Chacruna (Psychotria viridis) is the DMT-containing leaf at the heart of traditional Amazonian ayahuasca brews. This category covers dried Psychotria viridis leaf sold as an ethnobotanical reference specimen — a single-format page for researchers, ethnobotany students, and collectors who want to buy authentic South American plant material from a shop that's been sourcing botanicals since 1999.
Buy Chacruna Leaf — What This Category Actually Is
Chacruna is the common name for Psychotria viridis, a shrub from the Rubiaceae family (the same family as coffee) that grows across the Amazon basin. In ethnobotanical commerce, "chacruna" almost always refers to the dried leaf — not a powder, not an extract, not a tincture. That matters, because the category is narrower than most plant categories we stock. You're buying whole or cut-and-sifted leaf material, and that's it.
This page lists one product: Chacruna (Psychotria viridis) 50 grams, a dried-leaf reference specimen from South America. If you're new to the plant and want background on its botanical profile, our wiki goes deeper; this page is for people who already know what they want and are here to order.
Chacruna Leaf vs Adjacent Ethnobotanicals
If you're weighing chacruna against other Amazonian reference plants, the distinctions are worth knowing before you order:
| Plant | Family | Traditional pairing | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chacruna (P. viridis) | Rubiaceae | Ayahuasca admixture | Ethnobotany students studying Amazonian plant pairings |
| Mimosa hostilis | Fabaceae | Jurema/vinho da jurema | Researchers interested in Brazilian northeast traditions |
| Banisteriopsis caapi | Malpighiaceae | Ayahuasca vine | MAOI and harmala alkaloid research |
| Peganum harmala | Nitrariaceae | Middle Eastern/Persian use | Seed-based harmala study, dye applications |
Chacruna occupies a specific niche: it's a leaf, not a root bark or vine, and its botanical family (coffee relatives) is often a surprise to first-time buyers. Around 90% of chacruna on the ethnobotanical market comes from wild or semi-cultivated sources in Peru, Brazil, and Ecuador — sustainable sourcing is worth asking about.
Who Buys Chacruna Leaf
Honestly, the customer base here is narrow and we'd rather be straight about that than pretend otherwise. People who buy chacruna from us fall into three camps:
- Ethnobotany students and researchers — studying the Rubiaceae family, Amazonian plant taxonomy, or the history of ayahuasca as a cultural practice.
- Collectors of reference specimens — people building a herbarium of ceremonially significant plants.
- Cultural-history readers — shoppers who've read Terence McKenna, Jeremy Narby, or Wade Davis and want the physical plant in front of them.
If you're looking for a ready-to-use product, chacruna isn't that. It's raw botanical material. Start here if you know why you want it; if you don't, browse our ethnobotanicals section for plants with clearer traditional preparation contexts.
How to Choose — Decision Criteria Before You Order
Three things to weigh before you buy any ethnobotanical leaf material:
- Origin and sourcing. Wild-harvested Amazonian plants vary hugely in quality depending on the harvester. We've sold ethnobotanicals for 25+ years and the difference between a careful supplier and a sloppy one is immediately visible in the leaf.
- Storage condition. Dried leaf should arrive dark green to olive, not brown or dusty. Browning means heat damage during drying — common with rushed commercial processing.
- Pack size vs shelf life. Chacruna leaf stored airtight and away from light holds for 1-2 years. Buy what you'll actually use in that window.
When in doubt, get the 50g pack — it's the standard reference size and enough for a small collection or study set without committing to a kilo of material you'll forget about in a drawer.
Adult Use Only
This category is written for adults. Ethnobotanical plant material sold as a reference specimen is not appropriate for people under 18, and we don't ship it to minors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Psychotria viridis used for traditionally?
Traditionally used as a leaf admixture in Amazonian ayahuasca brews alongside Banisteriopsis caapi. In Shipibo, Asháninka, and other Amazonian traditions, the two plants are combined under the guidance of an experienced practitioner. We sell the dried leaf as a reference specimen only.
Is chacruna the same as ayahuasca?
No. Ayahuasca is a brew that traditionally combines two plants — Banisteriopsis caapi (the vine) and Psychotria viridis (chacruna leaf). Chacruna on its own is just one half of that traditional pairing.
How should I store dried chacruna leaf?
Airtight container, away from light, cool dry place. Stored well, the leaf keeps its colour and aromatic profile for 1-2 years. Heat and humidity are what degrade it — not time on the shelf.
Where does your chacruna come from?
Our chacruna is sourced from South America, where the plant grows native. We've been buying ethnobotanicals from Amazonian suppliers since the late 1990s and work with sources who harvest sustainably rather than strip wild populations.
What's the difference between chacruna leaf and chaliponga?
Both are DMT-containing leaves used as ayahuasca admixtures, but chaliponga (Diplopterys cabrerana) is from a different botanical family (Malpighiaceae, the same as the caapi vine) and is more commonly used in Ecuadorian and Colombian traditions. Chacruna (Psychotria viridis) is the Peruvian and Brazilian standard.
Last updated: April 2026