discover the story behind our Colombian Black Pottery

During the summer of 2024, we brought the beautiful Colombia to you! You could score free Colombian Black Pottery bowls all summer long. But what is Black Pottery and why did we choose this earthenware?

Black Pottery: a tradition from La Chamba

Black Pottery refers to black earthenware from La Chamba, a small village in the Colombian Andes. The making of Black Pottery is an art form that has been passed down through generations by the indigenous people of Colombia. Black Pottery is made from a mix of clay types sourced from volcanic soil. As a result, the pottery is naturally heat-resistant and is primarily used in Colombia for cooking and serving traditional dishes. However, Black Pottery also makes a beautiful addition to your interior decor.

why Black Pottery? 

Why did we choose these Colombian accessories? Colombia is the birthplace of Eric, one of the first team members of RainPharma. Eric grew up in Cartagena, a colorful coastal town in the north of the country. In Eric's family home, Black Pottery was abundantly present in the kitchen, where his mother served his favorite dishes. It was Eric's idea to bring the authentic bowls here, and thus share Colombian culture.

employment of the local population

The Black Pottery cazuelas—the local name for the bowls you score during the summer promotion—were handcrafted by the local population of La Chamba. More than 20 artisans were employed to make the bowls, following traditional methods with respect for both people and nature.

from clay to Black Pottery

To create Black Pottery, women and men in the community of La Chamba work together. Men extract and transport the raw materials, while women shape the clay into plates, vases, and bowls. The artisans are commonly referred to as ‘alfareros,’ which means ‘potters.’ Making Black Pottery requires great precision and patience, as there are nearly 10 different steps involved in producing the finished cazuelas. Take a look:

Extracting the clay

In the first step, different types of clay are extracted from so-called "clay mines." The clay comes from volcanic soil, which makes Black Pottery naturally heat-resistant.

Preparing the clay

Next, the clay is moistened and kneaded into a smooth, homogeneous mass. This step is very important for the quality of the finished products.

Shaping the clay

Afterward, the clay is shaped by hand to create bowls.

Drying the clay

The bowls are exposed to the sun for a few days to dry. This step is crucial to ensure the strength of the Black Pottery.

Lacquering of the clay

Next, the bowls are smoothed and lacquered. The lacquer comes from red clay and is therefore completely natural. After lacquering, the cazuelas are exposed to the sun again to dry.

Polishing of the clay

In the next step, the bowls are polished using stones to make them nice and even.

Baking in a wood oven

After polishing, the bowls are baked in a traditional wood oven that reaches up to 900 degrees Celsius. It is during this step that the bowls acquire their typical black color, which gives them their name.

Cooling and finishing

Once the bowls are baked and cooled, the alfareros add the final details, such as the handles on our cazuelas.

Want to know more? Check out the video below about how our cazuelas were made!