Old fashioned thermal container
The cork oak (Quercus suber), native to southern Europe and most common tree found in Alentejo (the southern part of Portugal just north of the Algarve), is used since ancient times not only to produce corks for the local wine but to create several other objects.
This is a "tarro", it is basically a traditional food recipient that would allow taking hot food to workers in the cereal fields.
The craftsmanship is extremely simple: cut a section of the tree trunk, hollow it from the wood except in the bottom and voilá thermal insulation used even before the Romans invaded the Peninsula some say.
6 comments:
I think the cork oak (Chêne Liège in Fr.) is about to see its sad demise as plastic corks and screwtops begin taking over as the most convenient wine bottle stopper.
My BIL used to work in that industry and exported cork to Portugal!!! but he has had to move jobs because of the lack of demand for it.
Maybe, I should tell him to get back into the kind of insulation.
Hmph. Plastic. I hate plastic, though I do understand it has some great uses.
Folks here used to carry food to the fields in some metal containers, stacked one on the other, with a handle.
We used to use cork on the fishing line...when it bobbed, we knew fish was biting.
I love this container! Someone should re-purpose the idea, create wine holders and rake in the money. Would be very popular here is my bet.
I'm hoping that the increasing demand for cork floors will support - even increase the demand. I HATE plastic wine stoppers. When we we notice that plastic is a horrible idea for most things? When we are entirely out of petroleum?
i LOVE the warm booties- i want!!!
Super functional product, bring em back! somehow plastic just doesnt cut the mustard the same way. Originality...
cream: Some wine producers here are starting to use rubber stoppers instead of real cork, but most producers still use regular cork and even though we have a huge production we still import some, as you mentioned. Oak cork still moves plenty of money around these parts.
GG: People here use cork for plenty of things, from floor and wall tiles to ladies' handbags.
hayden: And when you're done with any cork object you can simply bury it. Completely biodegradable!
ale: You really have knack with details, don't ya? Sheep leather with natural sheep wool inside. You can buy them in plenty of places around Portugal. :D
CR: Spaniards used to make lots of stuff out of cork too. Probably you can find something similar not far from you.
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