Tog Tan
05-10-2009, 12:52 PM
This post is originally meant for Michael Andrew's query about this fascinating plant in another thread. I guess, I am so guilty of thread wreck, I have no heart for it there(at least for now:ha:). So, Michael, here it goes;
Pix of resin formed in the wood after successful inoculation of the tree.
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17193&ppuser=3823><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17193&size=1 border=0></a>
Genus Aquilaria (Thymeleaceae)
For the uninitiated, it is an incense derived from the resin produced by the tree known in many languages which has been used through the ages by many cultures. For those who are aware of it, it rakes superlatives of superlatives…
Its use was recorded in the Old Testament of the biblical times and other cultures throughout the world. Only the best incense was offered to the Gods by those who worshiped them and it was Gaharu from the genus Aquilaria which was chosen.
To the Middle Eastern culture, it is known as Oud, the Japanese, Kyrana, the Thais, Kritsana, the Vietnamese, Tram, the Chinese, Cham Heong, and to the Malaysians and Indonesians, Gaharu, and to the rest of the world, Agarwood or Eaglewood. Where ever the people were around the world and whoever the Gods they worshiped, they gave their very best, they gave only Gaharu, thus it became known as the Wood of the Gods.
Gaharu is a naturally produced resin from the trees of the Aquilaria and Gyrinop families. In the past, people were unaware of how it was produced and they came to the conclusion that such a fine and rare thing can only come through mystical means. It was only recently through intense research that the method to induce the trees to produce it is now known to the world.
There are about 30 species in the genus of Aquilaria found throughout the SEA region. Most of them are found growing below 800 m.a.s.l. For Gyrinop, there are only 7 species.
Aquilaria are mostly found on infertile land and as a result of a lack of nutrient in their system they are susceptible to fungal infestations. It is because of this that a natural resin, gaharu, is formed as a biological defensive reaction
The two main species used in the extraction of the Gaharu resin are Aquilaria malaccensis which is found from Southern Thailand through Malaysia and Indonesia and Aquilaria crassna which is found in the IndoChina region. Of the two, Aquilaria crassna’s resin is the preferred in the scent industry of the major importing region of Middle East.
The Value
The top grade resin commands a price of over USD $ 10,000 per kg in the end user market. Reliable claims by the various entities shows a return of at least $ 300 per matured tree of 5 years. References are easily accessed through the inter net with the key search woods, Agarwood, Gaharu and Aquilaria.
I followed the Orang Asli in northern M'sian forests to see the rate of rate of growth of the Aquilaria malaccensis seedlings as part of the R&D.
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17194&ppuser=3823><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17195 border=0></a>
Aquilaria are undemanding trees which can grow in infertile soil. They can be grown in areas from 300 -800 feet above sea level. They grow well in areas of high humidity and high rainfall. They are medium sized trees and can achieve a height of 15m – 20m and produce a trunk or bole size between 40cm to 50cm in diameter at breast height. Trees are harvestable from the age of 5 years when hard wood is formed. However, older trees have proven to produce more resin.
The other question is, can Gaharu be synthesized? The answer is a qualified no.
THus, the major components in the characteristic scent of Gaharu products, known as serquiertepenes, is too costly to be reproduced. Making a substitute at a price higher than the original product is totally not economical.
Cultivation of Aquilaria is like a dream come true. Planting it has no hidden cost such as insecticide, fertilizer and labor. Once the sapling is established, it will grow at a steady rate of 1 + m a year. In other species of trees, there is the frequent problem of pests. Aquilaria has a natural chemical which repels insects and as it is undemanding and grows well in infertile soil, it does not need fertilizer.
A pix of me during part of the R&D on the inoculation of Aquilaria crassna at the Thai/Cambodian border. The method used here is the vertical hole drill.
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17193&ppuser=3823><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17194 border=0></a>
The extraction of the resin has been studied in depth and it is easily done by infecting the matured tree with a concoction of chemicals and a live fursarium culture. Upon the inoculation, the tree is harvested after a period of 1.5 years. Yield per 6 yr old tree will be approx $ 300 per tree with the value double on an older tree of 8 yrs. The method used is by drilling holes spirally or vertically on the entire length of the trunk with the inoculation inserted.
