JaguaTattoos.com

The Geographical Origins of Jagua

Aileen — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:56:48 +0000

Genipa Americana is known by many different names throughout the many different regions of Central and South America. Some of the most popular names are jagua, huito, jenipapo Click Here for more local names for Genipa Americana.

Jagua fruits destined for body adornment are harvested when they are unripe and very firm. Traditionally the seeds from the fruit are ground up and the liquid is then used to paint directly onto the skin. The exact process varies from place to place, sometimes the juice is heated, so that some of the liquid evaporates making the remaining liquid thicker and so easier to paint with.

The fruiting trees grow abundantly throughout Central & South America. Like many trees in Amazonia, the Jagua tree bears fruit on a continuous cycle, so there is usually a fruiting tree nearby. However there are also main seasons where the fruits are abundant – this season varies from region to region, for example the main season in Peru finishes in April/May when the rains start, whereas in some parts of Brazil, the main season is in June.

Traditional Jagua Tattoos are applied for lots of different reasons: traditional patterns are applied for ceremonial and festive occasions, protection from sunburn and insects such as sandflies. Different indigenous peoples incorporate specific patterns into their designs to reflect significant aspects of their culture. Below is an extract from a report looking at some of the traditional aspects of life of the Kadiwéu people. The entire document is a very interesting read, to view it in its entirety please Click Here, the report is in Portuguese, so you may have to use a translation site to read the entire document.

The Kadiwéu tattooing
In the case of the Kadiwéu, inhabitants of a vast area in Murtinho Port, in the border with Paraguay, the main ability is the art of the corporal painting and the ceramics that enchanted some explorers and researchers, as Italian Guido Boggiani, in the end of the century XIX and the etnólogo Claude Lévi-Strauss in the decade of 30. Darcy Ribeiro, that lived enters the Kadiwéu in the decade of 40, classified the variety of styles of the abstract drawings and the painting standards of face and body of the Kadiwéu as “the most elaborated artistic manifestation of the American indians”.

The indian Kadiwéu Ramona Soares drawing with jenipapo,
in the city of Bodoquena-MS. Photo: Guto Pascoal. The drawings are made until today by the women, but the great artists are the women oldest, who had passed of the 60 years. The Kadiwéu, Ramona Soares, 62 years, lives in the city of Bodoquena, next to the reserve, and conserves the knowledge of the refined art of the standards of the traditional drawings. It also knows the symbolism of each drawing, the type of standard for each family and different reasons to be drawn in each part of the body.Ramona says that the great tracers are the indians oldest. “now they do not practise in such a way as in my time”, it affirms. Therefore, the quality of the drawings is decaying and very of the technique it is if losing. Today, the Kadiwéu if only paints in the days of party, but the art of ceramics is carried through for venda is of the village.So, it appears that in some places the traditional art of Jagua painting is not as popular as it once was, whereas in other areas of Amazonia the art form is flourishing. It seems that in the areas that are most exposed to ‘Western Culture’ the tradition of Jagua Body Painting is dying out. Whereas the more remote communities of Amazonia still practise Jagua Body Painting alongside all their other traditional crafts.Hopefully, once Jagua Tattooing becomes popular in Western Youth Culture there will be a renewed interest in the traditional art form of Jagua Tattooing in the regions where it is dying out today. Much like what has happened in the big cities throughout The Middle East, North Africa and parts of India & Pakistan in recent years with henna body art. The young women living in the modern Westernized cities had begun to turn away from the traditional art of henna application, until recently when the Western Fashion World embraced the world of Henna Body Art, which of course filtered right back through to the East making traditional ancient henna body art popular again!

Traditional Jagua Body Art History.

Aileen — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:44:22 +0000

It is most likely because of the many highly valued ethnobotanical uses that this fruiting tree is so well dispersed throughout all of tropical and Sub tropical Central and South America.

No one can say exactly how long Jagua Body painting has been carried out by the indigenous people of the Amazon and Chocó rainforests. A lot of the tribes are very remote and are still completely cut off from ‘Western Civilisation’. However as the world becomes a smaller place, there are now indigenous people who have opened up their worlds to us. For example, the Wounan & Emberra of Panama and Colombia, the Bakairi of Brazil and the Kadiewéu of Paraguay.

It is apparent however that the Jagua Body Painting Tradition is an old one, it goes back as long as people can remember. Passed down through the generations, different tribes have different techniques for preparing their paint, different tools and methods of application and many varied reasons and occasions for applying it and of course they also have different designs and patterns to symbolize and capture different aspects of their cultures.

