Taramea, a treasured Maori perfume of Ngai Tahu from Aciphylla species of Aotearoa New Zealand: a review of Matauranga Maori and scientific research.

ABSTRACT: Taramea is the prized resinous exudate obtained from native Aciphylla plants (speargrass) identified as a taonga by Ngāi Tahu Māori in their Treaty of Waitangi tribunal claim Settlement. Ngāi Tahu recognised two types of Aciphylla, the larger was known as taramea and used as a fragrance, while the tap root of the smaller type, called papaī, was eaten but not used as kakara (fragrance). The gum of the taramea is called 'ware' or 'wai-whenua', and was often spoken as 'ware-o-te-taramea'. Plants were traditionally tapped in the evening by cutting or using fire. In the morning the exuded resin was gathered and processed. To preserve the aroma it was saturated in hinu-weka (woodhen fat) or the fat of other native bird or animal species (tui, kiore) and worn in a pouch (hei-taramea

SUBMITTER: Dobson-Waitere A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11407513 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature