When you arrive at an ayahuasca retreat, do you know exactly what kind of ayahuasca brew you’re drinking?
Are the facilitators or shamans clear about which plants they are using and in what proportions?
In authentic shamanic tradition, transparency about the medicine is not optional—it’s essential. A responsible shaman will tell you exactly what you’re drinking, why those plants are included, and how the preparation may affect your experience. This honesty builds trust and allows participants to understand the medicine’s potential effects.
Why Knowing the Brew Matters
Imagine going into a ceremony without knowing whether the ayahuasca you’re taking has additional plants, a stronger concentration, or a different vine variety. Not knowing can create confusion if the experience feels unexpectedly intense, or unexpectedly mild.
Personally, I remember a session where my shaman informed me ahead of time that she would add another plant to the brew for the third night. The ceremony ended up being one of the most physically demanding and challenging I’ve ever had. But because I was told in advance, I could understand the difference and embrace the experience.
When you know the composition of the brew, you can also track what works best for you. If you’re left in the dark, it’s difficult to understand why a particular ceremony feels different, or why the medicine may not be connecting with you.
Different Types of Ayahuasca Brews and Their Effects
At Casa de la Luz in Costa Rica, we prepare our own medicine using fresh plants we harvest locally whenever possible. This ensures quality, potency, and the ability to adapt the brew for different needs.
Some of the brews we prepare include:
1. Pure Vine (No Chacruna)
Contains: Only the ayahuasca vine (Banisteriopsis caapi), no DMT-containing plants.
Purpose: Ideal for physical cleansing without psychedelic visions.
Benefits: Can be given as a second dose during ceremony to support those struggling with nausea or connection without increasing the visionary intensity.
2. Ayahuasca with Chiric Sanango and Chacruna
Contains: Ayahuasca vine, Psychotria viridis (chacruna), and 20–30 leaves of Chiric Sanango.
Purpose: Designed for those with arthritis, muscle cramps, spasms, or chronic pain.
Effect: Deeply therapeutic for the body while still providing the spiritual dimension of the medicine.
3. Red Ayahuasca with Chacruna
Contains: Fresh red ayahuasca vine and chacruna, cooked on-site.
Ratio: 10 parts vine to 1 part chacruna.
Texture & Taste: Brews with more vine than chacruna—like this one—tend to have a rich, honey-like consistency.
Effect: Strong physical cleansing and grounding effects.
4. Yellow “Cielo” Ayahuasca Paste
Origin: Made in Peru, reduced to a paste in the Amazon, then rehydrated and recooked here.
Ratio: Equal parts vine and chacruna (1:1).
Texture & Taste: More watery and sandy in texture.
Effect: Highly visionary but less physically purgative than fresh red vine preparations.
The Issue With Commercial Ayahuasca Retreats
Many large retreat centers in Costa Rica and beyond do not prepare their own medicine. Instead, they buy concentrated paste from Amazon—often the yellow cielo variety—at a cost of around $10–$20 for two doses. Yet participants may be paying thousands of dollars for a retreat.
While this paste can still be beautiful medicine, it’s rarely as fresh or physically cleansing as a locally harvested, freshly cooked brew. Centers could significantly improve participant experiences by offering a variety of high-quality brews and disclosing exactly what is being served.
Why We Do It Differently at Casa de la Luz
By cooking our own medicine, we can:
Control quality and ensure the plants are fresh and sustainably sourced.
Adapt recipes for physical, emotional, or spiritual needs.
Be transparent about ingredients, origins, and intentions.
We believe participants deserve to know:
Which vine variety they are drinking (red, yellow, black, etc.).
Where and how the medicine was prepared.
What other plants, if any, are included in the brew.
Why a particular recipe is chosen for their ceremony.
Learning to Cook Ayahuasca: Upcoming Course
For those interested in learning the art and science of ayahuasca preparation, I’m developing a specialized course on ayahuasca brewing. It will cover:
Plant selection and harvesting ethics.
Traditional and modern preparation methods.
How to adapt brews for specific purposes.
Safety, dosage, and ceremonial use.
The course will be available in the coming months through our website.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to ayahuasca, knowledge is empowerment.
Knowing exactly what you’re drinking not only deepens your trust in the shaman and the process, but also helps you connect more fully with the medicine’s spirit.
If you are seeking an ayahuasca experience, ask questions.
Your body, your mind, and your spiritual journey deserve that level of care.