Kuripe, Tepi & Accessories: Traditional Craftsmanship

A kuripe is a small V-shaped applicator that a person uses on themselves. A tepi is a longer, straight blowpipe that one person uses to apply to another. Both come from Indigenous ceremonial traditions in the western Amazon, and both are used with finely ground ceremonial plant powders known as rapé or hapé. The key distinction is relational. The kuripe is a tool of personal, quiet practice. The tepi is a tool of shared practice, which traditionally involves trust, a facilitator, and a specific way of working together.

Kuripe, Tepi & Accessories: Traditional Craftsmanship in Context

These tools are best known from Pano-speaking and neighboring peoples of Acre in Brazil and the border regions of Peru, including the Huni Kuin (Kaxinawá), Yawanawá, Noke Koî (Katukina), and Matsés. Practices differ between communities, and no single description fits all of them. What they share is the idea that the tool is not neutral. It is made by hand, often by someone known to the user, and it carries the care of that maker.

The broader history of tube-and-tray tools in South America is very old. Archaeologists have documented carved inhaling tubes and small trays from sites in the Andes, such as those around San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile, associated with ceremonial use of Anadenanthera seeds. Modern Amazonian kuripe and tepi are not direct copies of those objects, but they belong to a long regional tradition of crafting dedicated instruments for ceremonial plant powders.

How the Two Tools Differ

The kuripe

A kuripe is made from two short tubes joined at an angle, forming a V. One end rests at the nostril and the other at the lips, so the user can apply a small amount with a gentle, controlled breath. Because it is self-applied, the kuripe suits solo practice, short grounding moments, and situations where the user wants full control over pace and quantity. Sizes vary. Smaller kuripe often feel more precise, while slightly wider bores move powder more easily.

The tepi

A tepi is a single long tube, often 30 to 60 centimeters, sometimes with a shaped mouthpiece and a narrower tip. The person giving the application blows a short, firm breath through it while the receiver stays still and upright. In traditional settings this role is usually held by an experienced person, and the breath itself is understood as part of the offering. Using a tepi casually, or with someone you have not discussed boundaries with, misses the point of the tool.

Materials and How They Are Made

Traditional makers work with what the forest and their community provide. Common materials include:

Bamboo and cane: light, naturally hollow, and easy to shape. Most kuripe and tepi on the market today use bamboo for the tubes.
Hardwoods: carved into decorative bodies or mouthpieces. Wood needs careful drilling to keep the bore smooth and straight.
Bone: historically used in some regions. Today it is less common, partly for ethical and legal reasons.
Beeswax or tree resin: used to seal the joint where the two tubes of a kuripe meet, and sometimes to fix a mouthpiece.
Cotton thread, seeds, and natural pigments: used for wrapping and decoration. Patterns can carry meaning within a community, so treat them as more than ornament.

A note on feathers: some decorated pieces include bird feathers. In the United States, feathers from many wild native species are regulated under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Brazil also protects wild fauna. If a piece has feathers, it is reasonable to ask where they came from. Many responsible makers now use thread and seed work instead.

What good craftsmanship looks like

When you hold a well-made applicator, check a few practical things. The bore should be smooth and open all the way through, with no splinters or rough edges at the ends. The joint of a kuripe should be firm and fully sealed, with no air leaking around the wax. The end that touches the nostril should be rounded and comfortable. Balance matters too. A tool that sits naturally in the hand lets you slow down rather than fumble.

Respectful Use and Clear Boundaries

These are ceremonial objects from living cultures, not novelty items. A few principles keep practice grounded and respectful:

Keep your kuripe personal. It touches the face and breath, so sharing it is unhygienic and, in many traditions, also considered inappropriate.
Use a tepi only with consent and experience. Talk beforehand about quantity, pace, and how to stop. Learn from someone who has been trained rather than improvising.
Less is more. A very small amount is the traditional starting point. Ceremonial intention is not measured by quantity.
Do not claim titles or rituals that are not yours. Using a tool with care is different from presenting yourself as a ceremonial leader of a tradition you were not taught in.

Rapé and related practices are traditionally used for focus, grounding, and ceremony. They are not a substitute for medical care, and anyone with health concerns, pregnancy, or respiratory sensitivity should speak with a qualified professional first.

Caring for Your Tools

Natural materials respond to moisture, heat, and handling. Simple habits keep them working for years:

After each use, tap the tool gently to clear loose powder and wipe the outside with a dry, soft cloth.
Clear the bore with a dry pipe cleaner or a thin, soft brush. Avoid soaking bamboo or wood in water, which can cause cracking and loosen wax seals.
If cleaning with liquid is necessary, use a lightly dampened cloth and let the tool dry fully at room temperature, away from direct sun or heaters.
Keep wax joints away from heat. A car dashboard in summer can soften a seal in an afternoon.
Check joints and tips every few weeks. Small cracks are easier to address early.

Pouches, Incense, and Aromatic Practice

Accessories support the tools rather than decorate them. A woven or cloth pouch protects a kuripe from knocks and dust and keeps it separate from everyday objects, which is part of treating it with care. Many practitioners keep their applicator, a small container of powder, and a cloth together in one pouch, so preparation becomes a calm, repeatable routine.

Aromatics are often used to mark the start of practice. Some people burn a small piece of Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens) or a resin such as copal. Palo Santo from responsible sources is traditionally collected from fallen, naturally aged wood, so it is worth asking suppliers about origin. Others prefer a few drops of an essential oil such as lavender in a diffuser, or a splash of Florida Water, a cologne-style scented water widely used in Latin American folk and ceremonial settings, on the hands. Keep it measured. One aroma, used gently in a ventilated room, sets the tone better than layering several scents. Never apply essential oils near the nose or to any applicator.

Choosing Your First Pieces

If you are starting out, a single well-made kuripe and a protective pouch are enough. Choose a tool that feels comfortable in your hand and whose maker or source you can learn about. If you later join practice with an experienced facilitator, a tepi may become relevant, but there is no need to buy one first. You can browse our hand-made kuripe, tepi and accessories collection to compare materials and sizes, and we are happy to answer questions about origin and care. When you are ready, the same collection of pouches and ritual accessories covers storage and preparation without excess.

In shop practice, anchor the habit in concrete products: kuripe, Forest Pouch, forest incense. Compare labels in the same language and product form.

Sources

Schultes, R. E., Hofmann, A., and Rätsch, C. Plants of the Gods: Their Sacred, Healing, and Hallucinogenic Powers. Revised edition, Healing Arts Press, 2001.
Torres, C. M., and Repke, D. B. Anadenanthera: Visionary Plant of Ancient South America. Haworth Herbal Press, 2006. Covers archaeological tubes and trays from the Andes, including San Pedro de Atacama.
Instituto Socioambiental. Povos Indígenas no Brasil encyclopedia, entries on the Huni Kuin, Yawanawá, and Noke Koî peoples.
Convention on Biological Diversity. Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits, 2010.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and related guidance on possession of feathers.