The gum resin that seeps from old branches and has a vanilla scent was used to make perfume. Primarily, however, the tree was prized as a source of food ​ — its berries and especially its oil. The pulp of a ripe olive is about half oil.
यहुदी सणांची वेळ जवळ यायची तेव्हा हे सराफ मंदिरातील विदेश्‍यांच्या अंगणात आपले चौरंग थाटून बसायचे.