Iqmik

Last updated

Iqmik, also called blackbull, is a smokeless tobacco product. It is used mainly by Native Americans in parts of Alaska, and is made from a mixture of tobacco and the ash of Phellinus igniarius , informally called punk ash.

Prevalence

In 2005, over 50% of Yupik-Eskimos were reported to consume iqmik. [1] Iqmik is commonly believed to be a healthier alternative to commercially available dipping tobacco because there are no added chemicals. However, it is reported to deliver more nicotine than dipping tobacco. Another reason for high usage is its traditional status in Native society. Even young children use iqmik in the remote villages of Alaska. Of all smokeless tobacco use across Alaska, iqmik accounts for 16%. [2]

The ingredients for iqmik can be purchased at general stores in Western Alaska. It is typically prepared by the user, who purchases tobacco leaf and punk ash separately and then combines them. [3]

References

  1. ↑ "Phellinus igniarius, Iqmik, used by native Americans with tobacco, Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month for November 2005". botit.botany.wisc.edu.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-20. Retrieved 2014-05-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ "Smokeless Tobacco Products" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-09-03. Retrieved 2014-05-27.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.