African calabashes and gourds- Gifts to the modern world

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African Calabashes and gourds - kitchenware for modern use

Calabashes and gourds are replacing in a better way the heavy use of plastics in today's world.

With the heavy use of plastics and other environment unfriendly devices, many people are turning to the land to try and save the planet from suffocating.

Africa has been at the forefront of promoting earth materials for daily use. These materials include gourds and calabashes that can carry liquids like milk, water, beer, porridge and honey.

A calabash has the advantages of keeping water cool and free from chemical substances commonly associated with plastic. Water stored in a clay pot has a pleasant, natural coolness, and smells of earth. Drunk out of a calabash, it has an additional woody flavor. Food cooked in a clay pot over a wood fire retains an inimitable earthy aroma, especially fresh beans or meat dishes.

This philosophy of living in harmony with the bounty of nature leads to zero garbage, since everything is biodegradable. Indeed, until the advent of modernity and urbanization, Africa was a continent of natural beauty preserved in its entirety.

In countries like China and Malaysia, the calabash is considered very important and is known as the Wu Lou. Also known as the bottle gourd the "calabash" is the most powerful symbol of good health which also brings an abundance of divine blessings. In the ancient China, the calabash was used to store water during traveling long distances and was given the name "giver of life" thereby becoming a symbol of health. It is also believed to contain the elixir of health,immortality and vitality. This symbol is mostly used in Feng Shui to protect the holder against unnatural death and serious illness.

In Africa, the masai have retained their traditional way of life and have been using the calabash to store milk and honey. They also use it to carry water in their nomadic expeditions.

When a Masai boy leaves boyhood, he enters the morani or warrior class. He is expected to be brave enough to spear a lion. If a warrior holds the tail of a lion as it dies he is awarded with that lion's mane and gains great honor in his tribe. He also drinks blood that is kept fresh in the calabash. The Masai eat custard made from the blood of their cattle. The blood is mixed with milk and curdled to make the custard.

Traditional masai gourd carries 3litres @ $15 Decorated calabashes 3 piece set @$20

We have a variety of designs e.g full calabashes with animal prints and can also be embossed with your corporate logos to your specifications. This is often ideal as corporate gifts and can be used for storing your liquids as they are all natural with no artificial additions. Please email as with your specifications or wholesale needs for wholesale prices

Sources for this article:

Jenny Lin of Feng Shui.

Ezine Articles Expert Author Lamaro Schoenleber .

Boy of the Masai by Natalie Donna published in 1964 by Dodd, Mead & Company New York.