Iqmik, also called blackbull, is a
smokeless tobacco product
Tobacco is the agricultural product of the leaves of plants in the genus ''Nicotiana'', commonly termed ''tobacco plants''. All species of ''Nicotiana'' contain the addictive drug nicotine—a psychostimulant alkaloid found in all parts of the ...
. It is used in parts of
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
mainly among Native Americans. Iqmik is made using a mixture of tobacco and the ash of ''
Phellinus igniarius
''Phellinus igniarius'' (syn. ''Phellinus trivialis'') is a fungus of the family ''Hymenochaetaceae''. Like other members of the genus of Phellinus it lives by saprotrophic nutrition, in which the lignin and cellulose of a host tree is degrade ...
'', informally called punk ash.
Prevalence
Over 50% of Yupik-Eskimos are reported to consume Iqmik today. A common belief is that Iqmik is a healthier alternative to commercially available
dipping tobacco
Dipping tobacco is a type of finely ground or shredded, moistened smokeless tobacco product. It is commonly and idiomatically known as "dip". Dipping tobacco is used by placing a pinch, or "dip", of tobacco between the lip and the gum (sublabia ...
because there are no added chemicals. However, Iqmik is reported to deliver more nicotine than dipping tobacco. Another reason for high rates of use is its tradition in the Native society. Even young children use Iqmik in the remote villages of Alaska. Of all smokeless tobacco use across Alaska, Iqmik accounts for 16% of use.
The ingredients for Iqmik can be purchased at general stores in Western Alaska. Typically, Iqmik is prepared by the user, by purchasing tobacco leaf and punk ash separately and then combining them.
References
{{reflist
Tobacco in the United States