The Many Names Of Jagua…

Aileen — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:14:44 +0000

Scientific Name Preferred Scientific Name: Genipa Americana L

Other Scientific Names
Genipa americana var. caruto (Kunth) K. Schum, Genipa caruto Kunth, Gardenia genipa Sw., Genipa barbata Presl, Genipa codonocaiyx Standl., Genipa cymosa Spruce, Genipa exelsa K Krause, Genipa grandifolia Pers. Genipa oblongifolia Ruiz & Pav., Genipa pubescens DC., Genipa spruceana Steyerm., Genipa venosa Standl., Genipa nervosa Sprce

Trade Names
Jagua, Genipa, Marmalade Box

Most Popular Common Names
Spanish Latin America; Jagua, Huito, Genipa
Portuguese Latin America; Jenipapo, Genipa

Some Lesser Known Common Names
English; Genipap, Marmalade Box
Spanish; Caruto
Portuguese; Mandipa
French; Confiture de Singe
Argentinian;ñandipá
Bolivia; Bí, Nané, Nobirr, Bi grande, Bicito, Totumillo
Brazil; Genipopeiro, Jenipá, Jenipaba, Janipopeiro, Jenipapeiro, Janipapo, Cabacu
Columbia; Angelina, Genipapo, Chipara, Chibara, Guanapay
Costa Rica; Guaitilil, Tapaculo, Guaitilil Blanco, Brir
Equador; Shiño, Sua, Sula, Tsua, Airo-tua, We’e
Guatemala; Irayol, Irayol de Loma, Irayol de Montaña, Crayo, Guali
Guyana; Lana
Honduras; Irayol
Mexico; Jagua Azol, Maluco
Nicaragua; Tapaculo, Gigualtí
Panama; Jagua Negro, Jagua de Montaña, Jagua Blanca, Guayatil Colorado
Peru; Palo Colorado, Huitoc, Huitol, Yaguayagua, Vito, Vitu
Paraguay; ñandypa Guasu
Puerto Rico; Caruto
Surinam; Arasaloe, Tapoeripa
El Salvador; Irayol, Tambor, Tiñadientes, Tiñe-dientes
Venezuela; Caruto, Carcarutoto, Caruto Rebalsero, Guaricha

The Chemical Constituents of Jagua

Aileen — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 13:01:58 +0000

principallyJagua Tattoo Products are manufactured from Genipa Americana Extract, which is quite simply a jagua fruit extract that retains the otherwise degenerative colouring properties of the jagua fruit itself. The naturally occuring chemical constituents of jagua are often referred to as ‘Biochemicals’ or ‘Phytochemicals’, because they are occur naturally within the plant matter. There are many phytochemicals present in a jagua tree, but for the purposes of jagua body art we are primarily concerned with those phytochemicals found within the jagua fruit itself.

The Key Phytochemicals in Jagua Fruit are:

Sugars
D-Mannitol
Tannin
Malic Acid
Genipin
Caffeine
Potassium

The ‘Genipin’ is principally responsible for the colourant property of the jagua fruit. Though the tannin and the caffeine seem to have a complimentary beneficial effect. Fortunately the jagua extraction process preserves the colouring content so well that you don’t need to be a kitchen chemist to enhance the colouring properties to get a great colour jagua tattoo!

Other Phytochemicals in Jagua Fruit Leaves are:

Aluminium
Ascorbic Acid
Ash
Boron
Copper
Fibre
Fat
Genipic Acid
Genipinic Acid
Glycerides
Iron
Magnesium
Manganese
Niacin
Nitrogen
Phosphorous
Protein
Riboflavin
Sodium
Thiamin
Water
Zinc

This list may be updated in the future as and when new phytochemicals are discovered.

Genipin ~ From Genipa Americana (jagua fruit)

Aileen — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:40:11 +0000

Genipin is the phytochemical constiuent of jagua fruit, (and hence jagua products) that is responsible for creating the jagua stain. The higher the genipin content of the jagua fruit, the deeper the resulting stain produced by the jagua product will be. A higher genipin content is found in jagua fruit growing native within the biodiverse rainforest’s of Latin America, compared to that found in ‘jenipapo’ (common Brazilian name for the jagua fruit) which is cultivated in parts of Brazil. Although the fruiting trees are still the same species, it seems that the much larger fruit cultivated for the local food and beverage industry in Brazil contain less genipin in their unripe stages of growth.

Chemical Formula: C₁₁H14O5
Molecular Weight: 226.23g/mol
CAS Number: 6902-77-8

Substance Name(s):

Genipin

Systematic Name(s):

Cyclopenta(c)pyran-4-carboxylic acid, 1,4a-alpha,5,7a-alpha-tetrahydro-1-hydroxy-7-(hydroxymethyl)-, methyl ester

For research purposes it is always worth including as many names and synonyms as possible. Although for the most part jagua, genipa americana and genipin are used in key documentation. You may also want to research the many different common names for jagua too.

