Tar and its significance
Kuhmo is one of Finland’s most renowned tar-producing regions and was the world’s largest tar producer around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The local community not only preserves tar-burning traditions but also produces tar annually for both traditional and new uses. The scent of tar lingers in Kuhmo’s boat harbors as well as in its restaurants.
The Irreplaceable Role of Tar in Kuhmo’s History
Tar has been used for thousands of years to protect wood from decay. In Finland, tar—almost exclusively made from pine—has been employed as a protective coating for ships, boats, and roofs due to its exceptional properties.
Tar production was introduced to Kainuu and Kuhmo from Ostrobothnia in the 18th century. After that, tar became Kuhmo’s main livelihood for about 150 years, lasting until the early 20th century. The most prosperous period was in the latter half of the 19th century, when the region produced over six million liters of tar annually.
The tar was transported from Kuhmo to Oulu’s tar merchants and resellers by tar boats.
The Story of Tar
Producing tar is not a task for the impatient, as the entire process takes about five years. The work begins with making “tar holes” in growing pine trees, where the bark and outer layer are carefully peeled off about two meters high on the north side of the tree, leaving a thin strip of unpeeled bark called the “life line.” As a response, the tree starts protecting itself by producing resin on the exposed trunk.
The same trees are “holed” for three consecutive years, and in the final year, the life line is cut, causing the tree to die and resin to accumulate inside the trunk. The resin-rich tree is felled no later than the fifth summer and chopped into pieces called “säröksiksi” during the following winter, preparing it for tar production.
The following summer, the tar pit is built, the wood pieces are stacked, and the pit is covered with peat to control the burning process. The tar pit must be carefully monitored to ensure it smolders, maintaining the right temperature for the tar to distill properly.
Although tar has primarily been used as a wood preservative, it has also been employed in traditional folk medicine. In more recent history, tar has been used to produce tar aroma, which is added to various food products. Today, tar is still used as an ingredient in skin-healing salves and ointments.
For those interested in learning more about tar burning, there is an opportunity to book a guide who will tell you more about the history of tar production. Reservations can be made for both small and large groups. You can contact the service provider, for example, through this link.
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