5g Kanna DV08
by Azarius
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Kanna shredded is a coarsely cut preparation of Sceletium tortuosum, a succulent plant native to South Africa that has been used by the San and Khoikhoi peoples for centuries. This shredded form preserves the plant's full alkaloid profile — including mesembrine, mesembrenone, and mesembrenol — in a format ready for chewing or brewing. If you want kanna the way it was traditionally prepared, before extracts and capsules existed, this is where you start.
The 5g pouch is your taster — enough for 2-3 tea sessions or a few chewing portions, so you can see how you get on with it before committing. The 10g is the sweet spot for most people who already know they like kanna and want a couple of weeks' worth. The 25g is the bulk option: better value per gram, and it stores well in a cool, dark place for months. If you've never tried kanna shredded before, grab the 5g first. Seriously.
Shredded kanna is the whole dried plant, cut into coarse strips rather than ground to powder or concentrated into an extract. That means you're working with the plant's natural alkaloid balance — not an isolated compound. The texture is fibrous and slightly woody, with a faintly bitter, herbaceous taste that's more earthy than sharp. It's not pleasant exactly, but it's honest. You know you're chewing a plant, not swallowing a capsule.
Compared to kanna extract powders (which concentrate mesembrine to 3-5% or higher), shredded kanna delivers a gentler, more gradual experience. The trade-off is that you need more material — typically 1-2 grams for a chewing portion versus 50-100mg of a standardised extract. For tea, you're looking at roughly 1-2 grams steeped in hot water for 10-15 minutes. The onset is slower, the curve is smoother, and the whole thing feels less clinical. That's the appeal.
One honest limitation: the taste. Chewing raw kanna shredded is an acquired thing. The bitterness hits fast and lingers. Most people find brewing it as tea with a bit of honey far more manageable. We get asked about this constantly at the counter — "does it taste as bad as people say?" — and the answer is: it's not terrible, but it's not chamomile either. A squeeze of lemon helps.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Botanical name | Sceletium tortuosum |
| Common names | Kanna, Channa, Kougoed |
| Brand | Azarius Herbs |
| Form | Coarsely shredded dried plant material |
| Plant part | Aerial parts (stems and leaves) |
| Key alkaloids | Mesembrine, mesembrenone, mesembrenol, tortuosamine |
| Available sizes | 5g, 10g, 25g |
| Preparation methods | Chewing, tea infusion, sublingual |
| Origin | South Africa |
| Storage | Cool, dry, dark place — resealable bag or airtight jar |
The indigenous San people of South Africa fermented kanna before use — a process called "kougoed" (meaning "something to chew"). Fresh plant material was crushed, placed in animal-skin bags, and left to ferment for several days in the sun. This fermentation step is thought to convert certain alkaloids into more bioactive forms, particularly increasing mesembrine content. The dried, fermented material was then chewed, held under the tongue, or smoked.
Modern shredded kanna, including this Azarius Herbs preparation, is typically dried rather than fermented in the traditional sense. The alkaloid profile is still present — mesembrine remains the primary active compound — but the ratio may differ slightly from traditionally fermented kougoed. This is worth knowing if you've read about traditional preparation and expect an identical experience. The shredded form is the closest commercially available option to the traditional method without doing the fermentation yourself.
Kanna's primary alkaloid, mesembrine, has been the subject of growing scientific interest. Research has focused on mesembrine's interaction with the serotonin transporter — it functions as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI), though with a different pharmacological profile than pharmaceutical SSRIs. A 2014 study published in Neuropsychopharmacology found that a standardised Sceletium tortuosum extract (Zembrin) at 25mg reduced amygdala reactivity to fearful faces in healthy volunteers, as measured by fMRI. That's a single study with a specific extract at a specific dose — not a blanket claim about all kanna products — but it's one of the more rigorous pieces of evidence in the literature.
