What Is Rapé
A sacred powder made from Mapacho tobacco and medicinal plant ash — used by Amazonian tribes for centuries to clear the mind, open ceremony, and return the body to presence.
Explore the MedicineWhat is rapé? A sacred powder
used for millennia in ceremony
Rapé — also spelled hapé, and pronounced ha-PAY — is a finely ground powder made from Mapacho tobacco (Nicotiana rustica), a variety two to three times more potent than commercial tobacco, combined with the ash of medicinal Amazonian trees. The specific plants, proportions, and preparation are guarded knowledge passed down within each tribe.
It is not snorted. It is not smoked. It is blown through a pipe — a kuripe for self-application, a tepi in ceremony — directly into each nostril. The experience is immediate and physical: a rush of clearing, then stillness.
"Rapé does not take you somewhere else. It brings you here — fully, completely present."
The history of rapé —
thousands of years of living tradition
Rapé originates in the Upper Amazon — the territories of the Huni Kuin, Yawanawa, Nukini, Katukina, Apurinã, and Shawadawa, among others. Each tribe has developed its own formulas over generations, using plants specific to their forest and their healing traditions.
Mapacho and plant ash preparations used in ceremony, healing, and communication with the spirit world across Amazonian tribes.
European colonization disrupts but does not erase. Sacred practices driven into isolation and preserved within communities.
Indigenous rights movements begin restoring cultural authority. Rapé traditions resurface alongside ayahuasca in the context of plant medicine revival.
Tribes share their medicine globally on their own terms — a source of cultural exchange, income, and healing that honours the tradition.
Six nations.
Six distinct medicines.
The Huni Kuin ("true people") are one of the most prolific producers of rapé in the Amazon. Their blends are known for clarity and grounding — earthy, direct, and deeply ceremonial.
- Cumaru
- Murici
- Canela de Velho
- Cacau
- 7 Ervas
The Yawanawa are celebrated for potent, expansive blends with a strong energetic charge. Their rapé is considered among the most powerful — used for deep ceremonial clearing.
- Tsunu
- Força Feminina
Often credited with sharing kambo with the world, the Katukina produce rapé known for its purifying power. Blended with eucalyptus, their medicine is sharp and clarifying — a deep respiratory and energetic cleanser.
- Eucalypto
A smaller tribe known for highly medicinal blends with healing plant combinations. Nukini rapé incorporates sacred tree barks and star medicines — their blends range from soft and feminine to fierce and grounding.
- 7 Estrelas
- Rosas Brancas
- Onça Jaguar
The Apurinã produce rustic, forest-floor blends with native Mapacho grown in the forest lowlands. Their Awiry blend is a classic green hapé — soft, clean, and deeply grounding.
- Awiry
The Shawadawa craft sacred hapé under the power of the full moon, blending Sunu ash with Mapacho for both material and spiritual healing. Their Kapayuba is revered for its ceremonial potency and balanced energy.
- Kapayuba
Applying rapé with
intention and care
Sit quietly for a moment before beginning. Know what you are releasing. Know what you are calling in. Rapé amplifies what you bring to it.
Place a small amount of rapé into the bowl of your kuripe. A match head to pea-sized amount is appropriate for beginners. Less than you think. You can always apply more.
Place the nostril end gently at your left nostril. Exhale fully. Blow one firm, controlled breath. The left side is associated with releasing.
Breathe through your mouth. Let mucus clear naturally. Do not blow your nose aggressively — allow the medicine to move. Eyes may water. This is expected.
Reload and repeat on the right side. The right is associated with receiving. Left before right: release before you receive.
Rapé strength guide —
choosing the right blend
| Strength | Character | Best for | Example blends |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gentle | Mild clearing, soft Mapacho, light ash content. Subtle grounding effect. | First time, daily practice, meditation openings | Cumaru, Canela de Velho, Katukina Força |
| Medium | Clear Mapacho presence, stronger clearing, noticeable stillness after. | Regular practice, ceremony support, focus work | Tsunu, Mulateiro, Nukini Especial |
| Strong | Intense clearing, strong Mapacho, deep physical response. Full sinus purge. | Experienced practitioners, ceremonial use | Yawanawa Sacred, Apurinã Forest, Paricá |
| Ceremonial | Maximum potency. Prepared specifically for deep ceremonial contexts. | With a trained facilitator only | White Jaguar, Matsés Sacred |
Frequently asked
about rapé
Rapé safety & contraindications —
know before you begin
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Severe heart conditions or high blood pressure
- Active respiratory infection
- Acute anxiety or psychosis
- Children
- Operating heavy machinery after use
- Begin with a very small amount
- Use in a quiet, grounded environment
- Have water nearby — do not drink immediately before
- Allow 15–20 minutes to integrate before resuming activity
- Source authentic medicine from tribal producers
- If new to rapé, receive from a trained facilitator first
Authentic rapé from
the source
Sourced directly from Huni Kuin, Yawanawa, Katukina, Nukini, and Shawadawa communities. Prepared by the hands of those who carry the knowledge.
