What is tagua?
- Tagua seed pod (cabeza) - inside are numerous "raw" tagua seeds.
Our custom Fair Trade Tagua products are made from seeds found within the pods (cabezas) of the Ivory Nut Palm (Phytelephas aequatorialis), a native species of the Colombian rainforest. Tagua is known as the "ivory of the rainforest", or "vegetable ivory" due to its exceptional carvability and since it serves as a viable alternative to elephant ivory, thus protecting those animals.
The tagua are harvested after they have fallen to the ground, so no harm is done to the rainforest during the production process. The collection of this natural product helps provide incentive to local forest inhabitants to protect the trees and keep the rainforest intact.
How is it made into products?
- Tagua seed pod with unfinished tagua beside it
The tagua seeds are removed from the seed pod and transported to an artisan family or group for creating into the final product. The seeds are stripped of their outer shell and the raw seeds are then polished to achieve the desired result. If the hull is completely removed it will create a brilliant white nut that can be colored, or if the hull is partially left on it will create a "zebra" finish with stripes.
- Tagua nut inside its shell, with the shell partially removed, and without the shell but with the hull
- Polishing the tagua
- Tagua waiting for more polishing and then coloring if desired
The tagua can then be colored and carved into different shapes if desired, creating a beautiful finished product that is both Fair Trade and eco-friendly.
- Finished whole tagua in 'zebra' finish and solid color
- Custom carved tagua key-chain
- Custom carved tagua pendant
