Tagua & Seeds
The vegetable ivory palm or tagua palm grows in several tropical regions of northwestern South America, mainly Colombia, Ecuador, Peru & Panamá. The primary use of this palm resides on the very hard white endosperm of their seeds (tagua nuts), which resembles elephant ivory.
These seeds (known as vegetable ivory, palm ivory, corozo or tagua) come in a fruit that carries several of them. When ripe the fruit breaks apart and falls to the ground; at this point they seeds are collected and setting out to be dried for about six months after which they become extremely hard. Once dry, the nuts can be polished to a bright shine cream color finish very similar to elephant ivory. In average they are the size of a walnut and can be dyed & carved.
Responsible tagua use and trade fosters significant environmental and socioeconomic goals by stimulating the local economies and micro enterprises in South America. It provides an alternative to cutting down rainforests for farming and also prevents elephant hunting and killing for their ivory.
All of our jewelry pieces included in our Tagua and Seeds collection are 100% organic and sustainable.