GRIPE WATER

Gripe water-a tablespoon every 4-6 hours to cure those who gripe. It was a real thing here in Utila years ago, but for babies, not for adults who gripe about life. I remember it well. You could buy it in the little shops. My island friend Naida, Tamara’s mother, and I got to talking about it as we were reminiscing about how the island “use” to be. As you might recall the island was inhabited by English pirates and those pirates did not go to the mainland of Honduras to buy supplies, they sailed over to British Honduras, now Belize, to buy English products from home.

Gripe water was invented in 1851 by William Woodward, an English pharmacist.  It was given to babies for colic or any other distressing symptom a baby had. Woodward noted that the formula was an effective “soother for fretful babies and provided relief from gastrointestinal troubles in infants.” The original Woodward’s Gripe Water contained 3.6% alcohol, dill oil, sodium bicarbonate, sugar, and water. I am certain it was the alcohol that “calmed” them down.

Woodward registered “Gripe Water” as a trademark in 1876. It was initially marketed with the slogan “Granny told Mother and Mother told me.” If a baby was overly fussy someone was always shoveling a spoonful of gripe water in their mouth.   It was not until 1992 that Britian mandated that the alcohol be removed. Today I am aghast that we would give a baby anything with alcohol in it. Today it is nowhere to be found on the island.

The weather has been a mix. There were several days of rain and wind and no dive boats went out.  A chunk of my time is spent walking around the island, especially when it is a bit cooler with a north wind blowing in. I try to avoid being hit by the increasing number of tuc tucs, 4 wheelers and motorcycles that crowd the narrow roads. I have seen so many changes over the 40 years that I have been coming to Utila and I must admit I liked it better with fewer dive shops, restaurants and vehicles. I am certain my age has something to do with my perspective.

On a single walk I stroll by numerous “food trees” -breadfruit, coconut, banana, lychee, papaya, mango and almond trees. You can buy any of these fruits at the local fruit stand for pennies.  Breadfruit is one of my favorites. It is not only delicious but it is rich in potassium. One tree can produce up to 200 fruits per season, so it can feed a lot of people. It is a starchy fruit similar to a potato. It can be baked, boiled, roasted or fried similar to potatoes. My favorite is fried. We had breadfruit salad for Christmas dinner, similar to potato salad. I can eat a whole papaya in one sitting. Needless to say, I will miss both of these when I leave.  

Sign at the beach

Almond Tree

Banana Trees- not yet ready

Bread Fruit Tree

Papaya Tree

View from my porch each evening