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The two types of Boswellia species that grow in northern Somalia:
Maydi
The rare and treasured Frankincense (Maydi) tree that is known as "Yagcar" by the Somalis, is considered to be superior to other frankincense varieties. This frankincense species is found only on the steep vertical slopes of coastal Northern Somalia and produces high quality resins, herbs, botanicals, and oils. Maydi is sorted into eight grades consisting of mushaad, mujarwal, fas kebir (kabeer), fas saghir (saqeer), jabaanjib, shorta, slif and foox in order from best quality to least. The top four grades have exclusively been exported to Saudi Arabia for chewing gum while the remaining grades are exported to China for use in medicine, and France, Germany and England for use as incense in religious ceremonies. It has a deeper, more balsamic and resinous aroma than the popular B. sacra and B. carteri species but with its own wonderful light and lively top notes.
Boswellia Sacra
Boswellia sacra (sny B. carterii) with the Somali name moxor (mohor), and locally known as beeyo. The Boswellia sacra species is a small tree that grows to a height of 2 to 8 m (6 ft 7 in to 26 ft 3 in), with one or more trunks, and the bark has the texture of paper, and can be easily removed. The trees start producing resin when they are about 8 to 10 years old. The resin is extracted by making a small, shallow incision on the trunk or branches of the tree or by removing a portion of the crust of it. The resin is drained as a milky substance that coagulates in contact with air and is collected by hand. The most widely accepted opinion is that the vast boswellia forests which have existed for millennia in modern day Somalia produce an extremely high quality resin.