Sin Azúcar

I've been reading a book on Spanish history and came across a chapter on the history of sugar. The Arab expansion westward into Spain introduced sugar technology to Europe. The Moors when invading and colonising the southern part of Spain grew sugar cane on Spanish soil and refined sugar. What I found interesting was that average daily sugar intake is 51 grams/day in Spain which is one of the lowest in the world. Quite a surprise because you see a lot of sugar coated cakes and sweets. My macrobiotic diet is of course sugar free.

Factoid: The economy of Salobreña has since the mid 1800's been centered on the production of sugar from the cane grown in the surrounding area. The Guadalfeo Delta is ideal for this purpose. To this day the production continues at the "Azucarera del Guadalfeo", the last remaining trapiche (sugar mill) to produce sugar in the whole of Europe lies just to the west of Salobrena in the small village of La Caleta.

Azucarera del Guadalfeo was a pioneer in the production of cane sugar. A well respected farmer from Granada, D. Joaquín Agrela y Moreno, had the idea of installing trapiches to molture the sugar cane from the fertile valleys of Motril and Salobreña.

With the help of his sons, Mr. Agrela brought from England some trapiches at the beginning of 1860, and after serious difficulties in the initial tests conducted during that year, they managed to start industrial production in the spring of 1861..

As a consequence, the cane plantations proliferated and this industry provided work and wealth to Salobreña and the surrounding villages. The Agreda family prospered and eventually founded a bank which carried its name. This greatly contributed to the development of sugar manufacturing and other local industries. The bank was so influential that it produced paper money bearing its own name.

Azucarera del Guadalfeo