White Lotus Aromatics Newsletter - Agarwood 2, October 28, 2002
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Agarwood 2
Agarwoood Explorations-Part 2
The walk about town in the early morning provided us with some more ideas of what might evolve in their area and perhaps other places in Assam. Our stroll took us through some fine residental districts where charming bungalows had graceful gardens in which we could identify a number of plants possessing rare aromatic virtues. These included Parijata(Nyctanthes arbortristis), Champa(Michelia champaca), Bakul(Mimusops elengi)and Frangipani(Plumeria alba). The flowers of these trees could all be used to produce simple infused oils, hydrosols and distillates. With a little organizing on a local level, people serving as domestic help could earn extra cash by collecting the flowers earlier in the morning for an hour or so. A person could be appointed to collect and deliver them to a central location where proper processing could be done. Such things are entirely possible in India and in fact have been implanted in places like Mumbai, where Urmilla, Ramakant's wife manages a similar project. By using aromatic resources already pleasant one can create finely perfumed natural products without having to invest in expensive land, planting new trees and shrubs, etc.
The ambiance of the neighborhoods on our early morning walks was very pleasant. People were out for quiet morning exercise and the mood was relaxed and totally tensioin free. Everyone seemed to be starting there day in a calm wayafter which they would proceed to their respective occupations. It certainly did not seem as if anyone was rushing around to make a few extra dollars.
Returning to the guest house we had our breakfast and then proceeded to our first agarwood planation in the company of Tajul and brothers. As we penetrated deeper into the countryside on narrow unpaved rural roads, the scenery around us became every more beautiful. Gradually we left behind even the small vestiges of modern civilization we had encountered. We seldom saw another diesel or gasoline powered vehicle. Mostly people traveled by foot or bicycle. Indeed unless one knows where one is going on these backways it would not be easy to reach there destination because there is no map that one can follow to reach there destination. Much of the Indian countryside is composed of such unmarked paths but as one would never travel into the interior without a local guide it works just fine.
The first plantation we visited was two years old. The ten acre plot was immaculately laid out with regularly spaced agarwood trees between which a patchouli intercrop was to be found. The shimmering glossy green slender leaves where held on slim stems attached to lithe branches and supple straight trunks. The bark is light in color. The overall appearance of these young trees is very pleasing indicating that they are not only valuable potential bearers of the agarwood resin but beautiful in their own right as ornamental trees.
The trees were raised from the seed of trees that had borne good amounts of pure agarwood in hopes that the new generation would have the same capability. About 1 year after being raised in nursery conditions the trees are planted into the field where they begin growing rapidly. A mature agarwood tree can eventually reach a height of 20 meters with a girth of up to 2.5 meters.
The area where the current plantation was set up was once rich in agarwood trees but as mentioned before overexploitation of the wild species led to their total disappearance from the region. Tajul felt that this would be a good region to reestablish plantations as environmental conditions which once favored the trees grown in natural stands would most likely favor them under cultivated ones. It is a sun loving tree and seldom is found in dense forests. It needs good drainage and deep acid soils to attain its best growth but can also be found in shallow soil sitting over rocky beds. Since the trees were once found in abundance in the same region, Tajul reasoned that the soil might still carry an abundance of the mico-organisms that cause the oleoresin to form once the tree is infected. He also felt that the insect which first bores into the tree creating the proper environment for the fungus to grow might still thrive in the vicinity. As it turned out his reasoning was correct.
The trees being cultivated under organic conditions are nurtured with organic compost, naturally falling leaves and the harvested weeds which grow rapidly in the benign climate of Assam. One months time is enough for weeds to overcome an area under cultivation because the humidity and regular rains provide prime conditions for the growth of both desired and undesired plants. Having the patchouli planted as an intercrop also inspires the workers to keep on top of the weeding of unwanted material.
Towards the back of the property was a lovely traditional drying shed for patchouli. Patchouli is a crop that requires drying and slight fermentation to produce the complex configuration of aromatic molecules that characterize the oil. Up to this time there no synthetic composition has ever been created that matches the beauty of a pure patchouli essential oil. That is why it will remain for the foreseeable future one of the most prized commodities of the domestic and international fragrance trade.
Just near the drying sheds was a large tree under which were placed several chairs. A cool breeze surrounded us as we sat admiring the beauty around us. A small river flowed just beneath where we were sitting and one could see in the distance a small child playing the water near the water buffalo he was tending. Luminous butterflies flitted in an out of the vegetation that was untouched by pesticides and herbicides that disrupt their natural life cycles. In the distance rolling hills rose out of the plain. These were alive with the naturally occuring floral and fauna of the region. Tajul told us that sometimes the wild elephants and monkeys come down near the farm from the those hilly regions.
