*please note* Our newest batch is so fresh, it's a sticky, resinous state. You can pop it in the freezer for a few moments to harden for easier use.
Balsam of Tolu (Myroxylon toluifera balsamum) is from Colombia, where all parts of this tree have an aromatic fragrance. The trunk is tall and bare, and after reaching a height of 40 to 60 feet from the ground, throws out its branches producing a rounded crown of foliage. The younger the tree, the larger the foliage of obovate leaflets, as older trees suffer from the drainage of balsam. The flowers are borne in dense, auxiliary racemes, 3 to 43 inches long, and the calyx tube is rather tubular, rather than ring-like. The fruit is an oblong, linear legume, narrowed at its base. The tree, which is an evergreen, rises to a height of 70 or 80 feet.
Tolu Balsam, like benzoin, has a bitter top note which yields to reveal a warm balsamic fragrance with notes of vanilla and cinnamon. The fragrance is considered to be healing and comforting. It is useful for meditation and relaxation. Tolu Balsam was officially listed in 1882 in European medicine as a remedy for coughs and colds, as well as for headache and stomach problems. Balsam of Tolu, like that of Peru, is a stimulant, tonic and expectorant.
Medical Disclaimer: Our expertise lies in incense making and fragrance. Information contained on these pages is solely for your enjoyment. We can not provide medical advice or recipes as we are not health professionals. Before ingesting anything that is not food, we strongly suggest seeking counsel from a licensed health practitioner.
