Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole

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Black Clay, La Chamba Flat CasseroleBlack Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
Rating: 4.83/5
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Size Price Quantity
Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
3 qt - Medium
$108.95
5 qt - Large
$130.95
6 qt - Extra Large
$152.95
Total Price
$0.00
Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
Black Clay, La Chamba Flat Casserole
Description

  • About the piece

  • Care and Use

  • Curing

  • How they are Made

  • Recipes

Like the round casserole, the Flat Casserole is perfect for the slow cooking of stews and casseroles, but due to its low profile, perfect for rice and seafood stews such as Mariscada. The flat bottom shape is well suited for gas or electric ranges, and perfect for placing in an oven for finishing those rice dishes slowly. Since clay is a natural and porous material, it does not react with the food and causes a slow evaporation of steam from the pores. The moist enclosed interior results in food that is healthier and tastier as it requires less fat and liquids. The beautiful black finish makes for a great presentation for family style service.

  Medium Large Extra Large
Item Number: COL-3070-12 COL-3070-14 COL-3070-16
Dimensions (inches):      
Length: 12.8 15.8 17.0
Width: 10.75 13.5 15.5
Height: 6.5 8.5 10
Diameter: 9 12 14
Capacity: 3 qt 5 qt 6 qt
How we measure    

 

About Black Clay, La Chamba, Cookware

Black Clay, La Chamba Cookware, is well-known and used throughout Colombia in restaurants and homes for preparing and serving traditional dishes such as Ajiaco. 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. The pieces heat very evenly and retain heat for a long period and can be used in the oven, the microwave or on a gas or electric stovetop. They can go directly to the table for a sophisticated presentation.

Because the pieces are unglazed, they are completely natural and safe and contain no toxins or lead. The porous nature of the unglazed clay allows the slow evaporation of steam resulting in using less liquids and fats while cooking which that produces food that is healthier and tastier!

 

Black Clay Cookware is not only beautiful, but it is also quite sturdy and will last many years with proper use and care. The pieces can be used in the oven, in the microwave or a stovetop, and can go directly to the table for a sophisticated presentation. The pieces can be used directly on a gas or electric range, however, it is recommended to use a heat diffuser on electric ranges (sold separately). The heat diffuser (which can be used with gas stove as well) has the added benefit of distributing the heat slowly to prevent foods from burning. Clay cookware can also be used on induction cooktops with the use of an iInduction cookware interface disk (sold separately).

The pieces must not be submitted to drastic changes in temperature. The pieces should be allowed to adjust slowly to heat, letting them slowly heat up until they are hot, either on the stove or in the oven. Likewise, you should also allow the pieces to adjust to room temperature before washing or storing them, and never sit a hot pot on a cold surface such as granite or tile.

The pieces retain heat for a long period of time, so be careful in handling a hot pot. The video to the right shows a pot which has been brought to the table, yet keeps bubbling for quite some time without any heat source.

For cleaning, avoid using the dishwasher, hand washing is recommended. After each use, fill with warm, soapy water, allowing to soak briefly if heavily soiled, then scrubbing lightly with a sponge or soft cloth.

Do not use metal or abrasive pads as they may scratch the surface and avoid strongly scented soaps which can flavor the clay. Use wooden utensils with the pieces as metal utensils can scratch and damage the inside.

Appearance

As with most handmade products by artisans around the world, the pieces may have slight imperfections in the form or finish of the materials. Sometimes sizes of same model pieces may also vary slightly, however, these imperfection do not compromise the aesthetics or functionality of the pieces and are considered normal and to be expected. Likewise, although lids are made individually to match each pot, they do not always fit perfectly as the two parts may shrink differently during the firing process.

You may observe with certain use that your pieces may change in color, especially on the bottom where there is direct contact with heat. This is normal and does not affect the pieces in any way.

Before a Black Clay, La Chamba Piece is used for cooking the first time; it should be “cured” to seal the pores. Most pieces, since made with the best quality clay, will likely not need curing and can be used after light wash and slowly boiling some water, however, it is still a good idea to seal and cure the piece. The sealing process really only needs to be done on cooking pots and not on plates, bowls, and other serveware.

