From the heart of the Amazon grows a special tree called the Tagua, or ivory palm. It produces an extraordinary fruit, the Tagua nut, which has been used for button, jewellery and carved objects for centuries. 
The purchase of the nut supports the employment of nearly 35000 indigenous people. The income received from tagua crops is a strong incentive to maintain the trees. The nut is harvested and left to dry for 3 years. Once cut into manageable pieces it is shaped and polished and coloured with natural dyes.