Malabathrum

Malabathrum is the name for leaves of the aromatic Cinnamomum malabathrum or Cinnamomum tamala tree, which grow in the eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats of India. Malabathrum was immensely popular with the ancient Romans in order to make a fragrant oil, used in unguent medicines and as a flavouring.

Syria produces the malobathrum also, a tree which bears a folded leaf, with just the colour of a leaf when dried. From this plant an oil is extracted for unguents. Egypt produces it in still greater abundance; but that which is the most esteemed of all comes from India, where it is said to grow in the marshes like the lentil. It has a more powerful odour than saffron, and has a black, rough appearance, with a sort of brackish taste. The white is the least approved of all, and it very soon turns musty when old. In taste it ought to be similar to nard, when placed under the tongue. When made luke-warm in wine, the odour which it emits is superior to any other. The prices at which this drug ranges are something quite marvellous, being from one denarius to four hundred per pound; as for the leaf, it generally sells at sixty denarii per pound.²⁰

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