What’s wrong with this picture?
But first, for those of you who are new readers, I play clarinet in a community concert band. If you aren’t familiar with a clarinet, here’s a quick 101 on maintenance. A clarinet breaks down into 5 pieces to be packed into the case. In the image of the clarinet below, each of the silver rings is where it pulls apart. To seal each connection, cork is used (like in the image of the mouthpiece to the left). To maintain the cork you need to use cork grease, which also helps slide the connecting parts together more easily.
Today I had to buy a new tube of more cork grease.
Below are photos of said cork grease (Rico is a well-known brand – they also make reeds for clarinets and other wind instruments). Read the ingredients carefully and then see if you can answer the question I pose at the bottom of the post…
Why does cork grease, which is not for consumption and goes nowhere near your mouth, need flavour?
May 7, 2021 at 11:06 pm
Maybe so you know that it’s gotten on the reed by mistake so you can taste it? 🤷♀️
May 8, 2021 at 12:34 pm
You’d have to almost deliberately put it on the reed to get it there, though. Weird!
May 7, 2021 at 11:45 pm
Maybe for scent?
May 8, 2021 at 12:35 pm
Doesn’t really have a smell – at least, not a pretty one. But maybe that was their goal?
May 8, 2021 at 4:28 am
Is it good flavor? It could be a “Ug, that was definitely NOT my ChapStick” flavor.
May 8, 2021 at 12:39 pm
Lol, I can’t say in all the years I’ve been playing clarinet that I’ve ever tasted the cork grease. The cork grease lives in your instrument case, but maybe there have been a few incidents?
May 8, 2021 at 7:27 am
I would not have noticed the flavor if you hadn’t pointed it out. Clarinet, eh? Back in school, I played the oboe. I either sat with the flutes or the clarinets.
May 8, 2021 at 12:41 pm
Our oboist sits in-between the flutes and clarinets. I love the sound of the oboe, it’s almost as good as the clarinet 😉
May 8, 2021 at 9:53 pm
Haha ohsss then who knows?!
May 9, 2021 at 12:55 am
It might be for those who lick it off their fingers.
The other thing might be a causal flavor caused by the phalates and parabens used to keep the wax pliable and hold the moisture of it in place.
It does not say it is a natural flavor, so I would have to say it was chemical.
May 9, 2021 at 7:37 am
Hmm, I hadn’t thought of it having another purpose besides flavour – good idea, BF.
May 9, 2021 at 1:20 am
Maybe it’s a flavor to discourage kids from eating it…?
After your poison posts, I couldn’t help but notice castor oil in the ingredients!! Hah!
May 9, 2021 at 7:38 am
Haha, suddenly things that seemed so innocent before…