| The closest thing we have to "Bukhur" in the USA | | | | was not hard to find a shop carrying all the essentials |
| are flimsy little incense sticks that burn out in 5 | | | | I needed. My total investment was about 3 KD. This |
| minutes flat. They produce more of a smoky stench | | | | bought me a cute little wooden burner with an |
| than aromatherapy. So, you can imagine my surprise | | | | aluminum pot in the middle, a box of charcoal, and a |
| when I entered an Arab neighbor's home recently | | | | glass jar of bukhur shavings (I cannot afford to |
| and saw streaks of smoke floating through the air. I | | | | spend 100KD!) soaked in sugar syrup. When I got |
| knew it could not be incense because the smell that | | | | home, I immediately began setting up my burner. I lit |
| wafted into my nose was deliciously intoxicating. I | | | | a match and began roasting the charcoal. It would |
| immediately asked my neighbor what the strange | | | | not ignite. Frustrated, I turned on my stovetop |
| new smell was. She nonchalantly said "Bukhur," as she | | | | burner and, using steel tongs, I put it right in the |
| pointed to a small square hunk of wood that was | | | | flame. A-Ha...I saw a tiny ember begin to burn brightly. |
| sitting on her bookcase. | | | | I excitedly tossed it into the aluminum pot of my |
| My lesson in 'bukhur' had begun. The only details that | | | | burner and then covered it with a small spoon of my |
| my neighbor could provide me with were that it is a | | | | 'bukhur'. Nothing happened, there was not even a tiny |
| natural wood from the bark of trees called | | | | thread of aromatic smoke rising into the air. |
| 'AgarWood" and she told me where I could buy | | | | Something was wrong. I had smothered the coal. I |
| supplies (burner, charcoal, and bukhur). But that was | | | | had to start all over again. But this time, I let the |
| not enough. I needed to know more about these | | | | charcoal rest in the pot for about 10 minutes until it |
| strange little bits of wood. I hit the worldwide web | | | | was a complete smoldering red ember. Perfect! I |
| with an eager mind and anxious fingers. Not only did I | | | | placed another spoon of 'bukhur' on top of the |
| have difficulty pronouncing the name of it, but I was | | | | charcoal and the irresistible smoke began to rise. I |
| not even sure if I was spelling it correctly. I tried | | | | placed the burner on top of a high shelf in the living |
| several versions of the word from "Buhoor" to | | | | room and just let the smoke fill the room. |
| "Bukhoor" before I found the proper spelling. | | | | My kids had been busy playing video games in their |
| Information about 'bukhur' is quite scarce on the | | | | room, but the willowy smoke had drawn them into |
| internet. It is kind of like looking for a needle in a | | | | the living room to see what the new smell was. I |
| haystack. I did learn that it originates from Yemen | | | | was on my way back to the kitchen to put away |
| and is a form of indirect burning incense, which | | | | the charcoal and 'bukhur' when I heard my son shout, |
| means you need a heat source in order to burn it. I | | | | "Fire!". I giggled to myself because I knew that the |
| also discovered that it comes from trees grown in | | | | smoke was from the 'bukhur'. "It's not a fire dear, it |
| Southeast Asia in countries like India, Pakistan, China, | | | | just 'bukhur', " I yelled back. "No, there IS a fire |
| and Indonesia, to name only a few. High quality | | | | Momma," he frantically replied. I raced back to the |
| 'bukhur' actually comes from trees that have been | | | | living room and sure enough the little burner had a big |
| dead for centuries and this makes it a very rare and | | | | flame on the topside of it. I managed to blow it out |
| precious commodity. It also makes it very expensive. | | | | quickly and avoided a major disaster. It turned out |
| Prices can range from between 1KD (for bukhur | | | | that my burner was cheaply constructed. There |
| shavings saturated in sugar syrup) to more than | | | | were little splinters of wood where the pot had been |
| 100KD for full pieces of the precious bark. | | | | hammered in and those are what caught on fire. |
| "Bukhur" also contains several medicinal properties | | | | Since my first experience I have perfected my |
| when burned in the home on a regular basis. | | | | technique. I invested in a larger, sturdier burner that |
| Scientists in the West have said it is helpful in | | | | has a stainless steel pot rather than an aluminum one. |
| increasing relaxation, concentration, improves memory | | | | I also have made it a practice to stay in the room |
| and acts as an antiseptic. It is also helpful in people | | | | where the 'bukhur' is burning and not leave it |
| suffering from tonsillitis or other upper-respiratory | | | | unattended. The charcoal gets very hot and remains |
| ailments. | | | | hot well after the 'bukhur' has burned off. |
| Armed with sufficient knowledge, I decided to search | | | | "Bukhur" can be enjoyed all year round. It makes a |
| for my "Bukhur Kit" in Kuwait City this past weekend. | | | | wonderful and soothing addition that adds warmth to |
| My search began and ended in Souk Al-Kuwait. It | | | | your home. |