Cork, It's Not Just For Bottles

This is The Whistler Tree, located in Portugal's Alentejo region and is the world's largest cork oak tree.  This beauty is 234 years old! 

Portugal produces half of the cork harvested worldwide.  There are approximately 500 factories employing over 20,000 people in Portugal.  Cork is extracted only from early May to late August, when the cork can be separated from the tree without causing permanent damage.  When the tree reaches 25 to 30 years of age and is about 24 in  / 60 cm in circumference the cork can be removed for the first time.  Bark from the initial harvest can be used to make flooring, insulation, clothing, shoes, and many industrial products.  Subsequent extractions usually occur every 9 years, though it can take up to 13 years for the cork to reach acceptable size.   Only the highest quality is used to make stoppers for wine and champagne.  

Here are some products made from cork that we can find in our town of Coimbra.