As soon as we first discovered kanna and its phenomenal potential as a high-potential herbal supplement, we decided that we had to start growing it ourselves on our organic farm! Kanna is a herb that is native to the Western Cape of South Africa. It is used by native peoples there to give strength and energy and to cause a pleasant intoxication. In recent times, it has been discovered that kanna acts as a SSRI, or selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, meaning that it acts in a very similar way to modern anti-depressant medications. Due to this, it has become very popular in the Western world. We are one of the few companies that provides not only kanna powder, but fine, fermented Whole White Kanna Leaf, which can be both chewed and smoked on its own or as part of a blend.
As these things generally go, a big “natural pharmaceutical” company has somehow claimed the rights to the plant and is developing it as a commercial product. The indigenous peoples who first discovered the many uses of the plant and how it should be properly prepared have not gained any money from this deal, and furthermore, they are facing an incursion of companies coming on to their land to harvest the plant. Understanding this, we knew that it would be morally unacceptable for us to offer this herb if our product was essentially being stolen from the peoples who held it sacred. So, we started growing kanna on our organic farm, ensuring that we can offer our clients a high quality product that is sourced in an ethical way!
Kanna is traditionally prepared in several ways, both of which are actually still the most effective methods of preparing the plant in a way that brings out its full healing potential while reducing unnecessary compounds that produce unwanted effects. The Khoisan tribe take the entire plant and macerate it, then place the material inside special bags that were tightly sealed to prevent evaporation. These bags are then placed outside under the hot sun to ferment for a number of days. The contents of the bag are then put on to a flat surface and allowed to dry. Finally, the dried plant material may be chewed as a quid or pounded in to a powder. Similarly, the African Bushmen prepared kanna by burying the plant material in a hole and shoveling hot sand over it. After about an hour of this, the plant can be pounded in to a powder.
We offer powdered, fermented kanna, but we are also one of the only sources for this Whole White Kanna Leaf. This leaf is naturally fermented and dried, giving it a wonderful sweetness, unlike most powdered kanna available nowadays. This kanna leaf is wonderful because, unlike the powder, it can easily be used as a smoking herb. It’s quite pleasant when smoked on its own, and adds a potent potentiation to any blend of smoking herbs as well!
This whole white kanna leaf can also be taken like powdered kanna.
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