What is Ra'pe?
Ra'pe is often made of several Amazonian plants. The core of most Ra'pe snuffs is the tobacco species Nicotiana rustica. This Amazonian tobacco, also known as mapacho, is used extensively in tribal rituals and is much stronger than N. tabacum, the type of tobacco found in cigarettes.
In addition to the tobacco, ra’pe. usually includes the alkaline ashes of other plants such as cinnamon, tonka bean, clover, banana peel, or mint, but many shamans keep the exact ingredients of their particular ra’pe a secret.
To many indigenous cultures of the Americas, tobacco is a sacred plant known to cleanse both individuals and ceremonial spaces. Ra’pe (pronounced “ha-pey”) is considered to be a powerful, cleansing snuff used by shamans in Brazil and Peru as part of important medicinal rituals.
Harvest
Ra'pe is sourced from a number of indigenous tribes in the Amazonian regions of Brazil and Peru, including the Apurina, Huitoto (or Witoto), Kanamari, Katukina, Kaxinawa, Kuntanawa, Matses, Nukini, Shanenawa, and the Yawanawa. Often, a blend’s name will include the name of the tribe and sometimes the name of the shaman who made it.
Benefits of Ra'pe
Properties of the selection:
NU NU – AUTHENTIC Matses snuff made by a master in the traditional way. Fresh jungle tobaccos and the inner bark of Mocambo or Theobroma Bicolor. 3-4 grams over 30-40 minutes needed for the full-on Matses hunting experience but only do this with a sitter and if you are very experienced with very strong hapay. Normal doses will still be interesting and very healing. Alert, energizing and feel-good factor.
YAWANAWA ANAMU – Grounding, Balance and focus. Also good for sinus issues and clearing away curses!
NUKINI HIGH VIBRATION - Tsunu, Mapacho Light, Manaca and Cetico and other plants. Heart connection, energizing, increases libido
NUKINI HIGH ENERGY - Tsunu, Mapacho Light, Manaca and Cetico and other plants. Physical connection, energizing, in body
YAWANAWA – Blend of pure Jungle tobaccos – powerful and visionary – spirit of the Jaguar. Be sure to blow high into the nostrils as it can burn at first. You may feel tingling, numbness and elevated heart rate at first too. Additional doses intensify visuals. Grounding.
COLOMBIAN HUG of LIGHT - Bobinsana, Mapacho, - heart-opening, connection to spirit, plant teacher
KATUKINA PASSIFLORA – Mapacho, Tsunu, Passiflora – mood-enhancing, meditative, healing, connection to self
NUKINI CUMACEBA – Uplifting and energising. Opens up sexual energy
NUKINI FORCA (JAGUAR) – Jungle tobaccos and ashes with master plants blend. Powerful, visionary, connection to forest spirits, strong energy
ORINOCO WARRIOR – Mapacho free rapé. seeds and herbs from the Venezuelan Amazon.
KAMANAWA CAMANAGUA with Piri Piri – Focus, concentration and high energy
KAXINAWA MASCULINO MARIRI – Strong, grounding, and sense enhancing with Black vine, Pixuri, and white Tsunu
HUNI KUIN NISSURAL – Relaxing rapé from the Kaxinawa tribe containing Nissural, medicinal herbs and other forest plants. Spiritual connection.
CABOCLA JUREMA PRETA – Parica and Jurema bark ashes, Jurema roots, Mapacho. Moves and cleans the energy and increases dreams and intuition. Opens the channels of connection to the animal kingdom. Mother Cabocla energy
YAMINAWA TSUNU CLASSIC - Pao Pereira, mixed Mapachos and Amyruca. Super powerful, cleansing and supremely energizing
Harmala Alkaloids
The particularly potent variety of tobacco called Nicotiana rustica contains high amounts of beta-carbolines, including the harmala alkaloids harmane and norharmane. These alkaloids are also found in the Amazonian vine Banisteriopsis caapi, one of the principal ingredients in ayahuasca. They are MAO-inhibitors that stimulate the body’s central nervous system by inhibiting hormones like serotonin and norepinephrine. The presence of these harmala alkaloids supports evidence that tobacco has antidepressant properties similar to those of ayahuasca and other psychedelics. These biochemical qualities would help explain the “grounding” feeling experienced by many people.