Kaibobo was the first village on Seram Island which started to produce eucalyptus oil. Since 1980 the production has become one of the main activities of the villagers which generates one source of income for the villagers to feed their families and to live a healthy lifestyle. Kaibobo is surrounded by beautiful hills providing the area with numerous of eucalyptus trees, of which the leaves are the key element for the production of the oil.

 

The Production Process of Eucalyptus oil in Kaibobo

 

In order to find out more about the production and the technique Tessa, from the product innovation team, got on an expedition and has found out interesting and astonishing facts about the Kaibobos and their individual process to provide their area with eucalyptus oil.

 

Mostly, early in the morning women, men and children in the village pick the leaves in the hills surrounding Kaibobo. The bushes are quite low so it is easy to reach them. They take all the leaves from the branches and put it in large bags or baskets. After a few hours women carry bags and baskets of around 30 KG on their heads back to the village.

The eucalyptus leaves are then collected and stored on the ground ready to be processed. There are large tanks in the village filled with water where you put the eucalyptus leaves in. Flames underneath the tank heats it up to create condensation. The water and the oil of the eucalyptus leaves go through a pipe out of the first tank and leads to a cold water tank in order to cool down the condensation. Finally, the oil and the water are in a jerry can where it gets separated to produce the 100% pure eucalyptus oil.

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