Urushi trees 2024.10.02

Urushi trees (Toxicodendron Vernicifluum) grow only in limited areas in East Asia, e.g. Japan, China and Korea. It takes 12-15 years for the trees before a tree is big enough to be tapped. The sap contains urushiol which makes urushi durable and has a deep luster. The sap is taken by scratching the surface of the trees, which prompts the trees to produce sap in order to heal itself. Each tree produces no more than 200 ml of sap. This is one of the reasons why urushi products are so expensive.