Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Info provided and translated by the
American Chamber of Commerce of Peru (AmCham Peru)

Only a few Peruvians have heard of or know directly about the Tara plant, even though it originates from our territory and a few other countries in South America. Known by science as Caesalpinia Spinosa, this plant, increasingly demanded in the international market was already used 3,000 years ago by pre-Columbian cultures as a natural colorant, but nowadays it is used as an input in many industries around the world.

The main products that originate from this plant are Tara powder, used as a natural colorant for leather and as an input for plastic and adhesive production, and Tara gum, which has a wide variety of uses in the alimentary industry, for instance, as a stabilizer for milk products. Other Tara products are also demanded by the pharmaceutical industry as an input for ulcer medicines as well as those used for inflammatory and infectious problems

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As a Peruvian diplomat, one of my best ever experiences was to open the South African market to Peruvian tara for its use in the leather seats of BMW convertibles, no less!. (Natural tara fixes the color best and makes the leather more resistant to the sun than the artificial stuff) I found out that Peruvian tara powder was re-exported from Germany and was able to make a direct link, therefore increasing our earnings and creating the niche. This was in the mid 90s, when our exports were few. The key to this export is how fine you can make the powder, so you need to invest in a proper grinder or molino. In my case, unfortunately, the Peruvian supplier cheated the South African buyer badly and third container of the product already had big chunks of root, so we lost that opportunity and our image. Two lessons with one stone!. Miguel Guzmán

Unfortunately that has been the case in dealing with the old peruvian businessmen,hopefully the new generation that has grown up in the Fujimori period and its economic impact on Peru(although he is accused of the same theft supposedly done by our current president)is more aware of the international arena and its conpetitiveness,and that you don't get second chances.
I go every year to Peru and I see the increase in more people not only from Lima but from the "provincias" that are heavily involved in small industries and exporting non traditional products to the world.

Hopefully this is the future for a strong economy in Peru

Im terribly sorry my objetive advise on a trade issue has become a political reference and an attempt to justify the dictatorship, its absolute corruption and its lack of values and morale, including in the business world, which some choose to not see. I also did not reflect on previous or later regimes. My experience was during that dictatorship, not before, not after, so I flatly refuse to accept the comment made as any reference to what I thought was an advise to potential producers and exporters. Miguel

I am sorry that my "political comments" hurt your feelings.
I apologize for that.
My comments even though I did comment on our present president and the prior one was not meant to discuss any political aspects of Peru.
It was a comment from a businessman that has attempted to do business in Peru and has always gotten the short end of the stick.
I totally agree with commenting on the great possibilities that the trade agreement would bring to the Peruvian exporters but also to warn to be careful with whom you deal with.

Try to get in more of what Peru's main products are.

Hello Folks,

I am looking for the suppliers of tara root for export to USA
and Europe.  We have a large requirement.

Please kindly contact me and advise.

Best regards, Brian Roberts
Esprix Technologies
7680 Matoaka Road
Sarasota FL 34243
941-355-5100 x 310
www.esprixtech.com

We are looking for the proper suppliers of tara powder for

importing to Japan by full container.

Please contact us accordingly.

Best regards

Shigeo Kataoka

Sakai Trading Co.,Ltd.

23F.,1-11-2 Ohsaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo

141-0032, Japan

Tel: +81-3-5437-5672 Fax : +81-3-5437-5688

kataoka@sakaitrading.co.jp

Dear Sirs,

  We are one of leading manufacturer of food additives in north China
(Qingdao,Shandong province).Right now,we are looking for suppliers
of tara gum for milk products. Our

Dear Sirs,

  We are one of leading manufacturer of food additives in north China
(Qingdao,Shandong province).Right now,we are looking for suppliers
of tara gum for milk products. Our annual

Dear Sirs,

  We are one of leading manufacturer of food additives in north China(Qingdao,Shandong province).Right now,we are looking for suppliers of tara gum for milk products.

  Please kindly contact us if you can supply tara gum.
Our website  www.libangda.com

Thanks and best regards
Henry Li
QD LBD Group 0086-532-84901700  Mobile 13791913504