tipiti

Tipiti is a term used to describe a traditional hand-held tool used by some Indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin. A tipiti is a long, narrow bag or sack made from woven plant fibers. It functions as a press, where grated or mashed plant material is placed inside the bag and a stick or paddle is used to press from the outside. The squeezing action forces liquid to flow out through the bag while the fibrous solid remains inside.

The most commonly described use of the tipiti is in the processing of manioc (cassava). After the manioc is grated, the pulp is put into the tipiti and pressed to extract the juice or liquid. This liquid can be used directly, fermented to produce beverages, or further processed in the production of starch, while the residual fiber is retained inside the bag. In some communities, other plant materials or sap may be processed with a tipiti as well.

Etymology for tipiti is uncertain and is believed to derive from Indigenous languages of the region. In ethnographic accounts, the device is noted as a simple, low-cost technology that reduces manual labor and limits direct contact with the plant material during extraction. While modern presses and milling equipment exist in some areas, the tipiti remains a symbol of traditional processing practices in certain Amazonian cultures.