Currently, gaharau wood or what is often called agarwood is already familiar to the public’s ears. This agarwood has been found hundreds of years ago by ancient people. This agarwood has a distinctive aroma that is fragrant so that many people are hunting it. This agarwood has many benefits, so don’t be surprised if the price offered is also very fantastic. Gaharu wood which has the best strength is characterized by its dark sap color and when it is cut it gives off a very fragrant aroma.
For the price of one kilogram of gaharu wood, it can reach a figure in the range of US $ 100 thousand or equivalent to IDR 1.5 billion. With this price, agarwood is one of the most expensive materials or raw wood in the world. However, to be able to produce the best quality of agarwood, this tree must be considered in its maintenance, one of which is the provision of shade plants or usually deliberately growing mushrooms on the tree trunks.
Gaharu wood has different types, therefore the price will also be different.
The following is the division of agarwood classes based on their quality:
Class and Description :
Super Gaharu sapwood, all black, very fragrant, strong aroma
Gaharu sapwood Extraordinary AB, brownish black, fragrant again, strong aroma
Gaharu Sabah Super sapwood, brownish black, fragrant again, rather strong aroma
Gaharu Class C sapwood, black with more white lines and thin chips, the wood tends to be brittle
A brown, blackish, fragrant, strong aroma
Sabang I brown striped, thin white, fragrant again, slightly strong aroma
Tanggung AB brown striped, slightly thick white, fragrant again, rather strong aroma
Tanggung C brownish striped, slightly thick white, fragrant again, slightly strong aroma
Kemedangan I, slightly thick white striped chocolate, fragrant again, rather strong aroma
Kemedangan II, grayish thin dark stripes, less fragrant, less strong aroma
Kemedangan III, grayish white, less fragrant, less strong aroma
Then what makes it so expensive?
Gaharu wood or tree in Latin (Aquilaria malaccensis) is a tree native to rainforests, especially in Southeast Asia. At first, this tree does not have a very distinctive aroma, but because of the reaction that occurs in the wood core caused by the fungus Phialophora parasitica, this reaction occurs naturally, this reaction makes this tree has a distinctive aroma.
Then how do the mushrooms get into the stem? This can happen because the ants make a hole in the tree so that it makes a hollow tree trunk and this tree will use its sap to cover the hole, because of this hole the organisms that are outside will easily enter the tree trunk and then over time will form aloes.