I live in a relatively culturally diverse area of the U.S. Last night I worked valet for a Yemen wedding reception, and after noticing several guests with curiously large, aromatic quids in their mouth I asked an adolescent guest what it was that they were chewing.
Khat
Encyclopedic
Encyclopedic
Typical encyclopedia coverage. Cross-reference for important decisions.
- 2 corroborating sources
- duration data present
- 18 combo interactions documented
Encyclopedic
Typical encyclopedia coverage. Cross-reference for important decisions.
- 2 corroborating sources
- duration data present
- 18 combo interactions documented
Aliases: Qat, Kat, Gat, Chat, Jaad
Summary
Khat's potency degrades rapidly after harvesting; fresh leaves (within 24-48 hours) contain the highest cathinone content, while older leaves primarily contain the weaker cathine. Legal status varies dramatically worldwide: it is Schedule I in the United States, Class C in the UK, and illegal in most of Europe and Canada, but remains legal and culturally significant in Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Djibouti. Chronic use is associated with cardiovascular problems, oral health issues, and gastrointestinal complications.
Dose Information
| ROA | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Oral (Chewed) | 20-40g |
Only a threshold dose is documented for this substance — the smallest amount with a noticeable effect. There is no published light/common/strong ladder to show above it.
Onset, Duration & After-effects
| ROA | Onset | Comeup | Peak | Offset | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oral (Chewed) | 15-30 min | 30-60 min | 2-3 hrs | 1-2 hrs | 3.75-6.5 hrs |
Effect Profile
3 reportsScores (1–10) curated from multiple sources:
- Effect keyword matching from PsychonautWiki catalog
- Weighted by importance: core (×3), major (×2), minor (×1)
Stimulant
5.9
Strong
6/10
Moderate euphoria with mild stimulation and focus, low anxiety/jitters
Stimulation / Energy
×3
5
increased energy and alertness
stimulation
Euphoria / Mood Lift
×2
7
physical euphoria
cognitive euphoria
increased confidence
Focus / Productivity
×2
5
mental clarity and focus
analysis enhancement
Anxiety / Jitters
×1
2
increased heart rate
Based on reports from:
Add to PsychonautWiki Journal
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Name
Khat
Unit
g
Description
Khat Source: SubstanceSearch (substancesearch.com) Oral (Chewed) dose (g): threshold 20-40 Oral (Chewed) duration: onset 15-30m · come-up 0.5-1h · peak 2-3h · offset 1-2h · total 3.75-6.5h · after-effects 1-10h Note: ranges are harm-reduction guidance, not a prescription. Start low, go slow, and test your substances.
The app keeps custom substances simple, so the full dose ranges live in the description text above. Ranges are harm-reduction guidance, not a prescription.
Tolerance
Build-up
develops rapidly, often within a single session; compulsive redosing common
Reset
a few days for acute tolerance
Tolerance Decay
Full tolerance
1h
Half tolerance
4d
Baseline
~5d
Acute tolerance: develops within a single session — the reset numbers above apply after sustained heavy use, not after one binge. Within-session tachyphylaxis usually resets largely overnight.
Effects
Positive
- Increased Energy and Alertness
- Stimulation
- Physical Euphoria
Negative
- Insomnia
- Increased heart rate
- Temperature Regulation Suppression
- Nausea
- Decreased Appetite
- Sedation
- Spontaneous Bodily Sensations
Positive
- Mild Euphoria
- Enhanced Talkativeness and Sociability
- Mental Clarity and Focus
- Increased Confidence
- Cognitive Euphoria
- Analysis Enhancement
Negative
- Irritability
- Anxiety and Restlessness
- Paranoia or Psychosis
- Motor Control Loss
Positive
- Increased Music Appreciation
- Colour Enhancement
- Pattern Recognition Enhancement
- Tracers
- Brightened colour
Negative
- Light sensitivity
- Perception of Bodily Heaviness
- Drifting
- Internal Hallucinations
- External Hallucinations
Combinations
Cross-Check Khat with another substanceCommunity Trip Reports
Anecdotal first-person accounts from Reddit, Erowid, and Bluelight. Click a source to expand. Reports are harm-reduction context, not medical guidance. Tags summarise each author's own verdict — how reports are classified.
Erowid 4 reports 3 positive 1 neutral visit
As I haven't read anyone describe this method of khat usage I will now describe an approach different from chewing. I describe here a series of experiences I had more than ten years ago, but I recall them vividly. At the time, I lived in a fairly small town in the Netherlands, with a smallish Somali community.
I have used various legal and illegal psychoactives before now, however, due to the nature of my work, I felt that I didn't want to risk being prosecuted, and have now decided to use just 'legal highs' - both for recreational purposes, and/or self medication. I live in the UK where Khat is currently unrestricted.
The Super Kaffe Experience I bought 4 very young plants from a defunct nursery in South Florida. I didn't expect much since the site was run by a nursery that had a long list of neg. feedbacks. WTH, I took the chance. After 6 weeks I got 4 sickly looking plants about 4' long.
Bluelight 1 thread 1 neutral visit
While traveling about Australia I was surprised to find a small town with an active disregard for established drug laws, openly selling a plethora of well know but illegal ethnobotanicals including but not limited to; cannabis, san perdro, salvia divinorium, philosophers stones as well as other psylocybin containing fu...
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