Calea zacatechichi - dried leaves (dream herb)

• Loose dried leaves, 25 g or 100 g
• Naturally dried, without chemical treatment
• Olive green to brownish green in appearance, with a strong herbaceous smell

Calea zacatechichi is a shrub of the Asteraceae family, found from Mexico to Costa Rica. Its epithet zacatechichi comes from Nahuatl and literally means bitter grass: the leaves are among the most bitter in the genus, which is the first feature by which it is identified.

Among the Mazatec of Oaxaca, the plant is documented in the ethnobotanical literature under the name thle-pela-kano, which authors translate as leaf of god. It is this ethnographic documentation that earned it its Western nickname of dream herb.

The leaf is oval, toothed, with clearly marked veins, and measures 3 to 8 cm. A good batch keeps identifiable leaves rather than an indistinct powder: material that is too finely ground no longer allows the species to be verified. The very pronounced bitterness is the second clue.

What is the difference between the dried leaves, the plant and the seeds?
Three separate products. The dried leaves are collector's plant material. The live plant is intended for growing. The seeds let you sow it yourself.

Where does the name zacatechichi come from?
From Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs: zacatl for grass and chichic for bitter. So the name simply describes the taste of the leaf.

How should it be stored?
In an airtight container, away from light and moisture. The dried leaf breaks up easily: avoid handling it more than necessary.

Can it be consumed?
No. We sell it as collector's plant material, not as a food product, and we provide no preparation method.

This plant is sold as plant material intended for collection, ethnobotanical study and ornamental use. It is not a food product and is not intended for consumption. We provide no dosage, no preparation method and no expected effect. Sale restricted to adults (18 and over).

Also worth exploring: our dried herbs of the world and our ritual plants.