Many people are familiar with loofah sponges from the bathroom, where they are used for gentle exfoliation. In the kitchen, however, these helpers made from plant fibers also provide valuable services, as they tackle dirt and incrustations when cleaning and washing up without scratching surfaces. If the loofah sponges seem scratchy and brittle when dry, they turn into elastic sponges with gentle cleaning power after a short soak in water. They can therefore be used not only for dishes, but also for cleaning fruit and vegetables, for example. They are only less suitable for very rough surfaces, as loofah fibers can come loose.

Our loofah sponge is shaped like a standard dishwashing sponge. Although it cannot absorb water, it is very comfortable to hold, dries quickly because the air can circulate well and is easy to clean. You should also do this regularly so that you can use it for a long time - it is best to simply rinse it well with soapy water or soak it in vinegar water (1:1) for a few minutes to eliminate bacteria. You can also boil it at 120 °C to sterilize it. However, the most important thing is to let it dry thoroughly after each use. If it does eventually give up the ghost, simply dispose of it in the compost.

In recent years, we have come across loofah products more and more frequently in the kitchen and bathroom, and it almost seems as if loofah is a new discovery. However, the loofah cucumber, also known as the sponge pumpkin, is anything but, as an ancient cultivated plant, humans have been using it for centuries. In India and Asia, for example, it is popular as a vegetable - just like the zucchini here - but the young, unripe fruit is used for this. In the Middle East and Western Europe, the fibrous inside of the ripe fruit, known as the endocarp, is used almost exclusively. The inner layer of the fruit wall remains after drying and looks like a finely branched, sponge-like structure. Due to its firm yet elastic structure, loofah can be used like a sponge, except that it neither absorbs nor holds water. But this is precisely where the advantage lies, because this property makes loofah sponges easy to clean and they dry quickly. They are also ideal for storing soaps, as the water simply drains away and the air can circulate.

Our loofah sponges come from Spain, as the gourd plants grow best in hot regions. In the heart of Galicia, near Santiago de Compostela, the company "Iberica de Esponjas Vegetales" grows the sponge gourds on unused vineyards or fallow land, thus ensuring gentle renaturation at the same time - pesticides and artificial fertilizers are not used at all. The collaboration with the Galician beekeepers' association is literally fruitful. Based on the Luffa aegyptica or cylindrica, the company has bred its own Luffa variety through cross-breeding, which forms fibers of different densities. These loofah sponges are very stable, but at the same time much softer than conventional ones, so that they can also be used on sensitive skin. The fibers inside the fruit in particular become softer on contact with water than is the case with other varieties. Treatment with thermal water enhances this effect: after harvesting, the loofah cucumbers are freed from the pulp, dried and then immersed in 43 °C warm, natural thermal water from Caldas de Reis - all steps are carried out by hand, including cutting them to size for their intended use. And there are many of them, because loofah sponges are real all-rounders: they can be used for gentle exfoliation as well as for massages to stimulate circulation. In the kitchen and bathroom, they tackle dirt effectively but are gentle on surfaces, and they are the ideal base for soaps. You can also cut the loofah sponges to a size that suits you and you are sure to find even more ways to use them.