What is tagua jewelry?
Tagua jewelry is a beautiful alternative to traditional ivory, but where does it come from and how is it made? This gorgeous, cruelty-free mineral is made from the tagua nut and can be used much the same as ivory without harming any animals. The tagua nut is grown on the Ecuadorian Ivory Palm.
How do you identify a tagua nut?
Tagua nuts are small (roughly 2″ long) seeds from palm trees in the Phytelephas genus. Beneath the thin, brown, flaky skin of the nuts lies a stark white tissue that closely resembles animal ivory: hence Tagua nuts are sometimes referred to as palm ivory.
Can you eat a tagua nut?
Yes, the nuts are edible (before being processed for jewelry). They are usually eaten before becoming completely mature while they are still soft, or in a liquid state.
Where does the Tagua nut come from?
Vegetable ivory or tagua nut is a product made from the very hard white endosperm of the seeds of certain palm trees. Vegetable ivory is named for its resemblance to animal ivory. Species in the genus Phytelephas (literally “elephant plant”), native to South America, are the most important sources of vegetable ivory.
Where does tagua jewelry come from?
Traditional Uses. Tagua comes from a popular rainforest palm tree. The trees are commonly found in the northwestern rainforests of South America. Rainforest inhabitants learned early on about tagua’s properties.
Can you dye Tagua nuts?
Place your tagua nuts into a plastic or metal container that has a lid. In a separate container, combine 4 tsp of a fibre reactive dye with 1 cup of warm water. Mix the two ingredients well. Pour the dye and water mixture over the nuts.
Is tagua a nut or seed?
Vegetable ivory
Vegetable ivory or tagua nut is a product made from the very hard white endosperm of the seeds of certain palm trees. Vegetable ivory is named for its resemblance to animal ivory. Species in the genus Phytelephas (literally “elephant plant”), native to South America, are the most important sources of vegetable ivory.
What is vegetable ivory jewelry?
Vegetable ivory is naturally white with a fine marbled grain structure. It can be dyed; dyeing often brings out the grain. It is still commonly used in buttons, jewelry, and artistic carving.
How is tagua made?
Tagua, also called vegetable ivory, is made from the endosperm of the seeds of some palm trees in the tropical rainforests of Ecuador and other parts of Latin America. The tagua nut is not only a very hard and dense material, it is also naturally white with a fine marbled grain structure.
What is tagua Ecuador?
Handmade in Ecuador Also known as “vegetable ivory” tagua is produced by a palm-like tree in South America. The nuts fall to the ground when mature, thus harvesting does not damage the trees. Cultural tradition and forest preservation combine in the use of this renewable resource.