What is the History and Cultural Significance of Kanna?

TL;DR: Kanna (Sceletium tortuosum) has been used for centuries by the San and Khoikhoi peoples of South Africa, who chewed, sniffed or smoked it for mood, social bonding and to get through hunger and thirst on long hunts. Colonial Europeans largely misunderstood it, and today's renewed interest comes with real questions about crediting indigenous knowledge and growing the plant sustainably.

Every kanna product we sell traces back to a plant with a long human story behind it. We think it's worth knowing that story, both because it explains how people use kanna today and because the people who figured this plant out first deserve the credit.

Where kanna comes from

Kanna, known scientifically as Sceletium tortuosum, is a succulent native to South Africa. Its use goes back centuries, mostly among the indigenous San and Khoikhoi peoples. These weren't casual users. They knew the plant well, knew where it grew, and passed down how to prepare it long before anyone in Europe or America had heard the name.

How the San and Khoikhoi used it

Historically these groups used kanna for its psychoactive properties. They chewed it, sniffed it or smoked it. People used it to bring on a sense of euphoria and ease stress, and it was especially handy on long hunting trips, where it helped take the edge off hunger and thirst.

That last part makes a lot of sense when you think about it. If you're walking for days in dry country, a plant that quiets your appetite and keeps your head steady is worth its weight. It's also a big reason kanna shows up today in conversations about appetite and focus.

Kanna in social and spiritual life

Kanna was more than a hunting tool. Its use was often woven into social and spiritual rituals. People valued it for the mood lift, sure, but also for how it helped a group feel connected and for the spiritual experiences it was part of.

We see a small echo of that at the bar. People don't usually take kanna alone in a dark room. They take it with friends, talk more, and hang around longer. The plant has always had a social side.

The colonial period

When European colonizers arrived, kanna caught their interest pretty quickly. The problem is that its use and cultural meaning were often misunderstood or brushed aside. Colonial accounts tended to treat it as a curiosity or a vice instead of a plant with a real place in people's lives. A lot of the context got lost that way.

It also helps explain why kanna stayed so obscure outside South Africa for so long. When the people writing things down don't understand what they're looking at, the knowledge mostly stays with the families and communities who actually used the plant. Much of what we know now came from people taking those communities seriously and listening to them.

Renewed interest and respect today

In recent years interest in kanna has come back in a big way. There's more research now and a broader understanding of what the plant might offer. That's good, but it's also started a needed conversation about respecting and acknowledging kanna's indigenous roots and the traditional knowledge behind it.

Growing popularity also puts pressure on the plant itself. There are efforts underway to make sure kanna is cultivated and harvested sustainably, so both the plant and the heritage around it survive the boom. For us that means paying attention to where our material comes from. If you're buying kanna anywhere, it's fair to ask the seller where it was grown.

Common questions

Who first used kanna?
The indigenous San and Khoikhoi peoples of South Africa, going back centuries.

How was it traditionally taken?
It was chewed, sniffed or smoked. People used it for mood and stress and to get through hunger and thirst on long hunts.

Why does sourcing matter?
Demand keeps climbing, and sustainable cultivation helps protect wild plants and the culture tied to them.

Kanna's history is really a story about people and place, and we try to keep that in mind every time we pack up an order. Browse our kanna collection if you want to see how the plant is prepared today.