Portugal’s Cork Industry: Nature’s Sustainable Treasure
How one company shares their passion for traditional, sustainable Portuguese products.
Dear Readers,
Before moving to Portugal, I was aware of products made from Portuguese cork, but I could not always find fine crafted, quality cork products, created by Portuguese companies (although I had many cork wine bottle stoppers that made interesting trivets). Thankfully, now that I’m in Portugal, I can find a lot of cork products to choose from. Sure, there are the cheapie cork items you can find in souvenir shops, but I’m talking about the good, eco-friendly stuff. One such company sharing their passion for traditional, sustainable products is Portuguese Treasures.
Note: This post is sponsored by Portuguese Treasures, and I received free product samples, but all opinions expressed here - good or bad - are my own.
A brief history of cork in Portugal.
Portugal’s connection with cork dates to ancient times. Archaeological findings suggest that the Iberians used cork as early as 3,000 BC. However, it wasn’t until the 18th century that cork production became an organized industry in Portugal.
By the 19th century, cork had become an essential component in the sealing of wine bottles, which led to a rapid expansion of the cork production industry. Today, Portugal is the world’s leading producer of cork, accounting for around 50% of global cork production and home to approximately 730,000 hectares (acres) of cork oak forests.
What is so special about cork?
Cork is harvested from the bark of cork oak trees without cutting the tree down. In fact, cork trees can live for over 200 years, and their bark can be harvested every 9 to 12 years. This process not only allows for a renewable supply but also helps the trees absorb more CO₂ making cork a carbon-negative material.
Some of cork’s most desirable qualities (something I wasn’t entirely aware of):
Lightweight and buoyant
Water-resistant
Fire-retardant
Hypoallergenic
Biodegradable and recyclable
Durable and flexible
Portuguese Treasures: Celebrating the craftsmanship of cork.
While cork is best known for its role in wine bottling, Portugal has taken innovation to the next level by developing a wide range of cork-based products. One notable company embracing the versatility of cork is Portuguese Treasures. I was contacted by this company to introduce me to some of their products. Since I enjoy writing and learning about products made in Portugal, I agreed to share my impressions with Our Portugal Journey readers – plus I was curious to learn more about the versatility of this natural resource.
A family-run business.
I’m also interested in writing about and supporting family-run businesses, so this was also a plus for me.
Founded in 2011 by Portuguese national Bruno Figueira, this family-run business was born out of passion for sharing traditional, sustainable, and eco-friendly home products with others. Bruno told me that his company works with many different and carefully selected Portuguese suppliers. Committed to sustainability ensuring each item is eco-friendly and responsibly sourced, Bruno and his team visit supplier premises before deciding if the products are a good fit. He mentioned that this is his favorite part of the business - sourcing and visiting suppliers. Some are small businesses and other larger enterprises. All products are made in Portugal, supporting local artisans and preserving traditional craftsmanship.
I received some product samples so that I could better evaluate the quality of each. Here are my impressions:
Twist Black Squircle Cork Placemats
I have seen cork placemats and coasters with an imprinted design before, but this was different as the twist design is embedded into the cork. And the shape – a cross between a square and a circle, (squircle) was interesting to me.
How is this twist pattern made?
I asked Bruno how the twist pattern was made. He said that the pattern is achieved by making a cork agglomerated (material gathered into a cluster) made from large chunks of cork mixed with shredded cork to create a block of cork that is then sliced into thin layers and applied as a veneer on many different cork products. Creating these cork agglomerates allows them to mix different shapes of cork (shredded, granules of different sizes, chunks, strips) and achieve different patterns. Dyes are added to add color to the cork agglomerates to brighten up or give an accent to the patterns. Portuguese Treasures have products with twist black, twist green, twist red and twist natural (without dye).
The placemats I received are lightweight but durable and about ¼ inch thick. They are easy to clean with a dampened cloth. A pasta bowl or dinner plate can fit easily on this placemat. These placemats can be purchased in sets of 4, 6 or 8.
Other cork items I received in my sample package:
Dark Rectangular Cork Placemats
It’s hard to tell from the picture, but these placemats are a combination of dark brown and black cork and either side of the placemat can be used as they’re exactly alike. These placemats can fit a large dinner plate and utensils and can complement both traditional and modern decor. They are about ¼ inch thick. The only thing I don’t like is that there is a slight materials odor in the mats and if you’re wearing something light and you rub against the placemat, you’ll get a smudge on your clothing which will wash off (personal experience). I assume that in time, and with use, these factors will dissipate. These placemats can be purchased in sets of 4, 6 or 8.
