Our bodies often work harder than we realize — at least until we wake up with an aching back and stiff joints. When sore muscles fail to relax or tissue wounds are slow to heal, many massage therapists in south-east asia turn to Plai remedy.

A close relative to Ginger, Plai’s aroma is strikingly similar to Eucalyptus with spicy notes. It has an extraordinarily high level of Terpinene-4ol, which is a component of Tea Tree and Sweet Marjoram. Plai generally has between 25-45% terpinene-4 ol in it.

• Name: Zingiber cassumunar
• Origin: Cambodia
• Process: Steam