Lesson for the day (quiz to follow):
Macadamia nut are not indigneous to Guatemala. Yet nestled in the hills very close to Antigua is Valhalla, a macadamia finca (farm) that was started some years ago with starts from the California Macadamia Association. There are ten varieties of macadamias, seven of which are poisonous. Here in Guatemala is an edible hybrid unique to the farm on which it grows. Valhalla is a green enterprise--there is no electricity and absolutely no pesticides or chemicals are used, not even organic ones, because they would detroy the delicate organisims that live in the soil and help the trees grow. Unlike many introduced species around the world, the macadamia tree neither crowds out other necessary species nor does it produce anything that is toxic to the natural environment. In fact, macadamia trees are great for cleaning the air. They are likewise very resistant to all kinds of pests. Macadamia trees take about 4 or 5 years to begin producing nuts, but they can be planted right in the middle of corn, coffee, and bean fields. Macadamia oil is high in omega 3s and is an excellent humectant. It absorbs easily into the skin and is resitant to whatever it is you call it when oils go bad (my ability to think in English is rapidly deteriorating. Not that I am thinking any better in spanish).
The finca has provided thousands of starts to many people to plant on their own lands. Initially, the finca bought the nuts from the growers, but soon discovered that the growers could get more money selling the produce themselves. Valhalla no longer accepts volunteers because they were way more work than they were worth and the farm isn't set up to care for somewhat pampered travelers looking for a cheap place to stay.
Interesting but totally useless factoid for the day: Guatemala is the number one exporter of cardomom, mostly because, although it grows abundantly here, no one from here can stand the stuff.
I am telling you this while I enjoy my last moments in the b & b de las capuchinas, eating, what else, but chocolate covered macadamia nuts.