Majagua

/ ma-HA-gwa /
Production & CuringTaino
Definition
Fibrous inner bark, traditionally from the majagua tree, cut into strips and used to tie bundles of leaves, called hands or gavillas, and to secure bales. It is flexible, strong, and does not cut into the leaf.
Why it matters
Tying with a natural fiber rather than wire or plastic avoids bruising the lamina, and bruised leaf is leaf that will not grade as wrapper.
In context
"Each gavilla of fifty leaves was bound at the butt with a strip of majagua."