Mapacho

What mapacho is

Mapacho is a Spanish common name for Nicotiana rustica, a tobacco species of the nightshade family (Solanaceae). In English it is also known as Aztec tobacco or wild tobacco. It belongs to the same genus as Nicotiana tabacum, the plant usually called tobacco or Virginia tobacco, but it is a separate species. The products in this category are listed as Nicotiana rustica or, for the ambil paste, as tabaco rustica resin. Like everything at Mycotrop, mapacho is sold strictly as a collectible or souvenir item: the product pages describe the material and the format, not how to use it.

Mapacho at Mycotrop: forms and sizes

The nine products differ in form – powder, rolled or tied leaf, or paste – and in origin. The table lists each one with the sizes you can choose.

Powder, roll or paste

The Arapiraca and Sabiá powders are listed as powdered leaf, the Sabiá powder as fine; the Mói powder is listed simply as powder. All three come in the same pack sizes, so you can compare them by name and origin. The rolls and bundles keep the leaf in one piece. For the Mói and Arapiraca rolls you choose between a half roll and a whole roll, while the Sabiá roll comes as a single 100 g roll. The Tauari leaves are tied into a bundle, and the Maso roll is the only mapacho in this category from Peru. Ambil is a different format again: a 50 g paste from Colombia, listed as tabaco rustica resin.

Names and origins

Mói, Arapiraca, Sabiá, Tauari and Maso are the names under which these products are sold. They identify the product and where it comes from, not a different plant: all eight products sold under these names are listed as Nicotiana rustica. Seven products come from Brazil, the Maso roll from Peru and the ambil paste from Colombia. The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew) gives Peru as the native range of the species and records it as introduced in many other regions.

Rapé blends are usually made with Nicotiana rustica as well; you will find them by people and maker in our Rapé category. Mapacho itself belongs to the Smartshop, alongside our other botanicals.

Packaging and delivery

Orders are prepared on business days and shipped in neutral outer packaging that does not describe the contents. When tracking is available, the link is sent by email after dispatch. Many international deliveries arrive within 3 to 15 business days after dispatch; this is an estimate only. See Delivery, Tracking & Returns.

Frequently asked questions

What is mapacho?

Mapacho is a Spanish common name for Nicotiana rustica, a tobacco species of the Solanaceae family, also called Aztec tobacco in English.

How does mapacho differ from ordinary tobacco?

It is a different species of the same genus. Ordinary tobacco is Nicotiana tabacum; mapacho is Nicotiana rustica.

Which forms and sizes are available?

Powder (Mói, Arapiraca, Sabiá) in 10 g, 50 g and 250 g; leaf rolls as a half or whole roll (Mói, Arapiraca) or a 100 g roll (Sabiá); a Tauari leaf bundle; a Maso roll; and a 50 g ambil paste.

Where do the products come from?

Seven come from Brazil, the Maso roll from Peru and the ambil paste from Colombia. Each product page states the origin.

How is mapacho shipped?

In neutral outer packaging without a product description, with a tracking link sent by email after dispatch.