Cork

A leading export for Portugal is cork.  We have seen cork trees everywhere.  It takes about 25 years for them to be mature enough to harvest the bark and then it can only be harvested every 9 years.  So they know when a tree was last harvested, the number of the year is carved into the tree and then the bark is not taken for another 9 years.

Cork Tree - Bark Last Harvested in 2008

There are many cork products in the shops and even some specialty cork stores.  They make everything imaginable out of cork – umbrellas, ties, clothing, purses, shoes – the list goes on.  To be able to make these items, thin layers of cork are laminated to leather and probably other materials and then things can be cut out as you would with fabric.