Thanakha is popular with young and old alike.

WOMEN in Myanmar have used thanakha for centuries as a natural skin conditioner and facial cosmetic, which they believe keeps their complexions soft, well-textured and youthful.

Despite the growing number of modern cosmetics and make-up on the market, thanakha continues to be used by large numbers of people who prefer traditional ways.

The cosmetic thanakha comes from the bark of the thanakha tree (Limonia acidissima), which grows in dry zone of central and upper Myanmar, particularly in Mandalay and Magway divisions.

However, one well-known variety of thanakha, called shan khauk by locals, is grown in the small southern Shan State town of Mauk Mei.

The traditional way of making thanakha is to grind the bark on a wet, circular stone, which forms a paste that can be applied to the skin as a sunscreen and cosmetic. This method is still popular in rural regions.

There also more than 20 companies that package thanakha in solid, liquid, paste and powder varieties. Of these, paste is the best-selling form.

“These days people don’t have much time to make thanakha themselves, so readymade products are more convenient,” said the owner of a thanakha shop in Yangon’s Bogyoke Market.

Taunggyi Mauk Mei thanakha paste, introduced to the market in 1991, is produced by Libra Company Limited. The paste, which is produced using bark from Mauk Mei, is sold in bottles or wrapped in thick paper.

“Our thanakha is made from 97.2 per cent pure natural bark of the thanakha plant. The other ingredients are glycerine (a beautifying oil), preservatives, lemon scent and citric,” said U Toe Win, the general manager of Libra.

“Unlike the other thanakhas in the market, we also add a traditional herbal medicine with healing qualities for pimples and freckles. The medicine makes the skin feel a little hot when our product is first applied,” he said.

Taunggyi Mauk Mei is produced in a factory in Mandalay, from where it is distributed to upper Myanmar. Products are distributed to lower Myanmar from Yangon.

The factory’s high production and quality control standards have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Productivity and Standards Board of Singapore (PSB).

“We want to penetrate the consumer market of those users who want quality,” said U Toe Win.

The thanakha manufacturing process involves selecting the bark, then washing and steaming it to kill fungi, mould and bacteria. Machines are used to grind the bark, then sand and other impurities are filtered out and excess water is removed. In the final step, extra ingredients, such as scents and preservatives, are added to the paste.

“The filtering stage alone has seven steps,” said U Toe Win.

The Yangon market for Taunggyi Mauk Mei thanakha is as big as the market in the rest of the country combined.

“Although the Yangon market is big, the use of our thanakha in the nationwide market is small compared with the population size,” he said.

U Toe Win said this is because many young girls believe that packaged products contain chemicals that will harm their skin. Instead they prefer to use thanakha they grind themselves.

“All thanakha paste producers use chemical preservatives, which have no bad effects on skin. All brands have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in Myanmar,” said U Toe Win.

Libra produces about 5000 bottles a day in the summer peak season, and about 3500 other times of the year.

“Thanakha is produced only Myanmar, so we would like our products to hit the international market,” U Toe Win.

Although Taunggyi Mauk Mei has not been exported, the products are well-known in China, Thailand and Malaysia through merchants who travel to these places, he said.

Thin Pyant Pyant Hmway Co., Ltd, has produced thanakha in solid form since 1993. The popular brand has penetrated the market throughout Myanmar, including Yangon.

Ko Chaung Lin, the owner of company, said the company produces about 3000 crystals a day, but they manufacture more during summer according to orders from retailers.

“We add chemicals, scents and preservatives because thanakha can spoil quickly,” he said.

Nat Mi Mae Trading Company produces thanakha in three forms: liquid, paste and powder. The portable liquid form is the company’s best selling.

“Thanakha liquid is readymade for applying. Paste and powder require a little water before application,” said the company’s director, U Khin Sein.

When Nat Mi Mae started business in 1978 it produced only liquid thanakha. The paste and powder products were introduced later.

Since opening, the company’s annual production has increased by 20 to 25 per cent. The majority of its market lies in states and divisions outside of Yangon.

For added scent, Nat Mi Mae uses perfumes imported from England and Swaziland.

Shwe Pyi Nan Company Ltd produces thanakha with different flower fragrances, including rose, star flower and kankaw. These products are popular with foreigners.

The company’s best-selling form is paste.