Doris Lim took an excursion to Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng – Agarwood Sanctuary to check out the most expensive tree in the world and drink teas made from its leaves!
I’ve always wanted to recharge my batteries by wasting time where negative ions are abundant.
The rainforests call me beautiful green places with cold and pristine air.
I lost my lethargies and felt lighter when we entered the Gaharu Tea Valley, an Agarwood plantation outside Gopeng, Perak.
This agro-tourism destination is Malaysia’s best green lungs to experience the harmful ion-rich oxygen’s immediate effect.
It has a soothing, relaxing effect on my body.
The locally grown Gaharu is Agarwood, the most expensive wood in the world!
Agarwood is highly prized for its distinctive exotic fragrance found in the dark resin embedded in the heartwood.
Western perfumers in many cultures value the essential oil called “oud” or “Oudh.”
The highest grade of Agarwood oil fetches higher prices than gold.
Its high commercial value and popularity in Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures made the Agarwood rare and endangered in the wild.
Forest of Gaharu trees with the Viewing Platform at the peak of the Hill. Photo by DORIS LIM
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History of Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng
Gaharu Valley is David Ho’s brainchild, whom a Japanese researcher gave two hundred saplings in 1992 for planting.
It was a patient endeavor as the trees took fifteen years to mature.
There are now more than 200,000 trees planted on a 330-acre site.
The Ho family wanted to promote this endangered plant species’ medicinal use and opened public facilities in 2011.
Gaharu leaf, used to brew ‘Hoga’ tea, captured in a close-up shot
Take a Tour of Gaharu Tea Valley
We took a minivan tour up the meandering roads to view the valley’s Gaharu trees.
As we ascended the Hill, the road became steeper and the weather colder.
Agarwood is harvested from the older and more mature trees higher up the Hill.
Our guide explained that in nature when the Agarwood is attacked by insects such as weevils that bore into the trees, the tree will produce a resin from these “wounds.”
Commercially, holes are drilled in the mature trees to inoculate them and to “encourage” rotting.
The resin leaking from these wounds is used to manufacture the precious “oud.”
The older wood is split, and the resin is processed into aromatic oil by boiling.
We passed by a processing plant where Gaharu leaves are processed into tea.
The leaves and branches from the younger trees are harvested after the trees reach two years old.
The Gaharu Tea is made from these leaves.
The tour took us to several parks to walk around, experience the serene environments, and take photos.
Hugging Hill has a colourful animal painting that looks like the animals hugging the trees.
We even spotted a few visitors hugging a Gaharu tree for good luck!
Artistic rendition of beetles and a bear painted on Gaharu trees at Hugging Hill
Capturing memories: Visitors pose with the painted Gaharu trees on Hugging Hill.
Gaharu Tea Valley Viewing Platform
Right at the peak, there is a viewing platform overlooking the plantation.
I loved the view here and drank in the fresh mountain air.
The incredible panoramic view of the evergreen plantation is invigorating.
The Gaharu tree is reputed to emanate negative ions.
The air seems fresher and more soothing.
The naturally cool Gaharu forest is reputed to encourage creativity and relieve stress.
I felt inspired.
We stopped at the Lover’s Park, centered on an intertwining pair of embracing trees on the way down.
Legend has it that any couple who makes an oath under the Century Lover’s Tree will remain devoted to each other forever.
Gaharu branches are being harvested for resin extraction
Gaharu Products
The tree has multiple health and medicinal values.
One of the most popular products is the Gaharu Tea is reputed to
- reduce the effect of gout
- control diabetes
- lower blood pressure
- has anti-inflammatory properties
- help in insomnia
- constipation
- flatulence
- asthma
Anti-cancer and anti-aging properties are also claimed.
Other products which contain Gaharu include
- Cookies
- instant noodles
- soup mix
- nougat
- oil
- fragrance
- wood chip pendants
I drank copious cups of the complimentary tea, which is fragrant and refreshing, and bought a stash home for future pick-me-ups!
If you can’t plant a Gaharu tree in your garden, don’t fret. Large decorative pieces of Gaharu Wood are sold as decor for homeowners who want to enjoy the forest’s aura.
We tried some tea eggs, cakes, and even ice cream with the Gaharu products for snacks.
Kids savoring the flavor of ‘Hoga’ tea.
Tour of Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng
The Gaharu plantation tour costs RM10-00 for adults and half-price for children. A minimum of two people are required each time.
I received a sample sachet of Gaharu Tea, a piece of Gaharu wood (to ward off evil and give a good aura), and an informational/promotional DVD about joining the tour.
The road to Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng is through Kampung Sungai Itek.
The plantation is surrounded by a 3-meter high retaining wall that resembles the Great Wall of China to protect the valuable Agarwood from intruders or wild animals.
A 10-year-old Gaharu tree can contain Agarwood worth RM 25,000, so the trees are worth protecting.
HOGA, Gaharu Tea Valley Gopeng 务边沉香山茶园 Agarwood Sanctuary
Lot 9840, Mukim Teja, Kg. Pintu Padang,
31600 Gopeng, Perak.
Visiting Hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
Website: https://www.hoga.my/hoga-experiences/
