Yawanawá Tsunu Rapé – A Classic Grey Blend

Function and Composition

This Rapé is prepared from two cornerstone ingredients of the Yawanawá tradition: Arapiraca Corda Tabaco, a strong and earthy fermented Tabaco, and the ashes of the Tsunu tree, considered by the Yawanawá to be among their most sacred plants. The result is a classic grey Rapé: finely powdered, smooth to receive, and easily expelled after use. Its balanced preparation makes it one of the most widely recognized Yawanawá blends, suitable both for daily grounding and for ceremonial practice.

Energetic and Ceremonial Effects

Yawanawá Tsunu is known for its uplifting yet stabilising quality. The first impression can be sharp, even fiery, before settling into a calm sense of focus and clarity. Many users describe a feeling of cerebral “opening” at the back of the head, accompanied by watery eyes and an overall lightening of energy. Traditionally, it is said to dispel fatigue, restore strength, and clear the mind before ritual, bathing, or hunting. While its effect is not overwhelming, it carries a subtle depth that makes it a constant favourite among experienced practitioners.

Plant Ash Spotlight – Tsunu

The Tsunu tree produces a pale, cream-coloured ash that has become synonymous with Yawanawá Rapé. While the name “Tsunu” can refer to several regional trees, the Yawanawá distinguish their ancestral variety, prized for its gentle yet powerful qualities. Tsunu ash is associated with clarity, energetic protection, and spiritual cleansing. Its balanced character makes it a preferred base for many blends across the Amazon. To read a comprehensive article on the Tsunu ashes, click here.

Tabaco Spotlight – Arapiraca Corda

Arapiraca Corda Tabaco is one of the most respected Tabaco's in Brazil, grown in the state of Alagoas and widely used by tribes throughout Acre. Its name comes from the way it is cured and braided into long “cords,” which are then fermented to develop a rich, earthy aroma and a dense, potent character. In Rapé, Corda provides depth, grounding, and a strong physical presence, while still blending smoothly with ashes such as Tsunu. The Yawanawá favour it for its reliability and the way it anchors the spirit during ceremony. To read a detailed article on the Arapiraca Corda Tabaco, click here.

Natural Variation and Care Notes

As with all traditional Rapé, each batch of Yawanawá Tsunu may vary slightly in colour and texture, depending on the season, the specific trees used, and the way the ashes are prepared. This blend is finely sieved, giving it a smooth feel and a clean absorption. Store in a cool, dry place, tightly sealed, to preserve its freshness. The strength and subtleness of this Rapé make it a dependable ally for both newcomers and seasoned users, embodying the enduring legacy of the Yawanawá people.

Maker’s Lineage – Rasu Yawanawá

This Rapé comes through the hands of Rasu Yawanawá, a respected member of the Yawanawá people and custodian of their medicine. Rasu undertook his initiation at a young age, guided by his elders through prayer, dieta, and deep immersion in the forest. Today he carries forward this knowledge with dedication, preparing Rapé in the traditional way and upholding the sacred bond between his people and their plants. Beyond his role as a medicine man, Rasu is also known as a musician, using both song and instrument to share the beauty of Yawanawá culture. His work bridges the ancestral teachings of the forest with contemporary expression, ensuring that the spirit of the Yawanawa remains alive and accessible for future generations.

Tribal and Cultural Context

The Yawanawá, whose name means “people of the wild boar,” inhabit the Gregório River region of Acre, Brazil, and belong to the Pano linguistic family. After generations of cultural suppression by missionaries, they have revived their ancestral practices, with Rapé playing a central role in this renewal.

The Yawanawá have a profound knowledge system held by their initiates and shamans. The study of their spirituality begins with prayers, diets, and extended initiations, which mark the path of learning. Among their sacred medicines, Rumẽ or Rumã, as they call their shamanic snuff, occupies a central place as one of their main preparations of power. Rapé has an ancestral legacy of healing that reaches back into immemorial times in their cosmology, woven into their stories and myths of origin.

Tsunu Rapé is their most emblematic expression of this lineage — a daily staple much like “rice and beans.” It is used in ceremonies, before bathing, and in preparation for prayer or hunting. For the Yawanawá, Rapé is not simply a tool, but a living connection to their songs, rituals, and the forest itself. Through Tsunu, they maintain balance, focus, and alignment with both the natural and the spiritual world.

In recent decades, the Yawanawá have also been remarkable for recognising the role of women in their medicine paths. Putanny and Hushahu Yawanawá were the first women to undergo the rigorous one-year initiation diet traditionally reserved for men, breaking taboos and becoming respected spiritual leaders. Their path marked a turning point, ensuring that the strength of Yawanawá medicine is carried forward by both women and men, preserving balance within their community. To read a detailed article on the Yawanawá tribe, click here.

Setting the Standard for Ultra Fine Rapé

We take great care to reprocess all received stock to ensure the finest quality powder. Often, Rapé arrives with varying levels of fineness due to the lack of professional sieves used by the tribe. To address this, we meticulously sieve all powders to remove rough bits and particles, resulting in an exceptionally smooth and effective powder at 150-micron fineness. We use laboratory-grade sieves and dehydrating equipment to achieve this quality. This is our standard because it provides the best Rapé experience.

Reports from customers

"...This Rapé is really wonderful. It begins by cleaning the eyes and sinuses (and also the intestines if we have not eaten very healthily recently). Then the energy goes up and aligns the different chakras while bringing clarity of mind. It also opens the senses (especially increases the sense of smell) and makes us more receptive to subtle dimensions. A Rapé to be tasted preferably in a healthy environment, in full nature, to benefit fully from its effects. My favourite..."

"...Yawanawa Tsunu is a wonderful Rapé that I first discovered in one of Katukina's free samples, I have used it ever since as a beautifully uplifting part of my meditation and offering ceremonies...."

Disclaimer

The information provided above is for historical, educational, and scientific purposes only. It should not be interpreted as a recommendation for the specific use of our products. Any statements about traditional uses are informational. The use and application of our products are the customer's decision and responsibility.

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Other names: Tsunu, Yawanawa Grey

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