You’ll start your tour by traveling down a gravel road in search of a Trapiche (Panela Factory) surrounded by an ocean of sugar cane.
Here you’ll discover the full process of producing this sweet brown gold, that is exported throughout the world.
The production here runs all year long and begins in the fields with the backbreaking work of cutting the sugarcane by hand with a machete. The sugarcane is then transported to the Trapiche on the back of a mula (a cross between a donkey and a horse) where it is pressed to allow the green sugarcane juice within to escape, and the discarded stalks set aside to fuel the fires burning for this day’s production.
Then starts a process of boiling, stirring, mixing, and scooping the boiling liquid from pan to pan. Continuing until the syrup has processed enough to be removed to a tray where it begins to cool and thicken. At this time, it is twisted and turned until it begins to take a new fudge-like form and is molded into Panela patties.
A unique experience where you’ll get up close to the action, and come to value more the hard work of these campesinos!