I have other cork coasters, but they’re flimsy compared to these which are thick and durable. I brought these coasters to a luncheon with friends to get their thoughts, and they agreed that these are better quality than what you usually find, plus they liked the twist design. These coasters can be purchased in sets of 4, 6 or 8.
Twist Green Round Cork Placemats
As with the squircle-shaped placemats, these are also lightweight but durable and about ¼ inch thick. I asked my friend, Maria, to give me her opinion of these placemats. She thought they were a bit small to fit a dinner plate on, and I would have to agree. But they would be great as hot mats for a table, or to fit a small tapas or dessert plate on.
Sustainable office accessories.
Portuguese Treasures carries a variety of top-quality office accessories. Everything from desk pads, wall tiles, mouse pads, and organizers, to note and message boards. If you’re a podcaster, I could see where the wall tiles would help with a sustainable solution to noise reduction in your podcast studio. In my product sample package, I received a large cork notice and message board.
I have seen other cork boards in office supply stores. They’re usually flimsy with a cheap frame. This one is quite different. It is thick and no frame is needed. I placed this product sample on my desk in my writing room. Since the walls in this room are concrete and stucco, I decided to let it rest on my desktop rather than try to secure it to the wall (but it does come with the hardware to attach to a wall if you prefer). The board does not buckle or bend. This is a durable office accessory designed to last a long time. I can highly recommend this item.
Uniting two parts of Portugal.
Bruno said that the cork products are all sourced from companies based in the region of Rio Meão. However, all the cork that these products are made from are harvested in the Alentejo. He added that it is a curious fact that the cork industry unites these two parts of Portugal. The Alentejo grows and harvests the cork but over 90% of the cork is then transformed by big and small companies based between Aveiro and Porto.
Olive wood products, too.
Portuguese Treasures also offers items not only made from cork, including a complete line of olive wood products. Portuguese olive wood is highly prized for its exceptional hardness, durability, and distinctive grain patterns, which often feature swirling, intricate lines, and a warm, golden-brown hue. Typically harvested from the olive tree when the tree no longer bears fruit, this dense hardwood is both eco-friendly and sustainable. Due to its strength and aesthetic appeal, Portuguese olive wood is commonly used in high-end kitchenware such as cutting boards, bowls, utensils, and serving trays. Its natural resistance to odors and moisture also makes it ideal for culinary applications.
In my product sample package, I received a rectangular olive wood serving board.
This is a beautiful piece. It’s about ¾ inch thick and solid with a natural wood grain pattern. I showed this piece to my friend, Maria, and she loved it! She commented on the quality and the thickness of the board, and I agree. It’s too pretty to be used as a cutting board, although it’s durable enough for that use. Instead, I’m looking forward to presenting a variety of appetizers on this board to guests. It’s also easy to clean with a wet cloth.
All things Portuguese.
Bruno says that Portuguese Treasures Ltd. is about all things Portuguese with the bulk of products made from cork - from utilitarian homewares to building materials like cork wall tiles, cork floor tiles and cork insulation.
They also carry a range of ceramic wall tiles, especially Hispano Arabe tiles that are replicas of 15th and 16th centuries tiles which are displayed in the National Palace of Pena in Sintra, Portugal. These tiles are sourced from the Caldas da Rainha region.
Other designs of Portuguese tiles are handmade and hand painted and are copies or adaptations of tiles that are found in different regions of Portugal on the facades of old and historic buildings. These tiles are produced in the region of Mortágua.
Recently, the company started selling Portuguese ceramic pieces and they work with companies based in the Alentejo and Leiria regions of the country for those items.
They also sell traditional boots and slippers that are manufactured in the region of Santarem.
And last but not least, they carry a nice line of traditional reed grass baskets produced in Juncal, the land of the junco (reed) grass.
Explore More.
If you're interested in learning more or even purchasing some top quality Portuguese cork products for yourself, your home decor, or as gifts, check out the Portuguese Treasures Ltd. website. They ship worldwide and Bruno and his team are extremely responsive to customer inquiries. They speak English as well as Portuguese.
Until next time…
Obrigada!
Carol.
Hi Carol, terrific piece. I would love to cross-post it on Portugal Calling. Cheers.
I loved the olive wood board and the cork board for the office. I cant wait to get back to PT to purchase a few of these items! Great article. Thank you for sharing these products and retailers with us.