Purpose of acid in san pedro recipe

[Paddomania]

Hi,

In many recipes you have to add an acid - e.g. lime juice - to the water in which the cactus is being boiled.
Why is this? The only reason I can make up is that it will cause an acid / base reaction, thus creating a salt. And this salt can be dissolved (more) easily in water? But perhaps I am complety wrong! If so, what is it?!



And what would be the best ph to achieve this?



Thanks in advance!

[sands of time]

Lemon juice, or anything acidy for that matter, are good for extracting non water soluble alkaloids.

[xctico]

I'm not sure, but I don't think lemon juice is strong enough... I heard
you need something like HCI [hidrochloric acid], it makes sense, since
they use Amonium to neutralize the acid.

[Peyote]

So will it taste better after adding acid to it?? Or less bad..

[jaguarangel]

All of the experts say a lemon or lime per dose.

[Doc Holliday]

The reason for this would be that the acid prevents the mescaline from boiled off with the steam. Lemon or lime juice works just fine. Edited by: Doc Holliday