Yopo Seeds (Anadenanthera peregrina)

Yopo seeds come from Anadenanthera peregrina, a large deciduous tree native to the savannas and tropical dry forests of South America and the Caribbean, particularly Venezuela, Colombia, Brazil, Trinidad, and Hispaniola. The seeds of this leguminous tree have been used in indigenous snuff preparations across the Orinoco basin and Amazon region for over 4,000 years — making Yopo one of the most archaeologically documented botanical preparations in the Americas, with seed caches found in 2,000-year-old burial sites in northern Chile and Argentina.

Each pod of Anadenanthera peregrina contains 3–6 dark, lens-shaped seeds that are rich in bufotenine (5-HO-DMT), 5-MeO-DMT, and DMT alkaloids — a biochemical profile of significant interest to pharmacologists, ethnobotanists, and natural products researchers.

In traditional use, Yopo seeds are roasted, ground, and mixed with alkaline plant ash (from Acacia, Cecropiaceae, or calcified snail shells) to create the snuff preparation used through a bifurcated bone or clay pipe administered by a second person. The alkalizing agent converts the tryptamine salts to their free-base form, allowing absorption through the nasal mucosa.

We offer Yopo seeds as whole, dried, hand-sorted specimens. Botanical collection and research use only. Please verify the legal status of Anadenanthera peregrina seeds in your jurisdiction before ordering.