A gourd is the fruit of a flowering plant in the Cucurbitaceae family, which also includes pumpkins, squash and cucumbers. Gourds vary enormously in size, shape and appearance, from small varieties suitable for shakers to giant gourds such as the Zucca melon. They grow rapidly from seeds in warm conditions and thrive in full sun and rich well-drained soil. Many varieties are climbing or trailing plants, so they benefit from a sturdy support such as a trellis or fence.
Are Gourds edible?
Some gourds are edible, particularly varieties of squash and pumpkin, while others develop hard shells and are grown mainly for ornamental, practical or musical purposes. Gourd cups and bitter gourd tea are an example of their uses.
What are gourds used for?
In this photo, the gourd has been decorated with an aluminium ring and fitted with a straw. This is a traditional way of drinking yerba mate, a caffeine-rich infused drink from South America that is traditionally associated with Guaraní and Tupí peoples. Gourds are also used to make bitter melon tea, while dried gourds can be transformed into musical instruments, drinking vessels, decorations and other useful objects. We don't sell the tea, but wanted to share another interesting use for gourds.
Gourd for decorative purposes
For thousands of years, people have dried and hollowed gourds to create useful objects, containers and musical instruments. These mini gourds are wonderful for decoration throughout the home. Place them in a bowl or container for a simple addition to your decor. You could even use them to decorate autumn wreathes. For decorative purposes, we actually recommend growing these in your garden as you can get some unusual natural shapes.
Gourds for musical instruments
★★★★★ - "It's quirky and has a good sound too". - Verified Buyer
Their natural hollow shell makes an excellent resonating chamber, which is why gourds have been used to make instruments such as shakers, shekeres, guiros, kalimbas and traditional flutes. This Kenyan gourd shaker is made from a gourd that has been carved and burnt in Kenya, Africa to depict unusual patterns, looks good, sounds good.
Gourd Thumb Piano Kalimba
Dried gourds can be carved, painted or decorated to make bowls, cups, ornaments and other crafts. Their natural shape, lightweight shell and durability make them particularly versatile. This gourd kalimba is made from half a gourd with steel sprung keys, it makes a wonderful sound when you pluck. The acoustic chamber of this gourd is what helps the sound to resonate. We have a stunning range of kalimba instruments made from various materials.
Beaded Gourd Shekere
With this musical instrument, the decorative gourd has an added net with seeds or beads that bash against the hollowed gourd shell acting as a chamber for amplification. These are available in various sizes, selected by nature.
Chinese Gourd Hulisi Flute
This handmade flute is in the key of C and is easy to learn and play. Made from bamboo canes and natural carved gourd. After you are done playing, you can keep it safe in this special case. This is a fantastic way to use a gourd, combined with other materials to create such a wonderful woodwind instrument.
Order the Chinese Gourd Hulusi Flute.
Coco Gourd Shaker
The small gourd coco shaker was handcrafted in Ghana and is a unique percussion instrument with an egg-shaped base that produces rich sound effects. Made from high-quality, all-natural materials, it offers warm, earthy tones and is perfect for musicians of all levels. Featuring geometric lines and Adinkra symbols burned into the gourd, this unique percussion instrument offers an earthy, warm, and textured sound.
Balafon Xylophone
The Balafon Xylophone was handmade in Ghana, is crafted from wood and gourds, producing a unique, calming sound. This traditional instrument is available in 6, 7, 8, and 10-note versions, with suspended gourds amplifying the tones. It includes two beaters and, due to its handmade nature, each instrument is slightly unique. Whoever came up with the idea to suspend gourds from an xylophone to amplify the sound is a genius, the woody tones from this are delightful.
Purchase the Balafon Xylophone.
Tarma Shakers
★★★★★ - "Thank you so much, absolutely beautiful items and perfectly packaged". - Verified Buyer
The Tarma Shakers are handcrafted from natural gourds, offering a unique, bottle-shaped design with stunning native gourd art depicting nature and wildlife. Sold as a pair or individually, these eco-friendly, fair-trade instruments deliver a warm, resonant tone with a high pitch.
