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The Great Karma - Cultivated Vietnamese Agarwood - grown and developed by a monk

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 *New Batch*

Source: Pixalbay

 

Phu Quoc - the largest island in Vietnam attracts thousands of visitors annually. Tourists come here to see its biodiversity and its local specialties such as seafood and fish sauce.  

One thing that not many tourists are aware of Agarwood.

Many years ago, there are thousands of wild agarwood harvested on this island.

The local called it "trầm bắp".

Trầm: Agarwood

Bắp: Calf

They called it this way because the Agarwood harvested from the Aquilaria tree on this island was large. Once the local chipped out the white wood, the resinous part was as large as an adult calf.

In 1980, people came to the island and started buying this "Thigh Agarwood" to make incense and burn alone. Words spread fast about its quality, and it attracted many traders. They bought even more.

Unfortunately, as high demand, after many years, this natural agarwood has almost depleted.

And agarwood has been forgottenOnene day, a mok, named Thich Giac Nhi decided to re-grow them.

 

The legendary Monk, Thich Giac Nhi

Little known about him, but the local told us that he was born and raised in a coastal suburban. When he was 16 years old, he became a monk. Years later, he arrived at Phu Quoc Island to live in seclusion (Source: SGGP (2006))

One day, a biologist visited the island and met him. This biologist talked about how to grow an Aquilaria tree and make agarwood out of it.

The monk who has been growing his vegetables to support himself became interested. He has been dreaming of building a hospital for the poor, but he has not figured out how to do it yet. Seeing this opportunity, he agreed to work with the biologist.

The challenge

To grow a tree, he needed to find some seeds, but he could not because the overseas customers bought all the seeds every time.

So the monk started to raise funds many years ago but failed constantly. He did not give up. Finally, a group of hunters felt the monk's passion and agreed to help him. They sent 2000 Aquilaria samplings to the monk's land near the Chua Chan Mountain to cultivate agarwood

Thanks to the hunters, the biologist and the local government, the monk succeeded in growing the Aquilarlia tree and creating Agarwood. He also showed some locals how to grow them and has been helping growers ever seen.

As the monk was getting old, he wanted to pass on the tradition and technique of growing Aquilaria tree.  He mentored some local agarwood planters.  One of the monk's mentees is H. 

And H has been growing these chips to support incense makers and local workers.

Through reference, we met him. Since then, we have been getting these chips from him.

  

About the Great Karma Agarwood chip

 We named this chip "the Great Karma" because it carried the passion of the monk. These chips

  • help incense makers to produce their high-quality incense,
  • worshippers to connect with God spiritually
  • help the local workers to feed their families

 

These chips are good quality and great price for daily use without breaking the bank. No fishy, tangy, burnt white wood and the sour smell of grade B types that you found in the market,

It is pleasantly sweet with a hint of spiciness, musky and vanilla. The aroma is more subtle compared to our other chips.

 

 So, would you like to try the Good Karma Agarwood chip?