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The Ancient Frankincense Trade
Frankincense was once held in as high esteem and value as
gold, everywhere from Rome to India. The very burning of frankincense
was a symbol of wealth; at the Emperor Nero's funeral his
wife burned more of the stuff than the whole of Arabia's annual
production. Famed in the Bible as one of the gifts of the
Three Wise Kings, its usages range from religious to
cosmetic to medicinal. Frankincense can be found in abundance
in the southern city of Salalah in the Dhofar
region of Oman. "The mount of myrrh and the hills of
frankincense" refered to in the Song of Solomon from
the Bible refers to the hills of Dhofar.
Salalah, also known as the 'perfume city of Arabia', is one
of the few places in the world where the rare frankincense
tree grows and thus can be harvested. The scented gum was
traded feverishly in the past, and several legendary cities
such as Ubar and Sumharam sprung up in the middle
of the desert, with traders eager to tap into the wealth that
was created by the frankincense trade.
The ruins of these civilizations can still be found in Salalah
and the port city of Sumharam is especially popular with visitors.
Traditional souks in Salalah city also sell some of the best
varieties of frankincense and Omani perfumes available.
Producing The Elixir
The ancient twisted trees with crinkly leaves spring unexpectedly
to life every September with an explosion of yellow star flowers.
An incision is made into the silvery bark, from which drips
the fragrant white globules of resin called luban.
Left to dry, this will turn transparent after about two weeks.
The harvest takes place from March to May before the monsoon.
History and Origins
The history of frankincense is somewhat shrouded in myth
and mystery. Some believe that the Queen of Sheba,
who reportedly brought presents of spice to King Solomon in
Israel, may have come from this region as it is home to the
rare frankincense tree.
The journey celebrated by all Christians recounting the birth
of Jesus is also believed to have begun in these parts.
The Bible wrote of the three wise men who brought gold, frankincense
and myrrh to the manger in Bethlehem where Jesus was born.
Tribes today such as the Bait Kathir still regard the
frankincense trees as their birthright and only members of
the tribe are allowed to collect and trade the frankincense.
To collect the frankincense, a small incision is made into
the bark and after time, a white latex-like substance will
solidify and is collected by harvesters.
Uses for Frankincense
Frankincense today is not only used for religious and ceremonial
occasions, but locals also use it to perfume their clothes
and hair. Tribes have also been known to use frankincense
as a culinary ingredient as well as a medicine for coughs
and throat infections and to aid sleep.
The Dhofaris swear by its therapeutic qualities, using every
part of the tree, from chewing the resin to relieve indigestion
to smearing it on the head as hair gel, or using its glue
like properties to mend broken pots! The fruit and flowers
are given as a tonic for lactating goats, the leaves can be
chewed as a stomach settler, and the red underbark is a dye
used in leather tanning. The bark itself is thought to be
a good antidote to morning sickness, or made into a paste
to soothe dry skin. Even the soot from the resin has a secondary
use as eye ointment and for tattoos and cosmetics.
Bag a Bargain
Frankincense can be found in souks throughout the middle
east, but you'll get the premium stuff directly from Oman.
The quality, scent and body can be identified by frankincense
connoisseurs and, like a fine wine, varies greatly by each
season and every year. The best, najd, comes from the
hills of the Bait Kathir tribe. The lower quality,
shazri, from the Qara mountains and the least
valued, sha'abi, is found in the coastal plains. Nowadays,
the cheapest Frankincense is produced in India and Somalia,
and if you're looking for a high quality import, these sorts
are best avoided.
Raw resin comes in the form of loose, soft white cubes. A
bright white resin piece with a blush tint commands the best
price. The more brown it shows, the less valuable it will
be. A kilogram will cost you around $50, less for smaller
bags. The resin can be burnt or you can purchase frankincense
as a pure essential oil for your oil burner, which is the
best way to let the rich scent infuse.
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