The word copal is from Nahuatl language Copalli. Literally translates to incense. Pre-Columbian Maya used for thousands of years and for many many reasons.


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Protium copal, commonly known as the copal tree, is a species of tree endemic to Mexico and Central America. It is found in wet tropical forests, preferring heavy shade.[1] It grows to 30 metres (98 ft) in height and has long leathery leaves.[1] The fruits are small (2–3 cm) and smooth, with a single pit.


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Just what is copal? Â Copal is the oldest known substitute for amber, often referred to as "immature amber". Â Copal is tree resin (not tree sap!) that has not gone through the fossilization process that makes amber what it is today. Experts can't agree about how old copal has to be before it becomes amber (it depends on geological, botanical and chemical transformations), but I found the general consensus seems to be that copal is usually less than 100,000 years old, but sometimes can be as young as 1000 years old (although those figures can vary widely from expert to expert). Â By comparison, the oldest amber pieces date to the Upper Carboniferous period, approximately 320 million years ago. Â All amber was once copal, but copal is NOT amber. Â Copal often has the same look and feel of amber, but should NEVER be labeled as amber, which, unfortunately, it often is today.

It is believed that indigenous peoples saw a close relationship between maize and copal: Â maize being an important food for mere mortals; and copal, seen as "tree blood", being the food of their gods.