First, China agarwood
Since the Han Dynasty, agarwood has been widely used in the court, and its producing areas are mostly in the areas where South Vietnam used to be located (namely Hainan, Hong Kong, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi and north-central Vietnam) and Guizhou and Yunnan. Although agarwood is almost extinct in China today, the reputation of China agarwood was once the first in the world, and the once famous "Vientiane" was produced in Guangdong, Guangxi and Hongkong. Aquilaria sinensis produced in Hainan is also called "agar" because of its unique aroma.
: Guangdong and Guangxi agarwood
In the Tang Dynasty, with the southward expansion of the national geographical map, Guangdong and Guangxi gradually became an important producing area of agarwood in China. Because most of the agarwood produced in Guangdong and Guangxi, including Hong Kong, is concentrated in Dongguan and then transported to the mainland, it is collectively called "Vientiane". The biggest feature of Wanxiang is its fragrance, which is sweet, quiet and pleasant to burn. In particular, the agarwood produced in Hong Kong and Shenzhen will have a special floral fragrance, and Wanxiang will emit a strong nutty fragrance when smoked in the furnace, and it will last forever. Guangdong agarwood includes Guangdong Shentugen and Guangdong Luqi. There are also a few runnan in Huizhou, Hong Kong and Shenzhen. Guanxiang Runnan is spicy and cool at the beginning, sweet and quiet, and the tail fragrance turns into a rich nutty aroma.
: Yunnan agarwood
Yunnan is also one of the main producing areas of agarwood in China. Due to the geographical location bordering Vietnam, the agarwood produced in Yunnan is similar to that produced in Vietnam. Yunnan agarwood includes Yunnan Baotou raw incense, Yunnan Baotou cooked incense, woodpecker agarwood, Yunnan agarwood ear, Yunnan Zi Qi (including tree heart oil and exotic wood), Yunnan Lv Qi, Yunnan Qi Huang and Yunnan black lacquer. Yunnan agarwood is rare in the market, and its fragrance is mainly sweet. When the fragrance turns into the original fragrance, it will also present the aroma of nuts when it is fragrant.
: Hainan agarwood
Hainan is called "Qiong" for short, and the agarwood it produces is also called "Qiongxiang". In ancient times, "agar" was another name for agarwood. Hainan was once called "Xiangzhou" and "Xiangdao" for producing the best agarwood. Hainan is recognized as the best place to produce agarwood because of its unique climate and geographical environment. Its most famous area is located in Wuzhishan area in the middle of Hainan Island, among which Jianfengling and Bawangling produce the best agarwood. Hainan agarwood has been known as "the best fragrance in the world" since ancient times. Compendium of Materia Medica records that "Hainan agarwood is the best in the world for one dollar", which is an objective and accurate evaluation of its noble quality made by the ancients. Hainan agarwood has a fragrance close to Wanxiang. After burning, it gives off a quiet and sweet smell, and when smoked, it has a strong nutty smell. However, compared with the official fragrance, Hainan agarwood is more pure in aroma.
In addition, the entrance of Hainan Aquilaria sinensis often has a spicy taste that only Qin' an has. Hainan agarwood includes Hainan Baotou raw incense, Hainan Baotou cooked incense, Hainan discus raw incense, Hainan discus cooked incense, Hainan agarwood ear, Hainan agarwood flat head, Hainan agarwood bug eye, Hainan tooth pool, Hainan tree heart oil fragrance, Hainan Qin 'an (Hainan Luqi, Hainan Qi Huang), Hainan Tuhui, Hainan agarwood Qimu and so on. Because the latitude environment in Hong Kong is roughly the same as that in Hainan, many varieties of Hainan agarwood are also produced in Hong Kong, and the quality is comparable. Baotou, discus, ear, flat head, tree heart, etc. They are all used to distinguish the fragrance and shape of agarwood. )
: Taiwan Province Xiaonan
So far, no real agarwood has been found in Taiwan Province Province, China, except for three kinds of original wood agarwood. However, Phoebe bournei is a unique native plant, which is produced in Taiwan Province Province. Because of its woody fragrance, sawdust is often used to burn incense, so it is also called Sandalwood in Taiwan Province Province.
Second, Huian agarwood
Generally speaking, Huian agarwood includes agarwood produced in Vietnam, Shupuzhai, Laos, Thailand and Myanmar. (Another point of view is that, broadly speaking, if it is classified by large producing areas, in fact, most of the agarwood produced in China can be attributed to this producing area, which means that China agarwood also belongs to Huian agarwood system. On the contrary, if narrowly understood and divided, Huian agarwood refers to Vietnamese agarwood.
The agarwood in Hui 'an producing area is mostly produced from honey-scented tree species, which is mild, elegant and sweet. It is slightly different from the refreshing and sweet aroma of Chinese agarwood, and it burns more mellow. Hui 'an agarwood includes Vietnamese shell sinking, Vietnamese soil sinking, Nha Trang agarwood, Laos shell sinking, old black nanmu, Shupuzhai tree core oil agarwood, Cambodian bodhisattva nanmu, Thailand agarwood log, Thailand agarwood upside down, Myanmar insect leaking nanmu, Myanmar black nanmu and so on.
Third, Xingzhou agarwood
Sin Chew agarwood includes agarwood produced in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Papua New Guinea and Brunei. Because the agarwood produced in these areas should be concentrated in Singapore (Singapore is also translated as "Singapore"), it is also collectively called Sin Chew agarwood. The agarwood in Xingzhou is mostly eagle tree species, with strong aroma, lasting aroma and long aftertaste.
The distinctive features of Xingzhou Aquilaria sinensis are not only rich in sweetness, but also unique milk fragrance, which is obviously different from Huian Aquilaria sinensis. Xingzhou agarwood includes Kalimantan agarwood, Kundian agarwood, Dalagan agarwood, Manila agarwood, Papua agarwood, Sumatra agarwood and Madong agarwood, Xima agarwood, Brunei agarwood and Malay chess leather.
Off-topic, many unscrupulous merchants on the market now sell fake agarwood in the name of high price. Fake agarwood is not only useless, but harmful to health. If you don't know the truth, please leave a message and I can help you identify it!
The above contents are edited by "Yixiangting Aquilaria" and "Tianxiangjie Aquilaria", hoping to help all the fragrant friends!