Tagua Earrings, Ecuador

Creative earrings carved from tagua, a nut from the Amazon Rainforest!

Tagua is primarily grown in Ecuador and Colombia in the Amazon Rainforest. The nuts of this palm tree form large clusters. These clusters contain many tagua nuts that are the about the size of a potato. Tagua is easily cut and dyed, making it a very useable and sustainable jewelry material. It is also called vegetable ivory, because it resembles real ivory. 

Minga seeks to improve the economic lives & relationships of small producers in South America as well as Bangladesh & Sri Lanka. Minga is a strong supporter of Fair Trade, which is a market-based approach to alleviating global poverty & promoting sustainability. It advocates the payment of a fair price as well as social & environmental standards related to the production of goods. Fair Trade helps marginalized producers/workers move from a position of vulnerability to economic self-sufficiency & dignity.