Every culture has different methods of sealing and curing their clay cookware. The video to the right shows the most traditional method used in Colombia which is to warm the clay piece slightly, then thoroughly rub the inside with a ripe plantain (a regular banana will do), leaving a thick coating on the clay. After drying for a bit, the piece can then be lightly washed to remove the residue.

The sealing can also be done with almost any oil, or even as easily as filling the piece with a mixture of milk and water and boiling it for a few minutes. During the boiling, some seepage may occur which is quite normal, however, the boiling action will eventually seal the pores.

You can also cure the piece by sautéing some onions or garlic in the oil of your choice, making sure to wipe the oil up the sides of the piece with a paper towel using tongs.

In a small village on the banks of the Magdalena River in central Colombia, live entire families of talented artisans that make Black Clay, La Chamba Pottery. Like their ancestors have done for 700 years. The process of making Black Clay, La Chamba Pottery has remained virtually unchanged since before the Spanish conquest. Still today, there are no mechanical wheels and each piece is made entirely by hand. It is a laborious process of molding, polishing, and firing.

The entire community is dedicated to the production of these ceramics and it is how the community sustains itself. Rather than one artisan completing an entire piece, families or individuals specialize in certain steps of the process, which make the creation of each piece an entire community affair. After each step is completed, the pieces are then transported by burros, motor bikes or even on top of their heads to other families or individuals who complete other steps and so on until the pieces are completely done and packaged.

Three different types of clays from local mines are used in the making of these ceramics. They are dissolved in water and strained to remove little stones and other impurities. The interior of the ceramics are made with a mixture of a smooth, grey clay that gives the piece its strength and body, and a sandy grey clay that makes it easier to mold. The exterior is then “glazed” with a watery red clay which gives the piece a smooth surface, and allows for the polishing.

The process begins by flattening a ball of clay and forming it around a mold specifically made for each model. This “shell” is then smoothed and trimmed using tools fashioned from bamboo and plastic pieces. The pieces are then left to air dry, receiving a light polishing during the drying to make sure they have a smooth surface and free of sand. The pieces are then transported to other artisans that specialize in adding rims and/or handles. The handing off progression continues with other artisans which specialize in the production of the lids, which are custom made for each piece. Even the knobs on the lids are made by artisans who specialize in only adding knobs to lids.

After each step the pieces are laid out to dry in the scorching La Chamba sun. Sometimes the process is delayed due to rains which prevent the drying of the pieces. When it begins to rain, the entire community is mobilized to quickly cover drying pieces that were outside in various production stages. The pieces are then lightly polished with a soft sponge to ensure a smooth exterior, and they are then taken to artisans that glaze each piece with the watery red clay. The glaze is not let to dry completely to allow for the next step of polishing, which is probably the most laborious part of the process, the polishing.

The hand polish, a process known as burnishing, is done by rubbing the entire piece with semiprecious stones until it has a uniform brightness on the surface. Depending on the size of a piece, the polishing can take up to half an hour to an hour. Originally, this polishing was done with smooth river rocks from the bottom of the Magdalena River, but is now done with agate stones brought from Brazil which are stronger. With use, the stones grind down even creating grooves from corners and edges.

After the pieces are polished and fully dry, they are taken to be fired in conically shaped, wood burning ovens, although some artisans now use custom made gas kilns which make the process somewhat easier and faster.

To start the firing process, the pieces are placed inside metal drums, with smaller objects first going inside larger earthenware pieces. These metal drums are then placed in wood burning ovens, usually late in the day so as to minimize the heat to the workers. The firing process takes approximately three hours, with the furnace reaching approximately 750°C. This high heat, together with the glazing and burnishing process, result in utilitarian pieces strong enough to withstand rough treatments and make them ovenproof.

After the firing comes probably the most interesting part of the entire process and is what gives the pieces their unique black color. The metal drums are pulled out of the ovens with the help of long sticks.