Pix of resin formed in the wood after successful inoculation of the tree.
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17193&ppuser=3823><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17193&size=1 border=0></a>
Genus Aquilaria (Thymeleaceae)
For the uninitiated, it is an incense derived from the resin produced by the tree known in many languages which has been used through the ages by many cultures. For those who are aware of it, it rakes superlatives of superlatives…
Its use was recorded in the Old Testament of the biblical times and other cultures throughout the world. Only the best incense was offered to the Gods by those who worshiped them and it was Gaharu from the genus Aquilaria which was chosen.
To the Middle Eastern culture, it is known as Oud, the Japanese, Kyrana, the Thais, Kritsana, the Vietnamese, Tram, the Chinese, Cham Heong, and to the Malaysians and Indonesians, Gaharu, and to the rest of the world, Agarwood or Eaglewood. Where ever the people were around the world and whoever the Gods they worshiped, they gave their very best, they gave only Gaharu, thus it became known as the Wood of the Gods.
Gaharu is a naturally produced resin from the trees of the Aquilaria and Gyrinop families. In the past, people were unaware of how it was produced and they came to the conclusion that such a fine and rare thing can only come through mystical means. It was only recently through intense research that the method to induce the trees to produce it is now known to the world.
There are about 30 species in the genus of Aquilaria found throughout the SEA region. Most of them are found growing below 800 m.a.s.l. For Gyrinop, there are only 7 species.
Aquilaria are mostly found on infertile land and as a result of a lack of nutrient in their system they are susceptible to fungal infestations. It is because of this that a natural resin, gaharu, is formed as a biological defensive reaction
The two main species used in the extraction of the Gaharu resin are Aquilaria malaccensis which is found from Southern Thailand through Malaysia and Indonesia and Aquilaria crassna which is found in the IndoChina region. Of the two, Aquilaria crassna’s resin is the preferred in the scent industry of the major importing region of Middle East.
The Value
The top grade resin commands a price of over USD $ 10,000 per kg in the end user market. Reliable claims by the various entities shows a return of at least $ 300 per matured tree of 5 years. References are easily accessed through the inter net with the key search woods, Agarwood, Gaharu and Aquilaria.
I followed the Orang Asli in northern M'sian forests to see the rate of rate of growth of the Aquilaria malaccensis seedlings as part of the R&D.
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17194&ppuser=3823><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17195 border=0></a>
Aquilaria are undemanding trees which can grow in infertile soil. They can be grown in areas from 300 -800 feet above sea level. They grow well in areas of high humidity and high rainfall. They are medium sized trees and can achieve a height of 15m – 20m and produce a trunk or bole size between 40cm to 50cm in diameter at breast height. Trees are harvestable from the age of 5 years when hard wood is formed. However, older trees have proven to produce more resin.
The other question is, can Gaharu be synthesized? The answer is a qualified no.
THus, the major components in the characteristic scent of Gaharu products, known as serquiertepenes, is too costly to be reproduced. Making a substitute at a price higher than the original product is totally not economical.
Cultivation of Aquilaria is like a dream come true. Planting it has no hidden cost such as insecticide, fertilizer and labor. Once the sapling is established, it will grow at a steady rate of 1 + m a year. In other species of trees, there is the frequent problem of pests. Aquilaria has a natural chemical which repels insects and as it is undemanding and grows well in infertile soil, it does not need fertilizer.
A pix of me during part of the R&D on the inoculation of Aquilaria crassna at the Thai/Cambodian border. The method used here is the vertical hole drill.
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17193&ppuser=3823><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17194 border=0></a>
The extraction of the resin has been studied in depth and it is easily done by infecting the matured tree with a concoction of chemicals and a live fursarium culture. Upon the inoculation, the tree is harvested after a period of 1.5 years. Yield per 6 yr old tree will be approx $ 300 per tree with the value double on an older tree of 8 yrs. The method used is by drilling holes spirally or vertically on the entire length of the trunk with the inoculation inserted.