Identification & Quality Standard
Olibanum
Botanical Origin
The oily, gummy resin of Boswellia carterii Birdw., Boswellia bhaw-dajiana Birdw., Boswellia neglecta M. Moore(Burseraceae), harvested in spring and summer, collect the diffused oily gummy resin from the cuts on the tree bark.
Production Regions
Primarily produced in Somalia, Ethiopia, the Arabian Peninsula and India.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is pale yellow, granular, translucent, without sand and barks, sticky powder with hands, aromatic odor.
Macroscopic Features
Often teeth-like, tear-like or irregular small lumps, 0.5~3cm long, sometimes stuck together in a cluster. Pale yellow, often slightly green, blue or brownish-red. Translucent. Externally has a layer of white powder, after removing the powder the outer surface is not lustrous. Firm and brittle texture, fractured surface is waxy, not lustrous, with slightly glass-like luster. faintly aromatic odor, slightly bitter taste. When chewed, it is crushed into small clusters at first, then suddenly turns into gummy clusters; it is sticky to teeth and makes the saliva milk-like, with a slightly spicy feeling. Softens when heated, produces aroma when burnt (but without rosin smells), with black smoke and remnants of black residue. When ground with a little water, it forms white milky fluid.
