Comals are very popular all throughout Latin America to cook tortillas, toasting spices, or sear meat. They are great for toasting and softening dried chilies. In Colombia, they are widely used to toasting arepas. Length 11.0 in, Width 11.0 in, Height 1.5 in, Diameter 11.0 in. Can also be used to serve food with a stunning presentation. Completely natural and safe, contains no toxins or lead and the porous nature of the clay allows the slow evaporation of steam, keeping the food healthy, tasty and moist. Will last many years with proper use and care (each piece comes with a product information sheet outlining the Uses and Care for the product). Black Clay, La Chamba Cookware, is well-known and used throughout Colombia in restaurants and homes for preparing and serving traditional dishes. Its origins can be traced back at least 700 years to vases and pitchers found in pre-Columbian archaeological sites. It is still made in the traditional manner, by families in a small village on the banks of the Magdalena River in Central Colombia. Each piece is hand-made using local area clays, then hand burnished with a stone. The pieces are then fired in the village, giving them the distinctive black color and elegant look.