The fruit of the jícaro is obtained from a tree popularly known as güira, but whose scientific name is Crescentia Cujete. From the bark of this fruit, a vessel called jícara is manufactured that serves different uses, mainly for the manufacture of cups, jugs or sugar bowls.
These pieces are very popular in some Mexican territories, such as the state of Tabasco and the Yucatan peninsula.
A handcrafted piece
These vessels were already manufactured by the Mayans and the Aztecs. Today a few artisans maintain the tradition. Its use is intended to drink coffee or chocolate, as well as to drink pozol, a thick drink made with corn and cocoa that is consumed by some indigenous communities in Mexico.
The artisans who dedicate themselves to this activity plant the jícaro fruit themselves and then turn it into a container. The production process is laborious and must be done following a series of steps:
1) after cutting the fruit, let it dry for three days and in this way the production of stretch marks is avoided,
2) proceed to cut the jícaro and remove the pulp from its interior,
3) from that moment on you have to wait three months until the bark of the jícaro dries definitively and
4) with the skill of the artisan, the rind of the fruit begins to be manipulated to turn it into a gourd.
Each of the pieces incorporates some decorative symbol of the Nahuatl culture (the symbols used provide a specific essence to each container).
Depending on the shape and color of each piece, they can be varnished or left with a natural tone. The complete work is carried out in one day and specialized tools are used for this (to cut the gourd the bow and the hacksaw are used, the pulp is extracted with some spoons and the inside of the container is polished with some scrapers). All these utensils have been used since ancient times and cannot be found in conventional establishments.
The vessels have a different version, since they are also made of clay and stone. The Spanish chroniclers of the conquest of Mexico recorded this tradition.
A piece highly valued by tourists
In its origins the art of the gourd was a simple entertainment. Over time it has become a family business. The originality of this handmade product is highly appreciated by national and foreign tourists.
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