After visiting and learning about incense production processes at several facilities in Ho Chi Minh City, in 2019, Mr. Tam invested over 50 million VND to purchase a powder grinding machine, a powder mixing machine, an automatic incense stick making machine, and a set of molds for casting agarwood incense cones to produce agarwood, cinnamon, and herbal incense sticks.
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The family of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam (Group 6, Tay Son Ward, An Khe Town, Gia Lai Province) has a stable income from incense production. Photo by Ngoc Minh |
"When I started production, I registered the incense production facility under the name Loi Tam so that customers could easily distinguish it and it would be convenient for transactions and supplying products to the market," Mr. Tam said.
To produce high-quality incense sticks, Mr. Tam uses natural ingredients such as cinnamon, agarwood, some herbal leaves, and powdered bời lời tree (a natural binder). All raw materials, after being purchased, are sorted, processed, and stored in a dry place to prevent mold, which would affect the quality and aroma of the incense sticks.
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Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam (Group 6, Tay Son Ward, An Khe Town, Gia Lai Province) uses cinnamon sticks, grinding them into powder as a raw material for incense production. Photo: Ngoc Minh |
Mr. Tam explained that each type of raw material is ground separately into a fine powder, creating incense sticks with a distinctive aroma that maximizes the fragrance of each ingredient when burned. The fine powder is then mixed with bời lời tree powder according to a specific formula and ratio. Water is added while mixing the powder to create a pliable mixture that is neither too dry nor too runny.
“If the powder is too dry, it’s difficult to bind together, resulting in uneven products. If the powder is too wet, it won’t adhere well to the bamboo sticks, making them prone to falling apart and taking a long time to dry. Producing incense sticks, cinnamon sticks, and herbal products is easier. Pour the pre-mixed powder mixture into a mold, then press it tightly, gently remove each product, air dry it, and store it in a box for 1-2 years without spoiling or getting moldy,” Mr. Tam said.
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The entire incense production process is mechanized by Mr. Tam's family, resulting in consistently beautiful products and high production efficiency. Photo: Ngoc Minh |
According to Mr. Tam, the entire incense production process is automated, resulting in uniform, beautiful products that require less effort than manual labor. The raw materials are poured into a hopper, and the machine automatically extrudes the powder, which then meets a tightly wound bamboo core, forming smooth, even incense sticks from top to bottom, unlike the rough, uneven texture of hand-made sticks. Each perfectly uniform incense stick is then pushed into a tray by the machine.
The finished incense sticks are spread evenly on drying racks to ensure they are free from dust and have good ventilation for faster drying. In sunny weather, they dry in one morning; in less sunny weather, it takes 1-2 days. Once thoroughly dry, the incense is packaged. Each bundle or box is printed with information about the ingredients, the name and address of the production facility, and a phone number for customer contact and to indicate the origin of the product.
“Cinnamon incense sticks (30-80cm long) cost 60-70 thousand VND/kg; herbal incense 100-130 thousand VND/kg; agarwood incense 200 thousand to 1 million VND/kg. Agarwood incense cones 800 thousand to 2 million VND/kg; herbal incense 350 thousand VND/kg; cinnamon incense 250 thousand VND/kg. Cinnamon incense coils 60 thousand VND/box; herbal incense 80 thousand VND/kg; agarwood incense 150-200 thousand VND/box. Products are supplied to markets within and outside the province, bringing a stable income of over 120 million VND/year to the family after deducting expenses,” Mr. Tam informed.
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The incense products from Loi Tam incense factory contain no preservatives and have a natural fragrance, making them popular and highly appreciated by customers. Photo: Ngoc Minh |
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hon, Mr. Tam's wife, shared: "Incense sticks, agarwood buds, cinnamon, and herbs can be used for worship or to purify the house, reduce fatigue and stress. In the months leading up to the Lunar New Year, the family has to double or even triple its production capacity to fulfill customer orders. Therefore, at this time, in addition to mobilizing children and grandchildren, the business provides jobs for 4-5 local workers with a wage of 200,000 VND per person per day."
For many years, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy (Group 6, Tay Son Ward) has been buying incense to resell and doing contract work, packaging products for the Loi Tam incense export facility. “Arranging incense sticks, cinnamon sticks, and herbs into boxes isn't too strenuous and is suitable for women. If we work diligently, each woman can earn extra money for Tet (Lunar New Year). I also import products from the facility to sell, earning an additional 1-2 million VND per month. The products contain no preservatives and have a natural fragrance, which is appreciated and highly rated by customers,” Ms. Thuy commented.
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Besides producing incense sticks, Mr. Tam's incense production facility also supplies the market with agarwood incense cones, cinnamon incense cones, and herbal incense cones. Photo: Ngoc Minh |
Mr. Nguyen Vu Hiep, Chairman of the Tay Son Ward Farmers' Association, said: "Loi Tam incense production facility is one of the effective production and business models. Maintaining and developing incense production by Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam's family not only creates jobs for workers but also diversifies the production sectors in the locality."
"In the coming time, in addition to encouraging families to further improve the quality and diversify the designs of their products, the Farmers' Association of Tay Son ward will guide Mr. Tam's family in preparing the necessary documents and procedures to register their products as OCOP products in 2025," emphasized the Chairman of the Tay Son Ward Farmers' Association.
The family of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam (Group 6, Tay Son Ward, An Khe Town, Gia Lai Province) has a stable income from incense production. |
Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/thu-nhap-on-dinh-tu-nghe-lam-nhang-post283262.html
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