Tabaco de Moi which is a Nicotiana Rustica variety, is one of the most beautiful and sweet of all Rustica types available. The scent is just divine. Our Moi Tabaco comes from the reserve in the upper Jurua region. The Moi Tabaco is grown without agro-toxins. The name Moi refers to the shape and way of packing, like the Peruvian Mapacho masos. The Tabaco leaves are rolled up and wrapped up very compressed, either with a strip of natural latex, tree bark, or nowadays plastic string. The Moi sections look similar as the Peruvian Mapacho masos, but are 100 cm long and have thinner ends.

The seeds were thought to have been brought by the Northeastern rubber soldiers as they were called in the first half of the last century. They were the poor North Easterners that came in big numbers to Acre during the rubber boom trying to make their fortune or just surviving. The Northeast was always a region of big Tabaco production. It is thought that the seeds were mixed with native strains from the region. It is a wonderful Tabaco with a great flavour and character, however not as strong as the Tabacos used nowadays for much of the Rapé production. After drying and powdering, used alone or mixed into ashes this wonderful Moi heightens the senses and helps to put the user into a relaxed state of being. The aftertaste compared to other Rustica types is sweet and pleasant.

The story of how Moi got its name is typical for Brazil and its mixed cultural origins. In the first transports of Tabaco from Brazil to Europe, the leaves where just dried and bundled. Too many times the leaves did not survive the long journey and could be thrown away on arrival. The sea air was affecting the leaves adversely. For this reason, they started to experiment with intertwining the leaves creating a string of Tabaco leaves. This was called 'moles' in old Portuguese. The Brazilian settlers could not pronounce the word moles and started to call it Moi.

The production of Moi and other "rope" Tabaco is hands-on craftsmanship. The rolling of the Tabaco leaves into ropes is still a craft and requires experience and skill. After harvesting the leaves, they are sorted according to quality and placed on drying racks in the shade. After days of drying, the leaves are ready for the next phase. The central leaf grain from the partly dried leaves remains and is not removed. Then follows the interlacing and twisting of the leaves that gives the Tabaco its compact and round shape. After establishing the desired dryness, the newly formed Tabaco bundles are wrapped and compressed using a rope that is wrapped tightly around it. Then it is being left to ripen for several months. The slow fermentation process creates more flavour and delivers the final dark brown and very solid and massive appearance of Moi Tabaco. Finally the rope is removed.

In the state Acre the only Tabaco grown nowadays is the natural Tabaco de Moi, which is a milder Tabaco that is used less to produce Rapé nowadays. A lot of Tabaco is brought from other states to the Amazon where the Rapé crafters buy it for their production.

Image: Tabaco de Moi in sections

Scientific name: Nicotiana Rustica
Part used: Leaves
Form: In 100 cm long sticks / rolls
Region of origin: Alto Juruá, Acre state
Lot number: 202048
Method of processing: Leaves are rolled, wrapped and cured to form solid mass "moi" rolls.
Appearance: Moi rolls wrapped in plastic string.
Colour: Brown
Odour: Tabaco
Taste: Tabaco
Uses: Alcoholic tinctures, natural agriculture, apiculture

Upon receiving the product, you can keep it in the vacuum state for many months in the fridge. When opened, unpack the section and store it in paper wrapping out of the sun. When the outside becomes brittle over time you can simply spray the outside with distilled water, thereby the material will slowly absorb the water and the outside layer will become fresh again. Pack the humidified Tabaco in a plastic bag for a day or two, maximum. Then it needs to be wrapped in dry paper again.

Note: This can not be stored in a (non vacuum) plastic bag, as this may cause to form mold. Store it in paper instead, below room temperature.

See here how to make powder from raw Tabaco.

See here how to blend your own Rapé.

Other names: Moy, Moi Tabaco, Nicotiana rustica logs

All South American shamans have an intimate relationship with Tabaco, and consider it a very sacred, wholesome plant that is deeply entrenched in their culture and rites. Tabaco consumed in high amounts has strong psychedelic and hallucinogenic effects, as it contains two alkaloids, harman and norharman, which are closely related to harmine and harmaline (Janiger et al. 1973). These two beta-carbolines inhibit monoamine oxidase (Herraiz et al. 2005), leading to antidepressive and uplifting effects (Farzin 2006).

​In addition to Ayahuasca rituals that are combined with Tabaco snuffs, there are even shamans that specialized in Tabaco healing, called tobaqueros (Jauregui et al. 2011). When used in shamanic rituals, Tabaco is assumed to protect, cleanse and re-align energies, thereby bringing profound clarity and healing (Jauregui et al. 2011). Furthermore, South American shamans, commonly use Tabaco smoke to blow it over the person to be healed with the intention to bring their energies into equilibrium and clean out all negativity and anxiety (i.e. ‘sopladas’ – the healing energy of blowing) (Jauregui et al. 2011). Thus, Tabaco in the shamanistic culture has a potent function of cleansing, bringing clarity and focus, and for allowing strong visualizations.

Nicotiana Rustica is extremely potent, containing up to 20 times higher levels of nicotine than usual Tabaco, Nicotiana Tabacum (Stanfill et al. 2010). Therefore, this shamanic tool is extremely powerful and can provide an intense journey of cleansing and energetic shift. Through this highly activating Tabaco, one might feel a strong aiming of the mind, and intense clarity and focus.

The Brazilian "Tabaco de Moi" Maso is juicy and fresh when arrived in our stock. We remove the outer plastic wrapper, cut them into the desired sections and immediately vacuum seal them. This way they will retain their freshness and humidity content for a very long time.

The seeds of this special kind of Tabaco have been passed down from father to son over generations and it belongs to the widely known species of Nicotiana Rustica. Yet there is no commonly known name attached to it, but it could be compared to Mapacho, for it looks very similar. (The diameter is approximately 6-7 cm). The Moi is compressed and more dense and solid compared to Peruvian Mapacho. The "Tabaco de Moi“ maso is longer than the Mapacho masos (100 cm long) and also it is much more dense in its structure. The leaves appear to be a bit darker as they have been put through the process of fermentation. It has been organically grown in the jungles of Brazil. Chemicals are not necessary as Tabaco itself is a great fertiliser and commonly used insecticide among the farming communities.

This massive form of fermented Moi Tabaco is made according to an old traditional recipe and contains a solid but juicy jungle Tabaco. They are fresh and humid. They were vacuum-sealed when we received them, to keep them fresh and preserved during storage and transport.

Upon receiving the product, you can keep it in the vacuum state for many months preferably in the fridge. When opened, do not put is back in plastic, as it will likely form mould. Store it in loose paper wrapping in a dry spot, but away from light. When the Tabaco becomes dry and brittle over time you can simply spray the outside and the cut ends with distilled water, thereby the material will slowly absorb the water and the outside layer will become fresh again. Pack the humidified Tabaco in a plastic bag for maximum a day. Then it needs to be wrapped in dry paper again.

See here how to make powder from raw Tabaco.

See here how to blend your own Rapé.

This item is not allowed in the following countries:

Australia