Processed vegetable materials in the form of saw dust, rice husks, or other materials are then added to the metal drums with the white hot clay pieces still inside. The materials immediately catch fire and begin to smoke. The drums are then covered to extinguish the flames but keep the material smoking vigorously for quite some time. The smoke penetrates the pieces giving each piece the black color that so characterizes products from La Chamba.

The entire village and artisans are extremely proud of their products, as we are bringing them to you.

Cazuela de Mariscos, Seafood Stew

Colombia is bordered by the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, which provides the country with great seafood. This delicious creamy Cazuela de Mariscos is quick to cook and perfect for entertaining or as a weekend dinner dish for the whole family. The combination of Seafood and coconut milk, it is absolutely wonderful. This dish is a perfect dish to cook in our Black Clay, La Chamba Medium Flat Casserole.

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Reviews

Sunday, 20 November 2016
LOVE IT. Cute.
Cylinda S Mallory
Monday, 14 November 2016
Thank you
Tiffany
Sunday, 10 July 2016
I have been using these chamba pots for decades. they are wonderful. they move from stove to oven perfectly, they are beautiful and as long as you treat them well (I hand wash them but that is pretty easy - like cast iron) they last for years. highly recommended.
Shari
Friday, 08 April 2016
Everything we had hoped for and much much more. We just cooked our first Tandori Chicken in it and I have to say it was every bit as amazing as the best Indian food restaurants we had enjoyed Tandori chicken at. I was concerned that the all natural, unglazed interior would mean that it would be hard to clean, but it actually was very easy to clean, no food or sauce got stuck to the interior, and yes, the flavor was much much better than cooking in conventional pans or glass cooking ware. From oven to the table, the whole experience of working with this beautiful La Chamba Black Clay Casserole was outstanding, earthy, delicious! (review image)
John D Sebastian
Friday, 25 March 2016
I loved the idea of something simple and timeless, but this actually turned out to be a little high maintenance. First I "seasoned" it per instructions with boiling water, but the pot gave off a smoke smell that filled the house and set off my asthma. So then I thought maybe if I coated it with a banana (yes, really, as per leaflet you are encouraged to season it with a plantain or banana). Doing that reduced smoke, tho not entirely because the bottom outside can`t be coated. Then I cooked a pot of beans but the pot released a white foam residue from the banana. All this, plus the thought that if this ever should crack while in use, it would make a huge mess, makes me decide this isn`t for me. You may feel very different, who knows. Its a great size.
Anonymous
Wednesday, 23 March 2016
Great pot! Cooks so well! The beans I made in it were creamy and delicious.
Petscanner
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
OK
Lauri
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
VERY GOOD FOR MY USE AS I REMEMBER MY MOTHER AND GRAND MOTHER USEING THESE KIND OF POTS FOR YEARS. GOOD MEMORIES.
Delores Marshall
Tuesday, 07 April 2015
These pots are lovely. When one first seasons a pot in the oven with hot water they do smell a bit like warm clay, but I`ve used one for years and am about to get a few more. I`ve put mine into a hot oven with no problem but I haven`t used it directly on a gas burner. They hold heat well on the table, which is one reason I use them for all kinds of hot dishes. They have a human feel and sound to them and like all hand-made pottery they show the marks of the people who made them. The lids seal well. They are friendly pots.
Mary H. Siple
Tuesday, 03 March 2015
This is soooo nice to cook things in. And, the appearance of it in the middle of the dining table is very impressive. In fact, we had guests over for dinner and they ordered two La Chamba pots when they got home.
Randal M.
Tuesday, 07 October 2014
A great cooking pot. I use it for many things, both on and in the stove. Keeps things nice and juicy. Cooks very evenly. One of my favorite cooking tools for guest dinners. As with my other La Chambra, the only problem is the size of the knob on the lid. It`s a bit to small to get a good grip on.
Dennis A. Schmidt
Wednesday, 18 June 2014
spectacular casserole to prepare brazilian`s traditional dishes like PEIXADA and MOQUECAS. It ensure a great taste on all kind of food, from rice to Shrimp with chayote. Awesome!!
Fernando Mafra