The simple village folk that lived on the propety tended the crops were a delight to be near. It was a great honor to sit near them and share for a brief few moments their quiet lives. I always feel that I should be a student of their ways because they are able to do with little but out of their hearts and through their eyes flows and gentle sweetness. They live close to the land and well understand the language which it speaks. Tuned to the subtle messages it gives them, they care for the crops that adorn it with an ingenuity and skill that cannot be gained through any book learning. In their company one feels comfortable and relaxed for they are happy to share what they have however little it may be.
We spent several hours in this benign environment absorbing the vibratory radiation of the area. There is no substitute for being near the plants one is trying to appreciate and understand. They have their own unique language and are only to willing to impart their knowledge to anyone who approaches them with respect and veneration. In the world of natural essences as we know it in the West there is some danger that we may forget how these precious aromatic liquids come into being because our lives are often lived far from the production centers. Even if we cannot be near such environments we need to remember that the oils or extracts arise out of a series of intricate interactions between humans and the environments in which the plants grow. This includes birds, reptiles, insects, animals and many other forces seen and unseen. The healing virtures of the plant derived essences are, no doubt present even if we are not aware of how they have come into being. But if we can develop in our hearts a profound appreciation of the time and energy that is required to manifest the oils, then this spirit of gratitude will flow into the oil increasing its potency and efficacy.. These things may not be measurable by any scientific instrument but that does not mean the effect is not there. Two people using the exact same oil for treating some dis-ease may get vastly different results depending on the spirit in which they are doing their work which can only be enhanced by an awareness of all that goes into producing any essence.
After an enjoyable stay at the first plantation we moved onto one that was established 4 years previously. Here we were able to see several trees which had recently been bored into by the insect which plays an important role in causing the oleoresin to form. They were active at the time of our visit and one could see little pellets of pulp tumbling out of the trunk of the young trees. Our hosts told us this was a really unique thing to be able to witness first hand. The insects come when they will and bore into the trees according to their own plan. Only a few trees will be selected by them. Tajul later gifted me a piece of a wood which showed a cross section of the tunnel made made by the insect into the trunk so I could show others how the whole process of infestation begins.
To the back of the property we climbed a hill that had growing on it wild Cinnamon trees(Cinnamomum tamala) One of the workers deftly climbed up it and removed a strip of fresh cinnamon bark for us to smell and enjoy. Wild black pepper was also seen climbing up the trunks of other trees in the area. The land is so fertile and the climate so condusive to the growth of trees, vines, shrubs, herbs, roots, etc that one could possibly distill many types of essential oils in the future.
The next visit was to the rural estate of Tajul's family where they had established a new tea plantation, again based on organic gardening practices. The entire area through which we were passing was full of tea plantations, some quite old by the looks of the trunks of camellia plants that produce the tea leaves. We were able to see a large group of men and woman deftly plucking the tender leaves which produce the famed tea of Assam. As individuals collected the leaves they were transferred to large wicker baskets which were in turned transported to collection sites on the shoulders of small but sturdy local villagers. Again and again one is reminded of the labor intensive nature of Indian farm management. In our country most of the farming is done by machinery whereas in India it is done by humans. It is not so difficult to consider adopting organic gardening techniques because already the basic management of any plot of land is done through hand weeding, and hoeing, etc. Very few pesticides and herbicides are used on such small family farms. Compost is regularly applied as a matter of course because nothing goes waste on these humble land holdings.
A small traditional two story home had been built to allow extended stays for family members managing the local plantations of agarwood, patchouli and tea. There on the second story one of Tajul's cousin, Mr. Simu, had arranged a beautiful vegetarian feast for us. He had traveled ahead earlier in the day to get everything arranged for our visit. It was such a touching gesture of friendship on their part. Served from glowing stainless steel containers we enjoyed a savory repast amidst the grandeur of ancient India. Sitting on the verandah we could survey the entire countryside which was a veritable tapestry of living plants. The harmony of our surroundings, the kindness of our hosts and the delicious food being served to us created a feeling of well-being and joy that shall remain in the heart for many years to come. After dinner we all retired for a short rest as a prelude to our last adventure of the day.
Toward evening we began our journey back to town. Reaching the main road, Tajul requested his brother who was driving to take us to one of the bridges that had been constructed in recent years to cross the Brahmaputra River. The crossing of this mighty river, the very heart and life of Assam, took place towards sundown. A lovely soft light graced the land as our vehicle passed over this immense body of water. Small boats plied there way over its surface. Its currents eddied about islets crowned with white tufted grasses. Reaching the opposite shore we climbed a hill overlooking the bridge a river. A historical marker demarcated an area where many centuries ago a king of that region had begun to construct a bridge. Several large boulders that were part of that original work were still to be seen there.
Standing on that hill, enjoying the enchanting beauty of the suns slanting rays glittering on the waters of the Brahmaputra as sweet evening breezes played amongst the leaves overhead, awoke in the heart remembrances of times long past. There are times in the life where one realizes they have come back to a place once loved and this was one such time.
