coast. Were it not for JCNC (and I must admit: I am a founding member) my life on this island would be much sadder than it is.

Funny how a letter that is normally silent elicits such a vocal response!