What is Kuksa?
The traditional Kuksa (in Lapp or Sami « Guksi » and in Swedish, the other Finnish language « Kåsa «) is a birch wood bowl or cup hand-carved by the Sami people.
It has a round shape and a handle that is also carved to be able to hold it or tie it to the backpack.
To make a Kuksa you need a lupia – or wolverine – of birch (that tree whose branches are used to whip yourself in the Finnish sauna ).
The lupia is a round-shaped knot or deformation that sometimes forms on the trunk or branches of a tree. These deformations are used by woodcarvers to give rise to very beautiful and special patterns and grain of the wood.
- Made with high quality, durable materials.
- The lanyard is designed for easy transport and storage.
- Suitable for wine, coffee, milk, tea. Suitable for camping, hiking, survival, campfire and daily life use.
- Hand-polished by excellent craftsmen, each product has a unique wood grain, which is very unique and interesting. When used, it has a fresh and natural breath.
- Animal-shaped design makes your home look natural.
- All made by hand.
The characteristics of a Kuksa wooden cup
Normally one of these very Finnish cups weighs between 150 and 200 grams, and measures about 15cm if we count the handle (10cm in diameter if not).
Being so large, they are usually carried on the outside of the backpack with a harness or cord.
The amount of liquid that one of these cups can contain is about 20 cl, less than what a can of soda contains, for example.
Compared to cups made of other materials such as aluminium, stainless steel or titanium, these materials are much lighter and the cups can hold more liquid while using less space inside a backpack. In the cleaning section – we will talk about it later – these materials also win.
Maintenance
Does the cup really not wash? Correct.
To maintain the mug – which can last a lifetime if well maintained – it is advisable to wash it with water only and dry it immediately with a cloth.
The soap would interfere with the wood and leave its own aftertaste – something most of us would prefer not to have in our mugs.
Kuksa are normally sold after being boiled in salt, so that the fibers absorb moisture and there are no cracks once they are put to use. From then on, treat it carefully and as indicated in the previous paragraph.