Traditionally, kanna was used by the San people for mood support and to reduce hunger and thirst during long hunts. Ethnobotanical accounts describe it as producing a sense of calm and mild elevation. According to Smith et al. (2011) in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Sceletium tortuosum has a long history of traditional use as a mood-altering substance, with reported effects including anxiolysis and sedation at higher amounts.
The typical range observed in ethnobotanical and clinical literature for dried kanna plant material is 1-2 grams when chewed or brewed. Higher amounts (above 2-3 grams) have been associated with more pronounced sedative effects in traditional accounts. Mesembrine content in raw plant material varies — typically 0.3-1.3% of dry weight depending on harvest, plant part, and preparation method. This natural variability is one reason extracts with standardised mesembrine percentages exist, but it's also why some people prefer the whole-plant form: you get the full spectrum of alkaloids, not just one isolated compound.
We've stocked kanna in various forms for over two decades now, and shredded remains the format that the traditionalists keep coming back to. The most common feedback we hear: the first time chewing it is a bit underwhelming because people expect the bitterness to correlate with intensity. It doesn't work that way. Give it 20-30 minutes. The second most common feedback: tea is the better entry point for most people. We'd agree with that.
One thing we always mention at the counter — kanna interacts with serotonergic medications. If you're taking SSRIs, SNRIs, MAOIs, or any medication that affects serotonin levels, combining them with kanna is not something to take lightly. The mechanism of mesembrine as an SRI means there's a theoretical risk of serotonin-related interactions. This isn't a scare tactic; it's basic pharmacology. If you're on those medications, speak to your prescriber before trying kanna in any form.
Also worth noting: kanna on an empty stomach hits differently than kanna after a meal. The tea especially — brew it first thing in the morning before breakfast and you'll notice the effects more clearly than if you drink it after dinner. Same material, same dose, very different experience.
If you find you enjoy kanna but want something more concentrated, Azarius Herbs also carries kanna extract and kanna powder — both offer higher mesembrine content per gram. For a complementary botanical to pair with your evening tea ritual, have a look at our Passionflower or Valerian root — they sit well alongside kanna's profile without competing with it.
Bitter, earthy, and slightly astringent — somewhere between green tea left steeping too long and raw dandelion root. The chewing method concentrates the bitterness. As a tea with honey and lemon, it's much more drinkable. The taste fades after the first few minutes of chewing.
Clinical and ethnobotanical literature references 1-2 grams of dried plant material per cup. Start at the lower end — 1 gram steeped for 10-15 minutes — and adjust from there. Brewing with a lid on helps retain volatile compounds.
Shredded kanna is the whole dried plant cut into strips, containing the full natural alkaloid profile at roughly 0.3-1.3% mesembrine by weight. Extracts concentrate specific alkaloids — some standardised to 3-5% mesembrine or higher — so you need far less material. Shredded is gentler and more gradual; extracts are more potent per gram.
Traditionally, the San people did smoke dried kanna, sometimes mixed with other herbs. The shredded form can be used this way, though the bioavailability and experience differ from chewing or tea. Most of our customers prefer the oral methods for a more sustained effect.
Kanna's mesembrine acts as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor, so combining it with other serotonergic substances (including pharmaceutical SSRIs, MAOIs, and MDMA) carries real risk. With non-serotonergic herbs like passionflower or chamomile, the combination is generally well-tolerated. Always introduce one new thing at a time.
Airtight container, away from light, heat, and moisture. A glass jar with a screw-top lid in a kitchen cupboard works well. Properly stored, dried kanna retains its alkaloid content for at least 12 months. You'll know it's degraded if the colour fades from green-brown to pale straw and the smell disappears.
Kougoed literally means "something to chew" in Afrikaans and refers to traditionally fermented kanna. Modern dried kanna shredded skips the fermentation step, so while the plant is the same (Sceletium tortuosum), the alkaloid ratios may differ slightly from true kougoed. The active compounds are still present in both forms.
Last updated: April 2026
Medical disclaimer. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use of any substance.
