The largest bean in the world, "Jack and the Beanstalk", is a Zulu love bean. In South Africa, it is considered to bring happiness. The diameter of the beans is about 4 cm. Even with this, they use slightly smaller beans for Japan.
The Shwe necklace is made from traditional South African cloth Shweshwe and wood beads. The length can be adjusted depending on how it is tied. The first and fourth images show a different position of the knot.
Since it does not use metal parts, it is also recommended for people with sensitive skin.
Zulu love beans are a natural material. Since it is handmade one by one using natural materials and handmade parts, the shape and color of the beans and beads may differ from the image. Even if it is the same product, each one is a different "one-of-a-kind thing". Please be aware of this before placing an order.
"Zulu Love Bean Story"
The gift of South Africa that brings happiness
In African folklore, ancestors come from the sea. Sometimes they travel thousands of kilometers to reach the beaches of Zululand. It is very lucky to find this rare bean, and it is considered a gift from the ancestors that brings happiness, good luck and affection when exchanged between friends and lovers.
Beans picked up on the beach are carefully placed along with the treasures. Mothers and grandmothers give beans to their children, saying, 'If you take good care of the beans, good luck and love will surely come.' It is also known that Nelson Mandela, who was incarcerated in prison on Robben Island, carefully kept the beans he picked up on the beach.
The contents of the very bitter bean are also edible and are widely used as a stomach remedy in African herbal medicine. It is safe, organic, very hard and does not have to worry about breaking, so it is also used as a pacifier for babies.
Belinda, who lived in Richards Bay on the coast of Zululand, also collected love beans she found on beach walks, put them in bowls and displayed them on her coffee table. After the divorce, I thought about whether I could make something using Love Bean, and that's how Zulu Love Bean started. Belinda now lives on the outskirts of Cape Town, where she works with local women to create necklaces, key rings, candle stands and other works using love beans.