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Potent, With a Calming, Stoned Effect
Pituri, Tobacco & Alcohol
Citation:   bo_logna. "Potent, With a Calming, Stoned Effect: An Experience with Pituri, Tobacco & Alcohol (exp119479)". Erowid.org. Jan 21, 2026. erowid.org/exp/119479

 
DOSE:
  buccal Pituri
    buccal Tobacco
    oral Alcohol - Beer/Wine
BODY WEIGHT: 85 kg
Pituri: Preparation Method and Experience

Before traveling through the area it was supposed to grow in, I did some research as how to prepare and use it. However, I found very little literature on how to do so. So, this method below on how I prepared it, I have deduced myself both through colonist reports, museum literature, and my own experimentation.

Step 1. Collect Pituri

Leaves of the Pituri plant are collected. They can be used fresh or dried, but if drying, it is easier to harvest whole branches and allow these to dry without trimming. However it does not matter how they are dried, so long as they don't rot or get moldy.

Step 2. Collect Acacia salicina

To activate the effective ingredient, an alkaline environment must be established. For drugs such as Betel Nut, this is done with ground lime/slaked lime. This may work for pituri, however I have not attempted this, and have only done it the traditional way:

Traditionally, ash of the leaves of various species of plant was used for alkanization. But the most sought after species was Acacia salicina, a wattle species native to many of the areas where Pituri also grows. This plant was also known to be smoked by itself, however upon my attempt I recieved no noticeable symptoms.

To process the leaves, they are dried in the sun until crisp, then burnt into ash. I place them in a metal sieve, which is held over a very hot flame, quickly turning them to ash. This ash is then collected and placed in a clean, dry jar, and saved for future use. Very little of this ash is needed so one round of creating this ash will last for a while.

Step 3. Preparation of the bundle (VERY IMPORTANT)

The final bundle will not hold its form on its own, and will need something to hold it all together. When the bundle is first placed in the mouth, it is very important that the ash does not come into direct contact with your gums, cheeks or tongue etc, as it will cause alkaline burns. It is also very important to use the correct amount of ash, as too much may cause burns regardless. I made this mistake myself upon my first attempt, and it was worsened by the pain relief effect of the pituri, which ended up with me leaving it in contact with my mouth for over an hour and a half without me realising. My cheeks had peeling skin and half my face was swollen for three days. However, I have attempted it about 5 or 6 times since with the proper dosage, and have been fine. I also ensure I always wash my mouth out with vinegar upon disposing of the bundle, to neutralize the pH, just in case.

The bundle traditionally is wrapped with string or native twines, however I did not have access to these. I read somewhere that "Tree tobacco" Nicotiana glauca, was occasionally added to the mix traditionally, and due to its well-sized, strong leaves, I decided to use Nicotiana glauca leaves to wrap the Pituri, which worked well.
I decided to use Nicotiana glauca leaves to wrap the Pituri, which worked well.
I've also tried used Betel leaves, which are traditionally used for Betel nut or Paan, which also worked well. Any strong, edible leaf that can hold together the bundle for a bit should do. It does not have to hold it together for long, as once the mixture is chewed briefly and let to sit, the ash and the pituri juices mix within minutes, and this juice does not tend to irritate the mouth (at least for me). It is only the initial contact of dry ash to gums/cheeks that tends to causes the burns.

Place whatever leaf you are using in your palm. Place a small amount of dried or fresh pituri leaves, only a few tablespoons worth, in the centre. Then spread them out a little, and in the middle, place a small pinch of Acacia salicina ash, half a teaspoon max. Then move the pituri leaves back over it, so the ash is in the centre. Then wrap it all up tightly within your outer leaf.

Step 4. Consume

Place the bundle between your back teeth, and give it a few LIGHT chews. You are not trying to chew it up, you are just trying to get the juices flowing. Three light chews is enough. Then, while trying your best to keep the bundle together, move it into your lip and let it sit, like you were using chewing tobacco.

Within a few seconds to minutes it should start to take effect. You then keep the bundle in your mouth for as long as you like, usually a an hour or few, giving it a few more light chews and moving it to another spot in your lip when the effects subside.

For precaution, I wash my mouth out with white vinegar upon spitting it out, just in case my mouth is too alkaline.

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Experience

While commonly attributed to the effects of tobacco, Pituri is as far from a nicotine high as I could think of. It is potent, with a calming, stoned effect, but very unlike Cannabis. There is no strange thoughts or ideas that get brought into my head, instead I become extremely content with whatever the situation is. I stared at a tree for about an hour and a half, and had not felt so content with everything in years. While it was calming, I also felt like I could climb any cliff or do anything. I felt very happy, calm and content, and there was no headrush like with weed.

For me, one of the strangest effects is the complete lack of balance. This does not appear until the peak of the effects has already subsided. This is further induced with alcohol, and feels like trying to walk on a ship at sea. It is a far more pronounced effect than the lack of balance recieved when drunk, and is more comparable to Lyrica (Pregabalin).

As the effects wear off about 2-5 hours later, I become very tired, and it becomes difficult to achieve any fine motor function. If I drank too much alcohol alongside it, I tend to get a splitting headache
If I drank too much alcohol alongside it, I tend to get a splitting headache
that will last the rest of the night. Limiting alcohol intake to 1-2 beers on the same day heavily reduces this for me.

After a nights rest, I rarely noticed any sort of hangover, less so than even with alcohol. However this might just be me.

Overall its a pretty decent experience. Its not a party drug, but for sitting around the campfire with friends, without any weed available, it does the job, and then some.

PLEASE DO NOT JUST GO HARVESTING THIS PLANT FROM THE WILD. THESE PLANTS ARE CULTURALLY SIGNIFICANT, AND APPROVAL FROM A LOCAL ABORIGINAL ELDER SHOULD BE OBTAINED BEFORE DOING ANY OF THIS.

Exp Year: 2024ExpID: 119479
Gender: Not Specified 
Age at time of experience: 25
Published: Jan 21, 2026Views: Not Supported
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Pituri (549) : Retrospective / Summary (11), Preparation / Recipes (30), Unknown Context (20)

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