Cork Trees
Portugal produces a lot of cork. In the trendy shopping districts and tourist centers, you will find cork made into many products, like wallets, bags, book covers, tablets, etc. It is a renewable product which is waterproof and relatively durable.But what most people don't know is how the cork is harvested. Particularly in the south of Portugal, lots of cork trees grow both in orchards and in any free spaces available.The cork is harvested from the outer bark layer of the tree. When the cork is removed, the trunk of the tree is dark, almost black. As the bark grows back, its thickness increases and the color returns to the brown tree.Harvested trees are painted with numbers indicating the year in which it was last harvested. About 10 years later, the cycle will be repeated.
