Tag Archives: Wadi Modaam

No trip to the Dhofar region would be complete without a close look at a frankincense tree and the resin it produces. Known throughout Arabia as luban, frankincense is the resinous, aromatic gum of a scrubby, gnarled tree the Boswellia sacra-that thrives in the narrow boundary between the Dhofar mountains and open desert. One of the best places to learn about this precious substance is Wadi Modaam where asha’bi frankincense is produced. In April, the resin collecting season, Wadi Modaam appears to be devoid of all vegetation. Look closer and keen eyes will spot hundreds of wizened and twisted trees dotted across the wadi and over brown, seemingly barren hillsides that will be transformed to a lush green by September and the end of the Khareef. Watch as a skilled artisan uses a manqafa small putty knife tool to cut away a section of bark for the first “tapping” to allow resin to ooze from the tree. The sap is chipped off carefully, collected in a shallow bowl and dried in a mountain side cave for up to 10 days. This deceptively simple process requires considerable expertise so that the tree is left healthy, ready for subsequent years’ tapping.  

Frankincense could be your raison d’être to visit Oman, a country known for enticing fragrances. If you are travelling to Oman, you can find frankincense in most souqs of this country. Although, Dhofar region is especially famous for the immersive experience it offers by showcasing the meticulous process of producing frankincense, known throughout Arabia as Luban. One of the best places to learn about this precious substance is Wadi Modaam where asha’bi frankincense is produced. In April’s resin-collecting season, its barren hills hide gnarled trees awaiting the Khareef’s lush renewal. Skilled artisans use a manqafa, a small putty knife, to tap the bark, releasing precious sap, later dried in mountainside caves—a delicate craft ensuring future harvests.