Bayberry (Myrica cerifera) has a fascinating history intertwined with colonial America. Early settlers discovered the bayberry tree growing throughout the East, but instead of using it for medicines, they prized it for its fragrant wax.
The women of colonial households would gather bushels of bayberries, boil them, and skim off the waxy substance that rose to the top. It took about 15 pounds of bayberries to produce just one pound of wax. Wealthier families used this bayberry wax to make their winter candles, as it had a much more pleasant scent than tallow.
The tradition of burning bayberry candles during Christmas or other special occasions gave rise to the cherished legend of the bayberry candle.
