Traditional Incense Making Craft in Quang Ninh

The traditional art of making incense is not merely an ancestral tradition but also a symbol of the cultural heritage within the community, a family culture nurtured through generations.

Traditional Incense Making Craft in Quang Ninh

Incense holds an indispensable role in the Tet celebrations of every Vietnamese family. Its fragrance evokes nostalgia, warmth, and a sense of familial unity, a scent that resonates with those far from their homeland. This gentle, distinct fragrance, crafted from natural ingredients like vetiver roots, cinnamon, cloves, licorice, and nutmeg...

While the recipe for making incense varies by region, the essential ingredient remains vetiver roots. In Binh Lieu district, Quang Ninh province, vetiver plants thrive in this forested area.

The season for purchasing vetiver roots typically begins in November each year. After acquiring them from local residents, the vetiver roots are thoroughly cleaned, dried, and then processed.

Bai trees in Binh Lieu grow entirely naturally on hills, forests, and take about 3 years to develop roots that meet the standard for making incense.

In addition to bai tree roots, incense makers in Binh Lieu also use cinnamon, cloves, and sugarcane residue in the process. All are dried, ground, then mixed together in specific proportions.

While the process of making incense is not overly complex, it involves certain secrets, especially the precise blending of aromatic ingredients. Failure to adhere to the correct proportions may affect the scent and burning quality of the incense.

After accurately weighing the aromatic ingredients, the mixture of incense powder will be poured into a mixing machine and water added while blending to achieve the necessary moisture content and adhesive properties for molding incense. Nowadays, with the support of machinery in some stages such as grinding, mixing, and molding, the incense making craft in Binh Lieu achieves high productivity, providing good income.

The incense bundles are dried for 1 to 2 days in the sun and then packaged. During the drying process, careful attention is paid to the temperature to avoid breakage. On days with insufficient sunlight, incense makers must use a drying machine and dry for about 5 hours at a temperature not exceeding 45°C.

Once dried or sun-dried, the finished incense is complete. The final step is inspection, removing any substandard incense sticks, and packaging before being brought to the market.

The artisanal scents of Binh Lieu utilize locally-sourced ingredients, providing both employment opportunities and high-quality fragrances to the market without the use of harmful chemicals, ensuring consumer health.

Igniting a stick of Binh Lieu incense releases a delightful aroma of natural ingredients, elevating spirits and making each Tet holiday warmer and more inviting.

While the craft of making incense in Binh Lieu is now practiced by a dwindling few, its cultural significance perseveres. The scent of incense continues to waft naturally, embedding itself in the soul of every Vietnamese.

According to Mytour

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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide