La Chamba Pot

Last weekend Scott and I went to a Cartagena street fair to see if any of the vendors were selling anything new or different. I came across one woman who had a table stacked high with La Chamba cookware. I had originally noticed these black clay pots (retailing for about $50-60) when I was browsing at Williams-Sonoma before we moved here and had wondered what they were. Apparently this type of cookware is a part of everyday life in Colombia, used in restaurants and homes for a variety of dishes, from traditional soups/stews to beans and rice. It is made in only one place: La Chamba, a small village several hours from Bogota. The villagers use a pottery method that dates back over 700 years and has been passed down from the indigenous people. According to what I've read, the creation of the cookware involves entire families. Children gather the clay, women shape the pieces, and men tend to the fire ovens. This website has pictures of the process.

At the street fair, I purchased a large pot with a lid (for about $15, one fourth of the U.S. price!!!) and couldn't wait to try it out. The pots can be used on the stove or in the oven and are supposed to be great for heating food evenly. I decided to make a black bean dish. The pot kept my beans at an even simmer for several hours and when we sat down to eat, I couldn't believe how creamy the beans came out. Scott will be lucky if I don't buy every piece of La Chamba pottery that I see!