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The Tiare Tahiti - literally “the flower of Tahiti” – is French Polynesia’s national flower, and its fragrance has an unforgettable signature. Its powerful and suave smell recalls the Gardenia, the tuberose, with notes of apple flowers. Disembarking passengers find their senses engulfed for ever once the hei tiare, that luxuriant lei of white flowers, is laid on their shoulders.
The Tiare Tahiti (Gardenia Taitensis) is endemic to French Polynesia. This shrub belongs to the Rubiaceae family. Its snowy white regular flowers stand out against the glossy deep green untoothed leaves.
But fragrance and beauty are not the only assets of the Tiare Tahiti. It is also one of the most important plants of Ra’au Tahiti, the traditional pharmacopoeia of the Maohi culture. It plays a part in particular in preparations against headaches, earaches, eczema wounds… and in the famous Monoi oil.
In the Tahitian language, Monoi means scented or sacred oil. It is obtained by macerating medicinal and aromatic plants in coconut oil. The Tiare Tahiti then brings in its fragrance and its moisturizing and purifying virtues.
Traditionally, freshly-cut or dried flowers are mixed up with grated coconut pulp. The preparation is then left under the sun and progressively some fine and delicate oil appears on the surface, filled with sweet fragrance and virtues for skin and hair care. Monoi oil can also be produced by enfleurage of refined coconut oil with freshlycut Tiare Tahiti flowers which were picked up at bud stage. The latter process is used for Monoï de Tahiti (label of origin) – that prodigious oil which is now famous worldwide. Institute of Monoi |
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