Category: Culture

Tibetan Incense Perhaps you’ve noticed from the available products that our online Tibet store is the perfect place to shop a variety of authentic Tibetan incense. The most defining (and presently most popular) facets of Tibetan incense are the purity of its ingredients and the depth of its heritage. Though commercial incense has become widely available over the past few years, traditional production methods are still practiced across the plateau. Today, most Tibetan incense is still hand-rolled, and unlike other incense producing regions. Central supporting sticks are not used to hold the incense together. Although an exact timeline for Tibetan incense culture and production is not verifiable, it is almost certain that incense reached Tibet from the Indian subcontinent. Incense-making adapted to local conditions and materials, and various recipes highlight the unique flora of the Tibetan plateau. Most recipes include a mixture of local herbs renowned for their medicinal properties, with a wood base used as the primary ingredient. Agar, pine, saffron, amber and highland flowers are just a few examples of the many plants that may be used. Ingredients are first ground into a powder and then mixed with water to form a paste. The paste is then hand rolled and allowed to sun-dry. Other varieties of incense include loose, powder-form mixtures. Which are burned in special bowls or offering altars, conical incense sticks, and “rope incense.”  Made by twisting thin sheets of rice paper laced with incense mixtures. Traditional Tibetan Incense The tradition and culture of incense on the plateau is unique not only for its production methods, but for its importance to both medical and religious traditions. Incense is believed to enhance health and mental clarity by purifying the senses of the individual and the surrounding air. It is purported that the different blends of medicinal plants