For hundreds of years, Loc Thuy Commune, in the central province of Thua Thien- Hue, has been famous for producing cajuput oil.
The oil not only has an attractive fragrance, but is also very useful in easing aches and pains.
A cajuput oil bottle
Nguyen Van Hao, owner of a cajuput oil production facility, said, “In the past, the Loc Thuy region had forests of cajuput. When locals burned the wood, they noticed the pleasant smell. This is what incited the idea to produce the oil, and from then its medicinal qualities were discovered."
Another local, Truong Diep, who has done this job since he was small, shared some of his secrets. The cajuput leaves have to be cooked in a pot for for 5 hours. The ratio must be two parts leaves and one part water. It is also necessary to keep a steady burning flame, because if it gets too hot it could weaken the oil’s properties.
A 200ml bottle of oil, made from 150 kilogrammes of cajuput leaf, is sold at VND60,000 (USD2.94). Diep often prepares 2-3 batches of oil per day, when there are a lot of customers. But when customers are few, he reduces his output.
A truck driver, Hoang Van Toan, from Thai Nguyen Province, said whenever he travels through Phu Loc District, he buys the oil. “It makes me feel more comfortable when I get tired while driving.”
Loc Thuy Commune has 12 cajuput oil producers and hundreds of sales stalls along the National Highway 1A, even near the town of Lang Co, adjacent to Danang City.
The yellow bottles are a regular feature on the stretch of highway running through Loc Thuy
The cajuput trees in this region are of especially high quality. At one time people preferred imported medicinal oils such as Tiger Balms, but many investors have recognised the potential of this region of their native product. In the last 10 years, cajuput oil have become increasingly popular among local buyers.
Pure oil of cajuput sold beside National Highway 1A
Fresh cajuput branches
A cajuput oil pot being cooked
Leaves are put into a pot with water, the pot covered with a clay lid. Eventually the liquid overflows into a bottle
Afterwards, the bottle is submerged in cold water to make it solid and then the oil is decanted
There are two types of oil: white and yellow
Many products can be made from this oil, such as belts and backpads that help ease pains.
Many local children occupy themselves by collecting the leaves
