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| Tagua Nut Information |
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Tagua Nut can Save the Elephant
They have nothing in common to build a relationship...She weighs a few ounces, he weighs several tons. She’s a plant, he’s an animal. And they live on different continents. However, this little South American, the Tagua nut, could save the powerful African elephant from irrational extermination.
The Special Palm Tree
The Tagua nut is the need from a variety of a palm tree that grows mainly in northern South America. In Ecuador, this slow-moving tree displays leaves close to the ground, without any visible trunk for years. When it is about two meters high, it is at least 35 or 40 years old. Beneath the leaves there are big sacks, generally about 10 kilos heavy, which contain some fruits, with 4-9 seeds, the size and shape of a hen’s egg. In the first stage, the holes in the seeds have a liquid, similar to coconut water, great if you’re thirsty. In the second stage, this liquid is thickened to an edible sweet pulp. In the third and last stage, the gelatin is hardened and ends up in a white substance amazingly similar to animal ivory.
Why is it an Elephant’s Friend?
As replacement for ivory, the Tagua nut has to be designated an elephant’s friend. The elephant’s survival has been threatened by hunters that hunt for their tusks. But the Tagua is a viable option, because just as ivory, it is very hard and easy to buff, and absorbs dyes perfectly. Its similarity is so great that the artisan often leaves a little bit of the dark brown bark so it is recognizable from the internationally forbidden material.
Vegetable ivory is not a recent finding. Since 1750 South American friar Juan de Santa Gertudis mentioned the seeds in his chronicles, where the tagua is compared to "ivory balls", used to carve figurines.
Beginning in the 20th century, Ecuador, the main producer of these nuts, exported every year thousands of tons, mainly to manufacture buttons. After WW2, the introduction of new cheap plastics almost ruined this industry. However it has improved, and proof of it is the fact that in 18 months Ecuador exported 1650 tons to Germany, USA, Italy, Japan and 16 other countries.
How is it Processed and Used Today?
Its multiple uses:
Seeds are dried with tropical sun between 1-3 months, depending on the water they contain. Then they are peeled mechanically, classified by size and cut in slices to make "ivory" buttons that decorate some of the fine clothes in the world. But with the tagua you get much more: jewels, chess pieces, wind instrument parts, piano keys, umbrella bases, and much more.
The tagua nut offers even more. The remaining dust is used as fuel to elaborate carbon. The palm leaves are used for water-resistant ceilings. Plus, the obtaining, processing, and exporting provide a lot of people with jobs.
Mostly, vegetable ivory can contribute significantly to African elephant preservation. So. if you want to enjoy the luxury of an ivory, you don’t have to disrupt the African savannas. In the South American jungles there’s so much ivory, it even grows in the trees.
© Helby Import Co. |
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