We returned to the guest house in the quiet darkness of a land filled with a hidden life stretching back into times beyond reckoning.
Agarwood Explorations-Part 4
For those who may not know how the precious resin is created in the tree, a few notes on this may be of value here. The agarwood tree (Aquilaria agallocha) is a native of Assam and other countries like New Guinea, Cambodia, Burma, Vietnam, etc. Different species grow in each region, each producing a precious resin that is valued for its rich aromatic properties. The resin of the trees of Assam is considered by many to be the finest in the world.
The resin is created in the tree when it is infected by a certain fungus or group of fungi. At least on the plantations of Tajul's family it appears that the conditions for this infestation occur when the a larvae of a stem-borer belonging to the Lepidoptera family bores into the trunk and creates a vertical tunnel in zigzag pattern. The surfaces of the tunnel become the initial sites of the infestation which later spreads on all sides so that the interior of the tree becomes saturated to a greater or lesser degree with the fungi. It has also been reported that the fungi can enter the tree through mechanical or natural injuries to the branches or trunk but actual observations of Tajul and family are that the insect must first enter the tree before the infestation starts at least in the case of the younger trees.
Due to these infections an oleoresin begins to form which is initially brown in color. It appears as streaks in the tissue. With the passage of time the density of the infestations can increase with corresponding production of oleoresin which begins to become odiferous. As the oleoresin ages it begins to change from brown to black. Dense pockets form particularly in the bole of the tree with streaking occurring in tissues in other zones. The same tree can have a wide range of oleoresin varying from hues of brown to black as well which can be found in dense pockets and lightly streaked tissues. Eventually the fungus created oleoresin leads to the death of the tree provided the tree is not harvested before that event occurs.
In the wild it is difficult to ascertain which trees have been infected because the oleoresin is usually found deep within the trunk. Only 10-15% of a natural stand of agarwood trees is generally found to have this precious material. Previous to 1970 there was enough supply of infested trees to meet the needs of those who loved the oleoresin without wanton destruction of whole stands of trees which consequently took place. The main center of commercial oil distillation was in Sylbet District of undivided Assam which after partition became part of Bangaladesh. This industry came up in the early part of the 20th century. Collectors of the agarwood were issued contracts by the Forest Department on defined areas and for fixed periods of time called Agarwood Mahals.
Those who were engaged in collecting had perfected the means of identifying which trees were infected and did not cut trees that were in good health. They had to go on physical signs to determine which trees to harvest. They made their determinations by seeing if the trees had poor or stunted crown development; swellings, cracks, cankers or depressions in the bole, die back on the top on top or outer branches, etc.
If these signs were in evidence they would drill into the tree using screw augurs to see if the resin was saturated there. This was a highly evolved skill in the possession of a few sensitive people.
After partition, the Sylbet district became part of Bangaldesh. At that time the industry shifted to Nagoan as most of the forests of trees were to be found on the Indian side of the newly formed border. Already some distilleries existed there but the business was expanded at that time. Then in 1970 the demand for the resin saturated wood rose sharply from the Middle Eastern countries. This marked the beginning of the indiscriminate harvesting of all agarwood trees without regard for whether they contained the resin or not. This resulted in a severe depletion of the natural stands of trees. Seeing this rapid depletion of this precious natural resource a few visionary type people like Tajul felt compelled to start cultivated plantations of trees. This occurred only 12 years ago but has resulted in the plantings of many hundreds of thousands of trees not only in Assam but in the surrounding sister states of Tripura and Nagaland.
Today there still remain some stands of agarwood trees in Assam and surrounding states but they are to be found on private homesteads or in areas controlled by tribal peoples. Once again the old methods of identifying fungus infested trees are being applied and the indiscriminate harvesting has been stopped for the most part. When such trees are located the collectors approach the owners and the trees are purchased, sometimes for vast sums of money.
But the amount of such material is now very little and the prices commanded for true agarwood are beyond the reach of the common buyer. Most of the authentic agarwood resin is going to the Middle Eastern market to buyers who have standing orders for everything that is available.
The lack of authentic material has spawned a multimillion dollar industry in both synthetic agarwood oil and synthetic agarwood oleoresin infested wood. The synthetic material is often sold is real and super expensive prices but the actual odor of the material is just a shadow of the genuine. But since most people have not experienced genuine agarwood it can be passed off as authentic. Many times those who have some access to genuine material extend it with liquid paraffin. They also produce the agarwood carvings (of which I will speak later) using other types of dark colored wood. They then lightly coat the wood with synthetic agarwood oil or in some cases with the highly diluted pure material so that it will have the characteristic odor of the resin.
Since the real odor of agarwood cannot be detected until it is burned, it is hard for the buyer to know what he is getting at the time of purchase. It is in short a business surrounded by greed and deceit although as in all things there are still a few genuine people working in the trade but to find ones way to them requires extreme good fortune.