Substance Synonyms:

Genipine
Genipa
Genipap

Traditional and Modern Day Uses For Jagua

Simon — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:10:45 +0000

The jagua tree has been used for as long as can be remembered throughout the rainforest’s of Central and South America. Like many of the rainforest plants, the jagua tree is treasured for its many uses as detailed below. These days the jagua tree is still native throughout the biodiverse rainforest’s of Latin America, and the indigenous people still utilize the trees as they have for generations upon generations. Jagua fruit is the most treasured part of the tree, because it provides so many resources. The fruit is eaten when ripe, and made into beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and desserts. The unripe fruit is used for traditional body art, for everyday wear and for celebrational occasions. When jagua is used to stain the skin it also offers protection from some biting insects (especially sand flies) and also offers camouflage and some protection from the sun. It’s not at all uncommon to see young infants completely covered in jagua! Jagua is even used to stain ropes and fabrics. Jagua fruit also has various medicinal purposes, which are considered ‘Traditional Knowledge’ these medicinal uses are practiced throughout the rainforest. Today there are many scientists working on Western Medicines who are currently researching some of the interesting phytochemicals of the jagua tree. After all, many of our Western Medicines were derived from other rainforest plants and the traditional knowledge that highlighted their medicinal benefits. In list format below I have detailed both the modernday and traditional uses for the different parts of the henna plant; these uses are known as Ethnobotanical uses.

Traditional and Modernday Uses for Jagua:
Fruit – provides a valuable food source for most of the year.

Ripe fruit is eaten raw
The fruit is also processed to produce; desserts (e.g. bullet of jenipapo), jams, syrups, non alcoholic beverages and sherbets, wines and liqueurs (e.g. huitochado, jenipapada)

Fruit – provides a valuable source of traditional medicines.

Used to treat such ailments as; Colds, sore throats, asthma, chest infections and other respiratory problems
Used for its antiseptic, antibiotic, bactericidal and fungicidal properties
Used for its insect repelling qualities
Used for protection from sunburn

Fruit – provides a valuable source of natural dye

Used to decorate the body
Used to decorate fabrics and other natural materials

Wood – a quick growing sustainable supply with a tree that is native to the Amazon

Firewood; relatively young trees, 5 years old
Timber; relatively young trees, 10 years old

Bark – a by-product of firewood and timber

High in tannin; used for treating leather
Fibres; used for cordage

Leaves – available all year round

Fodder; eaten by cattle

The Jagua Tree, Propagation and Cultivation

Aileen — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:55:55 +0000

Description
The Genipa Americana tree stands tall at heights between 10–20 meters (30–65 feet). The trunk is approximately 40 – 80cm in diameter (15–30 inches). It is a deciduous tree with abundant foliage, the short-petioled leaves are more highly concentrated at the branch apex with an average size of 10-30cm (4 –12 inches). Its yellow or white flowers, about 4cm in diameter (1.5inches) are tubular in shape, with five petals, they appear in clusters at the base of the leaf. The fruit is a globose to ovoid shape, and varies in size and weight from 5-15cm in length by 4-10cm in diameter and from 150-400g in weight (that’s 2-6inches in length by 1.5-4 inches in diameter and from 5-14 ounces in weight). The pericarp is a white/yellowish colour and around 2.5cm thick (1 inch). The pulp contains the seeds protected by mucilaginous membranes. It is the juice from this pulp that contains the active colouring ingredient ‘Genepine’.

Origin and Geographical Distribution
Genipa Americana is common throughout tropical & subtropical regions of Central & South America. It flourishes both on well drained soils and on periodically flooded riverbanks

Propagation
There are smaller ‘shrubby’ forms of the Genipa Americana tree, which grow along the riverbanks in Brazil. These trees are said to produce fruit all year round, though inedible, the genipin colouring should still be present in the small and unripe fruits. The Genipa Americana tree is naturally propagated by seeds, through natural dispersion and germination; though it is thought that the reason this tree is so well dispersed is thanks to well planned dispersion by indigenous peoples many years ago because if the many valued uses of the Genipa Americana Tree.

Plant Kingdom Classification

Aileen — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:55:45 +0000

The Jagua Tree (Genipa Americana L)

Subkingdom: Tracheobionta
Superdivision: Tracheobionta
Division: Magnoliophyta
lass: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Asteridae
Order: Rubiales
Family: Rubiceae
Genus: Genipa L
Species: Genipa Americana L

Preferred Scientific Name: Genipa Americana

Other Scientific Names
Genipa americana var. caruto (Kunth) K. Schum

Trade Name
Jagua

Most Popular Common Names
Spanish Latin America; Jagua, Huito, Genipa
Portuguese Latin America; Jenipapo, Genipai

A detailed list of lesser known common names can be found here