Totumo, also known as the Calabash fruit, is one of the most identifiable and common plants to be found on the coast of Colombia. The totumo fruit has been utilized as an important tool for centuries; first developed by the earliest known Indigenous groups, this fruit can be carved and molded to create a number of tools. Today, the primary purpose of totumo is as cutlery and art (and the occasional snack for farm cows!).
Totumo can look like a lot of different things depending on its stage of life. I have attached a few different photos to showcase this fact. Totumo grows on medium-sized trees, and at its maturity, is a big, green, globe-shaped fruit. That said, totumo is not edible (except for cows). Instead, totumo has become an important part of Colombian life through the use of cutlery and art. It is processed and carved into spoons, cups or bowls and occasionally depicts carved images or patterns. There is a photo which shows a few of these designs from totumo that I have purchased.
