Smokable Herbs
Uva Ursi (Kinnikinnick) — Smokable Herbs
Kinnikinnick — the ancient smoking herb of bears and medicine traditions — arrives in a 35 g tin, ready to carry its quiet, earthy presence into your practice.
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About This Product
Uva Ursi, known across North America as Kinnikinnick or Bearberry, is one of those herbs that feels genuinely rooted in place. Its common name traces back to the Unami word for smoking mixture, and for generations it has been a foundational leaf in Indigenous ceremonial blends throughout Canada and the United States. The botanical name tells its own story: Arctostaphylos uva-ursi translates from both Greek and Latin to bear grapes — a nod to the bright red berries that bears return to season after season.
The plant itself is a low, creeping evergreen shrub, hugging the ground and holding its small leathery leaves for one to three years before releasing them. That quiet resilience carries over into the leaf's character as a smoke: smooth, mild, and grounding, with an earthy quality that makes it a natural companion herb in pipe blends and ceremonial preparations alike.
Bear Blend sources Uva Ursi with the same care we bring to every herb in our apothecary — certified organic, traceable, and chosen for quality of leaf and integrity of origin. Each tin contains 35 grams, giving you enough to blend thoughtfully over many sessions or to explore the herb on its own.
Whether you come to Kinnikinnick through a lineage of tradition or simply feel drawn to a plant with deep roots in the land, this is an herb worth sitting with slowly.
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Working with Kinnikinnick
Uva Ursi leaf burns gently and blends well with other smokable herbs. Many people use it as a base or carrier in pipe blends, appreciating its mild flavor and smooth draw. It is equally at home smoked on its own in a ceremonial context or combined with herbs like mullein, red raspberry leaf, or Bear Blend's own signature blends. A little goes a long way — begin with small amounts to find the ratio that suits your practice.
A Note on Lore
The name Kinnikinnick was historically applied not to one plant but to the mixture itself — a blend prepared for the pipe. Uva Ursi became so central to many of those preparations that the plant eventually inherited the name. Sitting with that history adds another layer of intention to each session.
Storage
Keep your tin sealed and stored away from direct sunlight and humidity. A cool, dry shelf or drawer will preserve the leaf's freshness and aroma for many months.
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