The Chekoua of southern Algeria
A leather receptacle, the Chekoua is made from sheepskin and used to beat milk (goat, cow, camel) and transform it into whey (leben) from which butter is extracted.
To make the whey, the woman places the Chekoua on a wooden tripod, made of long branches, called: Hemmara. Sitting, she begins to beat it, giving it an oscillating movement, for a certain time, in order to produce at the end of this operation the whey (leben) ready to serve. To open and close this traditional churn, a handmade lid made of leather or esparto is used.
The production of Chekoua goes through several stages: the animal is skinned with the skin still covered in wool, which is then detached from the skin which is spread on the ground and sprinkled with a mixture of salt and oak bark (a material locally called Debagha), as well as crushed pomegranate peels; process aimed at making the skin stronger.
Then, the skin is immersed in a pool of water enriched with ashes and juniper, for three (03) to four (04) days, in order to make it acquire both elasticity and a red complexion. This operation completed, the various openings are stitched and blocked, with the exception of the neck opening, which is attached using threads for closure.
To make the whey, the woman places the Chekoua on a wooden tripod, made of long branches, called: Hemmara. Sitting, she begins to beat it, giving it an oscillating movement, for a certain time, in order to produce at the end of this operation the whey (leben) ready to serve. To open and close this traditional churn, a handmade lid made of leather or esparto is used.
The production of Chekoua goes through several stages: the animal is skinned with the skin still covered in wool, which is then detached from the skin which is spread on the ground and sprinkled with a mixture of salt and oak bark (a material locally called Debagha), as well as crushed pomegranate peels; process aimed at making the skin stronger.
Then, the skin is immersed in a pool of water enriched with ashes and juniper, for three (03) to four (04) days, in order to make it acquire both elasticity and a red complexion. This operation completed, the various openings are stitched and blocked, with the exception of the neck opening, which is attached using threads for closure.