Pena-pena

The province of Cañar has one of the highest migration rates. The destination countries are mainly Italy, Spain and the USA. Sometimes the plants also migrate:

“Migrants who are abroad ask their families to send them herbs like zarcillo to cure the “pena-pena '' which is the sadness of separating from the family (being homesick). The zarcillo brings calm and reassurance.

The herbs are dried in a dark room to avoid the sun taking away all their properties and also because when the herbs are light, the postage is cheaper.”