The Bible records that three wise men took him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Gold we all know, but where on earth does one find the other two in the present day, and what are they?
Frankincense
Frankincense trees mainly grow in areas with alkaline soil, and with a lot of limestone; so there is very little other vegetation there. The harsher the conditions, the finer the oil that comes out of these plants. They grow along the Southern Coast of Arabia, especially Oman and Yemen; and in semi-arid parts of East Africa in Northern Kenya, Somalia, and parts of Ethiopia.
Once the gum from the Frankincense resin has been sorted, it is boiled and the vapour – a mixture of water and oil, is taken through a condensation compartment. At that point, the oil and water separate. The oil is extracted through a process of distillation, and the clear golden oil is then packaged for sale.
Frankincense barks can also be used as an incense, but they have to be burned to release its fragrance. They are also chewed as gum, used as a perfume, and as treatment for a wide range of ailments. Commercially, they are used as an essential oil in perfume, cosmetic and flavour industries
Myrrh
The myrrh bush thrive in the semi-desert countries of present-day Somalia and Yemen. Shallow cuts are made on the tree trunks and branches to stimulate the production of myrrh resin; which upon extraction can be used for embalming (which the Egyptians used for their mummies), and in the Bible, it is said to have been mixed with wine to be used as a painkiller for Jesus.
It is used as an ink in Islamic schools, burned to repel insects and snakes, and as medicine. Commercially, they are used in perfumes, flavours and cosmetics (such as stomach remedies, mouthwashes and toothpaste).
But why were these offered as gifts if they were no more than aromatic spices? The reason is that these spices played many important roles, as when they were used in beauty care, religious services, and burial of the dead. Hence, in Jesus’ day, there was high demand for them, and the fact that they were highly sought for made these spices really expensive.
What may have also contributed to their high value were the transportation and marketing costs, because the Arabs for a long time had a monopoly of the spice trade, and sometimes had to travel great distances to procure them, going as far East as present day India and China, and as far south as present day Somalia. This thus made these spices befitting presents for a king.
