Being that today is January the 6th (the day the wise men arrived according the Christmas story) I was wondering...his three wise men brought gifts of Gold, Myrrh and Frankincense... Gold is obvious, myrrh is oil, and frankincense is???
Well I knew Frankincense was like an incense of some sort and that it comes from somewhere in the Middle East (since the wise men brought it) but not much else... so let’s find out.
Frankincense is also known as olibanum and is a resin that comes from the Boswellia tree. The Boswellia tree is able to grow in really poor climates and soils and can grow on rocky ground with very little soil at all.
The resin from the trees can vary in fragrance from one tree to another based on solid and climate conditions. The trees can be bleed for the resin two or three times a year and a good resin will be more opaque.
Where does Frankincense come from? The best is supposed to come from Oman, while Yemen and Somalia also produce it. So basically it only comes from right around the Arabian Peninsula.
Frankincense is believed to have healing properties in some cultures besides its aromatic features.
Why is it called Frankincense? Because it was introduced to Europeans by the Franks in the Middle Ages after the crusades.
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