A portable container including an integral controlled evaporative cooling system, comprising: a storage container wall sealed to a storage container bottom, the storage container wall and storage container bottom positioned to form a storage container with an access aperture; an evaporative region wall sealed to an evaporative region bottom, the evaporative region wall positioned adjacent to an exterior of the storage container wall and the evaporative region bottom positioned adjacent to an exterior of the storage container bottom, a top edge of the evaporative region wall sealed to the exterior of the storage container wall at a position below a top edge of the storage container wall to form a vapor-sealed evaporative region between the evaporative region wall and the evaporative region bottom and the storage container wall and the storage container bottom; an insulation wall positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the evaporative region wall and the storage container wall, a top of the insulation wall sealed to the exterior surface of the storage container wall at a position above the evaporative region wall to form a vapor-sealed insulation region external to the storage container and to the evaporative region; a desiccant region wall positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the insulation wall and sealed to the exterior surface of the insulation wall to form a vapor-sealed desiccant region, the desiccant region wall positioned to form an exterior surface of the portable container; a vapor conduit with a first end positioned within the vapor-sealed evaporative region and a second end positioned within the vapor-sealed desiccant region; and a vapor control unit attached to the vapor conduit, characterized in that the vapor control unit comprises: a valve of a size, shape and position to reversibly inhibit flow of gas through the vapor conduit; and a controller operably attached to the valve. a storage container wall sealed to a storage container bottom, the storage container wall and storage container bottom positioned to form a storage container with an access aperture; an evaporative region wall sealed to an evaporative region bottom, the evaporative region wall positioned adjacent to an exterior of the storage container wall and the evaporative region bottom positioned adjacent to an exterior of the storage container bottom, a top edge of the evaporative region wall sealed to the exterior of the storage container wall at a position below a top edge of the storage container wall to form a vapor-sealed evaporative region between the evaporative region wall and the evaporative region bottom and the storage container wall and the storage container bottom; an insulation wall positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the evaporative region wall and the storage container wall, a top of the insulation wall sealed to the exterior surface of the storage container wall at a position above the evaporative region wall to form a vapor-sealed insulation region external to the storage container and to the evaporative region; a desiccant region wall positioned adjacent to an exterior surface of the insulation wall and sealed to the exterior surface of the insulation wall to form a vapor-sealed desiccant region, the desiccant region wall positioned to form an exterior surface of the portable container; a vapor conduit with a first end positioned within the vapor-sealed evaporative region and a second end positioned within the vapor-sealed desiccant region; and a vapor control unit attached to the vapor conduit, characterized in that the vapor control unit comprises: a valve of a size, shape and position to reversibly inhibit flow of gas through the vapor conduit; and a controller operably attached to the valve. a valve of a size, shape and position to reversibly inhibit flow of gas through the vapor conduit; and a controller operably attached to the valve.