Birch Tar – Living Resin from the Past

Birch tar is a material that has been used in nearly all areas of human life – be it medicine, warfare, or rituals.

General Description

Unit: 100 g
Price: per 100 g

Our tar is handcrafted using traditional methods.
Important: The product is delivered in its raw state and may require further processing depending on your intended use.

Product Condition

Raw State (as obtained)

• Thick, viscous liquid

• Low melting point

Historical uses:

• Sealing and waterproofing

• Disinfection and insulation (e.g., impregnating arrowheads attached with bone glue)

• Medicinal purposes

• Various household applications

Condition for Gluing (after boiling down)

To use the tar as an adhesive, it must be boiled down:

• Place the container with tar outdoors near a fire source.

• Avoid strong bubbling – only small bubbles are acceptable.

• Birch charcoal powder may be added if desired (included in the package).

• Boiling time is usually 1–2 hours, depending on the desired consistency.

• Alternative: If you have time, leave the tar in direct sunlight for several days – it will thicken on its own.

⚠️ IMPORTANT:

• Do not inhale the fumes directly – they are harmful to health!
• Over-boiling will make the birch tar brittle.

Condition for Incense

When boiled down extensively, the tar becomes a hard, brittle lump.
In the past, people used such tar to smoke out houses before childbirth to purify the air – which makes sense, as birch bark contains strong antiseptic compounds.

 

Additional Information

Used since the Stone Age:

• For attaching spear and arrowheads
• For sealing boats
• As medicine (wound treatment)
• As incense in solid form

To improve its adhesive properties, our tar is mixed with birch charcoal powder.

Modern use: An ingredient in ichthammol ointment.

⚠️ Caution: Large amounts of tar in open wounds may be carcinogenic. In medicine, it is used only in strict dosages.

 

Working Tips

• Working with birch tar is messy – stains won’t wash out of clothing!

• Recommendation: Rub your hands with oil before working – the tar won’t stick and will wash off more easily.

• If you still get stains on your skin, use white spirits or rust remover.

Important Notice

We produce birch tar only from available birch bark leftovers.
For larger quantities: Please contact us separately in advance.