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a remedy · a water
frankincense water
frankincense steeped in water — a quiet, resinous water to sip
frankincense — luban, the tears of the boswellia tree, burned as incense for a thousand years and, in the kitchens of my grandmothers, quietly steeped in water. a small piece, left overnight, gives a soft, resinous water to carry through the day.
what you need
- a few pieces of edible frankincense resin (luban / boswellia) — the clean, pale tears
- a glass bottle or jar of spring or filtered water, about 1 litre
- optional: a small strainer or infuser basket
the ritual
- rinse the resin briefly under cool water to clean it.
- drop a small piece, or a few, into a litre of water in a glass bottle.
- leave it at room temperature for about 24 hours. the water turns soft and cloudy-white as the resin gives itself to it — that milkiness is the sign it is working.
- move it to the fridge, and sip it through the day like ordinary water.
- the same piece can be topped up with fresh water again and again, for weeks, until it slowly dissolves.
- a warm way to start: pour just-boiled water over the resin and leave it overnight, then use it within a day or two.
a note of care
a traditional ritual, shared with love — not medical advice. use edible, food-grade frankincense only, and skip it in pregnancy or if you are unsure.