Tagua is a fruit seed that comes from the Phytelephas aequatorialis palm tree, specie that only grows in the tropical rainforests of South American Pacific coast in the abundant lowlands of Ecuador, Colombia and Panama.
Phytelphas translates elephant plant, derived from the Greek words phyton, which means plant, and elephas meaning elephant making reference to the ivory; although the natives refer to it as the Tagua Tree.
The white hard seeds of this species are also known as vegetable ivory, a sustainable alternative to animal ivory, as the seeds are very similar in structure, texture, hardness and colour, but unlike animal ivory, the collection of the Tagua nuts do not involve harm to the rainforest as it is harvest once the Tagua nuts falls in the grown.
The germination of the tagua seed takes approximately eight months. Early in the seed formation process, the palm carries large round clear gelatinous blobs safely cradled in a radial pattern in their individual natural round holders. Eventually, the gelatinous blobs harden and turn into hard creamy white seeds surrounded by a thin brown skin.
Once the seeds ripen, falls to the ground and are gathered, bagged and transported to be dried and hardened for a minimum of eight weeks up to 2 years after which they become extremely hard (ivory like). The tagua seed needs to be dried naturally to separate it from its shell and to gain the hardness required to be carved; if it is dried in an oven the final product becomes fragile.
The nuts ranges in size and can be processed in different ways, depending on the end product. The dark skin of the tagua can be left on and polished for a brown natural look or a pure white stage can be reached when the dark brown skin is completely removed revealing the underlying creamy white seed beneath. With a bit of polishing the tagua exposed a beautiful ivory colour with a lovely veined design.
It is also possible to cut the seeds into different shapes and forms and dye them in a variety of different natural colours to create unique pieces of jewelry.
Made by hand in harmony with the environment the Tagua Seeds offers an attractive economic alternative for rainforest conservation and as an ethical and sustainable alternative to the sourcing of mammal ivory, from elephants, and other species.
The process of harvesting, designing and creating products out of tagua generates more labor work, helping families of South America and motivating our artisans to create high quality products using sustainable materials in engage with the preservation of the environment.
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