(MODs: This probably belongs in the Aya room, but since I can't post there yet, feel free to move it if you need to. Thx)
I made my first caapi only brew yesterday!
Received a package of shredded Peruvian caapi on Friday, and got set up Sat morning. Cleaned the kitchen, cleared the air, and began to clear me too, just rice and plantains and water, tho a short cp of coffee early to stave off my coffee headache. At noon I started my first pot, and hoped by watching the color that I would be able to figure out what kind it was, not that it matters so much right now, but just to try to learn and be informed.
I'd guess it's yellow, based on comparing it to the pics in another thread of different caapis in brew pots. Thx for those pics!
I didn't acidify the water for the first two pots, but went out to get mors ROsmosis water and vinegar, and more plantains in between pots. After reading even more on the comparisons of remaining harmalas between acidified and non-acidified water, I decided to add vinegar to the last pot. I knew it probably wouldn't make a difference in the long run, but why not try? So I measured out 2 qts of RO water, the pH was just under 7 and I added 1t of white vinegar, which brought it down to 6, then added another tsp which didnt change it at all. I debated whether to try to get it lower, as the vinegar itself only tested at 4.5 - seemed to me it would take a lot of vinegar the make it drop more, so just went with that.
So, I got finished up quite late, the third pot didn't seem to have much in it, though the color was more pale than the others. I ended up with very dark yellow brown tea, that I still needed to reduce down to manageable doses. But I was tired, and my head was killing me, so I decided to wait until morning to have a cup, as my intention was not to take a big/normal dose but to microdose to get to know the plant and how my body would handle it. I know that I am quite sensitive to substances in general, so going slow is probably best for me.
This morning at 10a I began sipping a warm cup of 'tea' as it wasnt fully reduced, and I figured that I probably only had the equivalent of about 10g. The taste really wasnt bad at all, to me, and the warmth was nice on my empty stomach. Within 15 min I knew I needed to go lie down as I was certainly feeling some body effects- rumbling gut let me know that even a small dose like this was going to bring a purge. I snuggled up in bed with the dog and cat who came along for the ride, and sort of dreamed and meditated for a few hours- warm feelings, asking questions, noticing how my body felt... Nothing huge or remarkable, but definitely differences in my internal vision, colors that I don't usually see, and in patterns of movement that are also different. Often when I am receiving some kind of healing treatment, I see certain colors-blue, magenta, violet- swirling in a particular pattern, usually ending in a violet orb- today there was violet but it was being encircled and compressed by a brilliant green tracer.
I wasnt expecting to feel much of anything today really, just wanted to have a 'getting to know you' session, but hours later I purged again- now at least I know which direction it is more likely to come from!
Baby steps and patience... It's all good. Maybe I'll have a chance to microdose again in a day or two, then a couple weeks off for some medical crap, and hopefully continue on toddling with this batch that I made up. I'm going to pasteurize what I have, and keep it in the fridge until I get another chance. Soon come.
I made my first caapi only brew yesterday!
Received a package of shredded Peruvian caapi on Friday, and got set up Sat morning. Cleaned the kitchen, cleared the air, and began to clear me too, just rice and plantains and water, tho a short cp of coffee early to stave off my coffee headache. At noon I started my first pot, and hoped by watching the color that I would be able to figure out what kind it was, not that it matters so much right now, but just to try to learn and be informed.
I'd guess it's yellow, based on comparing it to the pics in another thread of different caapis in brew pots. Thx for those pics!
I didn't acidify the water for the first two pots, but went out to get mors ROsmosis water and vinegar, and more plantains in between pots. After reading even more on the comparisons of remaining harmalas between acidified and non-acidified water, I decided to add vinegar to the last pot. I knew it probably wouldn't make a difference in the long run, but why not try? So I measured out 2 qts of RO water, the pH was just under 7 and I added 1t of white vinegar, which brought it down to 6, then added another tsp which didnt change it at all. I debated whether to try to get it lower, as the vinegar itself only tested at 4.5 - seemed to me it would take a lot of vinegar the make it drop more, so just went with that.
So, I got finished up quite late, the third pot didn't seem to have much in it, though the color was more pale than the others. I ended up with very dark yellow brown tea, that I still needed to reduce down to manageable doses. But I was tired, and my head was killing me, so I decided to wait until morning to have a cup, as my intention was not to take a big/normal dose but to microdose to get to know the plant and how my body would handle it. I know that I am quite sensitive to substances in general, so going slow is probably best for me.
This morning at 10a I began sipping a warm cup of 'tea' as it wasnt fully reduced, and I figured that I probably only had the equivalent of about 10g. The taste really wasnt bad at all, to me, and the warmth was nice on my empty stomach. Within 15 min I knew I needed to go lie down as I was certainly feeling some body effects- rumbling gut let me know that even a small dose like this was going to bring a purge. I snuggled up in bed with the dog and cat who came along for the ride, and sort of dreamed and meditated for a few hours- warm feelings, asking questions, noticing how my body felt... Nothing huge or remarkable, but definitely differences in my internal vision, colors that I don't usually see, and in patterns of movement that are also different. Often when I am receiving some kind of healing treatment, I see certain colors-blue, magenta, violet- swirling in a particular pattern, usually ending in a violet orb- today there was violet but it was being encircled and compressed by a brilliant green tracer.
I wasnt expecting to feel much of anything today really, just wanted to have a 'getting to know you' session, but hours later I purged again- now at least I know which direction it is more likely to come from!
Baby steps and patience... It's all good. Maybe I'll have a chance to microdose again in a day or two, then a couple weeks off for some medical crap, and hopefully continue on toddling with this batch that I made up. I'm going to pasteurize what I have, and keep it in the fridge until I get another chance. Soon come.
