At Las Tres Z.Z.Z. we have been handmaking bota bags in Pamplona for more than 150 years, and in all that time the lining has evolved. First came pitch, the natural resin that still gives our traditional wineskins their classic flavour. For decades, for anyone who wanted a care-free bota, we used latex. Today our ‘All-Purpose’ bota bags have a food-grade TPU lining, and here is why.
What is TPU?
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is an extraordinarily reliable technical material. It is flexible, very tough and stable, and does not react with what it holds. It is also found in athletes’ hydration bladders and in food-handling hoses. The TPU in our bota bags is food-grade and certified for that use.
What you gain
- No flavour transfer: wine tastes of wine and water of water.
- Latex-free: a plus if you, or anyone you share your bota with, are allergic to latex.
- BPA-free. The TPU in our bota bags contains no bisphenol A, a compound found in some rigid plastics whose use in food-contact materials is restricted by the European Union.
- For any drink: wine, water, fizzy drinks or spirits.
- Fridge-friendly: you can chill the bota with the drink inside.
- No curing or maintenance: rinse it and it is ready, even after months in the cupboard.
- Flexible and tough: it moves with the leather without cracking.
Isn’t it plastic?
Yes, TPU is a thermoplastic polyurethane, and we prefer to say so clearly. The difference lies in its quality, its food-grade certification and how we use it: inside a vegetable-tanned, handmade goatskin bota designed to last for years. A bota you refill again and again saves a lot of single-use bottles.
‘All-Purpose’ or pitch?
- Choose an ‘All-Purpose’ bota if you won’t use it often, want to carry water or soft drinks, like your drinks cold or are buying your first bota. It is the easy-care choice: the most convenient and the one with fewest surprises.
- Choose a pitch-lined bota if you use it often, want the traditional flavour and don’t mind curing it and looking after it. It is the classic bota.
How to look after it
Rinse it with water after use and, if you won’t use it for a while, store it empty with a little air inside.
See the All-Purpose bota bags · See the pitch-lined bota bags