COPAIBA BALSAM medium thick 1 l

Part of a genus consisting of 35 to 40 species of tender, evergreen trees, reaching a height of up to 60 feet and native to tropical America and Africa. The Copaifera comes from the native American Tupi word 'copai' meaning the tree and its resin. The bark is aromatic. The leaves are pinnate, up to 5" long, and have 3 to 5 pairs of ovate leaflets. It produces small yellow flowers which are followed by yellow-brown to dark red fruits with black seeds. It is found mainly in the Brazilian rainforests.

The balsam is obtained by drilling holes in the trunk with each yielding up to 12 gallons. The first yield is colorless and very thin, being the consistency of olive oil, pale yellow, and with a peculiar odor and a bitter taste described as hot and nauseaus. It is said to resemble turpentine. But once in contact with air, its consistency becomes thicker and yellower.

The product varies in color, viscosity and odor according to the source with some having an unpleasant odor and taste (ie. C. reticula), and others having a pleasant coumarin-like odor (ie C. multijuga)