agarwood

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AGARWOOD

Agarwood (or just Agar) is a dark resinous heartwood that forms in Aquilaria trees (large evergreens native to southeast Asia) when they become infected with a type of mold. Prior to infection, the heartwood is relatively light and pale coloured, however as the infection progresses, the tree produces a dark aromatic resin in response to the attack, which results in a very dense, dark, resin embedded heartwood. The resin embedded wood is commonly called gaharu, jinko, aloeswood, agarwood, or oud (عود) (not to be confused with 'Bakhoor') and is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and thus is used for incense and perfumes.

One of the reasons for the relative rarity and high cost of agarwood is the depletion of the wild resource. Since 1995 Aquilaria malaccensis, the primary source, has been listed in Appendix II (potentially threatened species) by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. In 2004 all Aquilaria species were listed in Appendix II; however, a number of countries have outstanding reservations regarding that listing. 

 

Formation of Agarwood

 

Formation of agarwood occurs in the trunk and roots of trees that have been infected by a parasitc ascomycetous mold, Phaeoacremonium parasitica, a dematiaceous (dark-walled) fungus. As a response, the tree produces a resin high in volatile organic compounds that aids in suppressing or retarding the fungal growth. While the unaffected wood of the tree is relatively light in colour, the resin dramatically increases the mass and density of the affected wood, changing its colour from a pale beige to dark brown or black. In natural forest only about 7% of the trees are infected by the fungus. A common method in artificial forestry is to inoculate all the trees with the fungus. 

 

Characteristics of Agarwood

The cheapest Aoud oil distilled from agarwood can cost as little as $20 per kilogram, while the finest Oud oils distilled from agarwood can cost as much as $7,000 per kilogram.Yves Saint Laurent uses Agarwood in perfume products, though Aloeswood/Oud oil is not commonly known in the Western world.

Agarwood(Gaharu) is a very precious medicine, has a very special flavour, can stimulate the brain cell activation in the cerebral cortex, the visceral can run of benign. Agarwood leaf contains a lot of anti-aging, anti-cancer drug ingredients, and it helps improve one’s look

 

Benefit of drinking Agarwood(Gaharu) Tea:

Strengthen the heart

Reduce Blood Sugar

Reduce Blood Pressure

Improve Sleep

Beauty

Eliminate Constipation

Degreasing

Good Aphrodisiac

Eliminate Flatulence

Eliminate state of being drunk

Eliminate Asthma

 

Malaysia want to be Asia's Gaharu trading center

By Puvaneswary Devindran (Borneo Post)

KUCHING, SARAWAK: Malaysia is aiming to become the centre for ‘gaharu’ trading in Asia with Sarawak to contribute substantially. Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) deputy director-general Dato Dr Abdul Rashid Abdul Malik said Sarawak had the potential to become the nation’s biggest contributor of gaharu essential oil and resins because of the state’s vastness.

“We are working closely with the Malaysian Gaharu Association to make Malaysia the centre for gaharu trade in Asia,” he said when opening a seminar on the establishment and management of ‘Aquilaria Plantation for Gaharu Production’ at a hotel here yesterday. He said at the moment, trading activities take place in Singapore which gets gaharu from Malaysia, so Malaysia has to play a major role to convert itself into a gaharu trading centre other than being a producer.

He said Malaysia has about 1,000 hectares of gaharu plantation with 30 hectares reaching maturity after seven years. As such, he expects Malaysia to be able to become a trading centre in seven years’ time if more people begin planting gaharu now. He said the people, especially villagers who have land, should venture into planting the ‘aquilaria’ tree (commonly known as agarwood or ‘kayu karas’) which produces the gaharu resins as it brings good returns.

“The potential to produce gaharu in Sarawak is good because you have the land.
“This is also a good way for villagers to improve their livelihood as gaharu is in demand and fetches a good price,” he saidHe said the world demands 4.5 million kilogrammes of gaharu per year and that is only the official figure. Unofficially, the world demands around six million kilogrammes per year, he said.

However, the producing countries could only meet 35 per cent of the demand and Malaysia comes in third place with only six per cent, he said. India is the main producer, contributing only 12 per cent with Indonesia in second place, contributing seven per cent. Thailand, Laos and Cambodia come after Malaysia.

Rashid elaborated that 80 countries use gaharu with the Middle East the biggest importer, getting 25 per cent of gaharu resins and its essential oil - known as the ‘Oud’ oil - in a year. According to him, there are 25 species of agarwood worldwide, out of which only 12 were able to produce gaharu. Malaysia only has five species that produce gaharu with the most popular being ‘aquilaria malaccensis’. He said gaharu, depending on its grade, can fetch from RM4,000 to RM20,000 per kilogramme.

Based on studies, he said, one tree can produce about 1.5 kilogrammes of gaharu on average but then again, this all depends on the size and age of the tree and the inoculation given. “We normally nurture the tree for four years then inoculate it and after three years, you can chop it for gaharu. “If we do not inoculate this agarwood tree, it would not necessarily produce gaharu,” he explained.

He said an acre of land could accommodate 800 trees and on average it could take RM15,000 to RM20,000 to nurture an acre of plantation, adding that most of cost goes to getting the seedlings which could cost RM35 each. He said research and development on gaharu showed that it has medicinal properties and although it has yet to be identified specifically, this adds to its demand.

He hoped the people would seize the opportunity before big commercial entities monopolise the market. The one-day seminar held by FRIM saw six papers being deliberated including ‘Silviculture and Management of Aquilaria Malaccensis for agarwood production’, ‘Production of high quality aquilaria planting materials’ and status of gaharu producing ‘Species in Sarawak: An overview’. FRIM head of plantation programme Dr Ahmad Zuhaidi Yahya and Batu Danau assemblyman Paulus Gumbang were also at the function.

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