TARA (CAESALPINIA SPINOSA)
Tara is a small tree native to the entire Peruvian highlands. The Andes mountain range stretches the entire length of Peru: three mountain ranges in the north and two in the south. The valleys between the mountains are the natural habitat of the Tara.
Tara can also be found in some other countries, but on a small scale. Peru is the only country that commercializes its Tara.
Tara has “always” been present in Peru. The Inca and Pre-Inca cultures already used Tara as a dye, in tanning, and also as an astringent in traditional medicine. These traditional uses are still practiced in Peru among farmers in the Peruvian highlands.
In addition to its natural and spontaneous growth, farmers have traditionally planted Tara trees on a small scale due to two advantages: its long roots, which help stabilize the soil on slopes and hills, and the tree’s strong thorns, which make it ideal for protecting their land and other plantations.