Pacro water - Pour homme!

Ok so you boil this sea creature while it’s still alive and drinking the broth gives men athletic, if not acrobatic, strength and stamina. Man water! No joke. Trini men do not joke about these things…

Pacro is the local reference to a type of marine mollusc also known as chiton (Placophora) which is abundant in the coastal waters of Trinidad and Tobago. 

Dorsal view of a chiton - clinging to the surface of a rock close to shore

Underside of a chiton

At first I thought my guide was talking about “Paco” which I knew as the men’s cologne “Paco Rabanne” - the manliest perfume in the 80's. He was in fact referring to the purported aphrodisiac, well-known by Tobagonians. How does one look at a chiton and think "Yes, this will be my viagra"?

The animal is also known as “sea cradle” presumably because when you detach it from its rocky support, it curves inward slightly in a protective move I imagine. Apparently, fishermen know about its properties and can fetch a small bucket-full upon special request.

The final product

You boil the animals while they are still alive in water for about 15mins. Strain the broth and retain for use. To the broth, add an alarming amount of chadon beni, big leaf thyme, garlic, hot pepper, lime and salt to taste. You then drink the thin broth basically. I am told that it’s an acquired taste. Hell yeah!

In Store Bay, bottles of the elixir can be bought on the beach.