ALCORNOQUE

The cork oak is an endemic tree species in both southern Europe and northern Africa. The masses of Cork in Spain, currently concentrated mainly in the sub-western quadrant of the peninsula, Cadiz, Huelva and Seville following in importance the masses of Extremadura on ancient grounds.

From it various products and benefits are obtained, both at the economic level (cork, fruits for fattening cattle, production of pastures, etc.), ecological (soil protection, biological diversity reserve, hydrological regulation, etc.) and social (values recreational, cultural, educational…).

The average life of a cork oak is about 300 years, but we have trees over 500 years old that are still being extracted every summer. A cork which removed the Cork, produces almost 5 times more Cork that a specimen without touching. This increases the amount of CO2 fixed and contributes more to collaborate against the effects of climate change.

With the cork of the cork oaks the shepherds made a container for the salt that the cattle needed, lunch boxes to keep the food warm, caps for the jugs and low seats.