Did you know? Cork comes from the thick bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber). The first two harvests of cork oak trees have little financial value. Only the third, around year 45, brings real return. Foresters like Simão Catarino from FSC-certified RG Rovisco Garcia carefully peel the bark with light axes during late spring, when the metabolism of trees is fully active. That helps to ensure that cork is harvested without damaging the living layer that surrounds the trunk. Watch the video to see