In the Valley of Torre, Santo Antao

On hikes into the Valley of Torre, you’ll come across scattered thatched huts, plantations, and terraced slopes. Tracks turn into small paths that lead through rows of sugarcane fields. Sugarcane is the raw material for the Cape Verdean national drink, Grogue, a spirit whose best quality is said to be produced in small distilleries here in the valleys of Santo Antao. A lot of alcohol is generally consumed in Cape Verde, and not just in bars. In the small grocery shops, the range of alcoholic beverages often exceeds the meagre amount of foodstuffs.