Cortiça: Cork in Portuguese
In October I was was invited by the Portuguese Cork Association (Apcor) to visit portugal to see how cork is harvested and made. I was so excited to get this once in a lifetime opportunity to view this process in person. Cork is such a huge part of my business that I jumped at the opportunity to learn more about cork so I can be even more versed on the materials I use.
APCOR was so lovely to work with, they made me a 2 day schedule in which they toured me around the south of Portugal where the Cork Oak Trees are grown and also the north of Portugal where the cork is remade into blocks and wine tops.
DAY 1 :
Cork Oak Forest, Harvesting Cork and Insulation Cork (black cork)
On the first day we visited the cork oak forest inside the Montado at Companhia das Lezírias. I think this was by far my favorite part of the trip, just seeing where everything started from the beginning. They explained to us the importance of the Cork Forest to Portugal's terrain. The trees regulate the water in the area, stabilizing what is needed for the plants and growth around it. The tree is so important that it actually is a national treasure in Portugal.
If you read my Cork 101 page, you would know that the cork oak trees are not cut down. Cork is actually is the outer bark of the tree! The bark is removed from the tree every 9 years, waiting until it is fully grown back, making it 100% sustainable. The trees (as seen below) look like their skin is taken off and is a bright orange-red when first removed but as the bark grows back it becomes darker with time. With the bark taken off the tree, it actually makes the tree look naked! It's a pretty surreal experience walking through it and seeing all these naked trees!