Little Bee Fresh Beeswax Wraps
Rome was built on seven hills. But it didn't stop there, because over the centuries another hill was added, Monte Testaccio. It is 35 metres high and has a circumference of almost 1,000 metres. What is special about it, however, is its interior. Archaeologists estimate that the remains of up to 53 million amphorae lie here. The vase-shaped clay vessels were the most important storage and transport containers for food in ancient times. Amphorae were made with a capacity of between 5 and 80 litres. The most common Roman amphora held just under 26 litres. It even became a standardised unit of measurement for liquid, the "amphora" (26.2 l). In the Roman Empire, wine, oil, pickled vegetables and grain were transported in amphorae. Although the decorative vessels were reusable, they were usually simply disposed of after use.
For transport and storage, amphorae were usually sealed with a cork or a wooden plug sealed with wax. This protected the contents from moisture and pests. As practical as amphorae were, they had one decisive disadvantage: they were fragile and certain sizes could not be moved safely. The Romans therefore adopted the idea of robust wooden barrels from the Celts. A great advantage of barrels over amphorae was that they could be rolled and stacked. Barrels held together with iron bands were therefore used for centuries to transport drinking water and other supplies.
At the end of the 18th century, Napoleon Bonaparte was looking for a way to secure the food supply for his troops. His military tactics of fast-moving warfare could not be consistently maintained with perishable provisions. Provisions with a long shelf life could be decisive for the war. In 1795, Napoleon therefore launched a competition to develop new conservation methods. The winner of the 12,000 gold francs prize money was not a scientist, however, but the confectioner Nicolas Francois Appert. He filled vegetables and other foodstuffs into glass bottles, which he heated and sealed airtight. This method is still known today as bottling. Appert used his prize money to set up a manufactory in 1812. There he soon switched from glass bottles to resistant tin cans.
Despite the vast quantities of fruit, vegetables, ready meals and drinks that are still sold in tins today, the majority of food sold is now packaged in plastic. This material has numerous undisputed advantages: It is light, hygienic, can be moulded into any shape and it is also cheap. However, plastic packaging has a huge disadvantage: it does not decompose and is therefore responsible for an ever-growing mountain of waste around the globe. Especially for the oceans, plastic waste has become a serious problem. That is why more and more people are trying to banish disposable packaging from their everyday lives. Beeswax wraps are a sustainable substitute for cling film, aluminium foil and paper bags.
The reusable beeswax wraps by Little Bee Fresh are made of organic cotton that has been treated with beeswax and tree resin. Beeswax wraps can be used to cover bowls, wrap sandwiches, but also to transport cheese, fruit and vegetables. Little Bee Fresh beeswax wraps are available in sizes L (35x35cm), M (25x25cm), S (15x15cm) or as a roll (32x70cm). With their colourful motifs, the practical beeswax wraps are real eye-catchers, not only at picnics. The application is super easy: due to hand heat, the beeswax wrap sticks to smooth surfaces and to itself. Simply wrap the food in the beeswax wrap and press the ends briefly. And in order to enjoy your beeswax wraps for a long time, you can always freshen it up with Little Bee Fresh Original Wax Mix. The environmentally friendly beeswax cloths from Little Bee Fresh are ideal for wrapping fruit, vegetables, herbs, bread and sandwiches.
