Tagua nuts are dried seedpods which are harvested in remote regions of the Amazon and are known as vegetable ivory for their creamy white appearance and similarity to elephant ivory.
The seeds are polished or cut with power tools in small family workshops, to produce slices or buttons, while smaller seeds are tumbled to produce round beads. Tagua can be easily dyed to produce a vibrant range of colours, which come together to create unique and exciting pieces of jewellery.
This jewellery is made by several indigenous family groups in rural Ecuador, and provides valuable income to the local communities.
