Bota bag facts for kids
A bota bag is a special kind of container from Spain. People mainly use it to carry liquids, especially wine. It's like a traditional canteen. Bota bags are often made from leather, sometimes even goatskin. You can fill them with wine or almost any other drink.
How Bota Bags Are Made
Long ago, bota bags were lined with parts of a goat's bladder. Sometimes, people used tree sap or other sticky resins. These linings stopped liquids from leaking out. Today, most bota bags have a modern plastic liner. They also have a plastic nozzle for drinking.
Different Kinds of Bota Bags
One special type of bota bag is called the zahato. This is a traditional goatskin bottle used by Basque shepherds. The zahato has a very narrow nozzle. This design lets you drink in a unique way called "zurrust." You can squirt the liquid directly into your mouth without touching the bottle!
The word zahato (or zahako) comes from an older word meaning "big goatskin bottle." A person who makes zahatos is called a zahatogile.
A zahato is made from two pieces of tanned goatskin. The leather is softened and cut into shape. Then, the pieces are sewn together along their sides. After sewing, the bottle is turned inside out, so the seam and hair are on the inside. Once it dries, the zahato is inflated. Then, it's coated with pitch (a sticky, tar-like substance) to make it completely waterproof. The nozzle, which was traditionally made from horn, is attached with a red collar. Shepherds carry the zahato over their shoulder using a red cord that goes around the seam.
See also
In Spanish: Bota (recipiente) para niños
