Description
Huitoto rapé | Copoazu – jungle cacoa | Feminine Wisdom | #45
This rapé brings sweetness to life and protection against evil. This special Huitoto Copoazú blend uses two ancient cacao related plants known as Copoazú (Theobroma grandiflorum) and Macambo (Theobroma bicolor). In modern-day taxonomic plant classification the name Theobroma given by Carolus Linnaeus means “Food of the Gods”.
The Macambo plant is also known as the Jaguar Tree. The bean is nutty, packed with protein, fiber, and mood-boosting serotonin compounds. In the case of Capoazú the fruit’s pulp is delicious and is regarded as the mother of the sacred Cacao tree.
Macambo Theobroma bicolor or Jaguar tree is a close relative of the Cacao plant, it is packed with protein, fiber, and mood-boosting serotonin compounds.
The Huitoto Tribe
“The Huitoto people got the cacao and sweet yuca. That is our medicine. The owner of all, the creator, gave us those elements. Rapé came to us from the Tanimuca people. They taught us how to make and use rapé and we shared the mambe and Ambil. We, the Huitotos reunited with the mucunas, every night when we sit in front of the fire to listen to the elders and get their advice, we share our elements.” – Victoria, female shaman from the Huitoto tribe (January 2017).
This tribe lives in the Amazon forest scattered along the Colombian-Peruvian Border. Even though they have small home gardens they are mainly hunters and gatherers. Their language belongs to the linguistic family bora-witoto.
What is Rapé?
Rapé, pronounced ‘ha-pey’ in Portuguese, is a traditional snuff used by various indigenous tribes of South America. Predominantly tribal people from Brazil and Peru. Rapé blends contain a ground mixture of plants, tree bark, seeds, and ash. The fine powder is blown into each nostril through a bone or bamboo pipe called a ‘Tepi’ or ‘Kuripe’. The Tepi applicator is a long blow pipe that connects the nostril of the receiver to the mouth of the person that administers the snuff. The Kuripe is for self-application. The V-shaped applicator connects the nostril to the mouth allowing the snuff to be self-blown into the nose.
Each tribe has its own rapé formula and usually, it is women who gather the ingredients. The selection, mixture, and grinding process are regarded as a ritual only to be performed by a reputable healer. The snuff is typically made in small batches according to the specific needs of the person being treated or the ceremony’s occasion.
The use of Rapé aims to restore our connection to nature and a sense of grounding. It clears mental fog and confusion eliminating negative thought patterns. These powerful snuffs bring about physical and spiritual wellness.
Read more:
Step by step guide to using Rapé.
What is Rapé – Waking Herbs blog
