Category: tobacco

Many people (due to various reasons) do not want or cannot smoke a traditional tobacco hookah. But they still want to enjoy a pleasant smoke! For such cases, there are non-nicotine and tobacco-free hookah blends. Let’s figure out what they are and whether smoking them is truly harmless.

There is no smoke without fire – there is vapor without tobacco.

In fact, non-nicotine smoking blends can indeed be a good organic alternative to traditional tobacco mixes. Quality blends are based on natural fruits, berries, or vegetables, corn husks, sugarcane, tea leaves and herbs, as well as stones. Smoke production, similar to traditional hookah tobacco, is achieved by adding glycerin, and the component that gives flavor and aroma is a mixture of honey, molasses, essential oils, and sometimes flavorings.

Steam-smoking stones for hookah.

Arguably the most popular and standout non-tobacco hookah mixture is steam-smoking stones. These are samples of volcanic rock of various shades, with a small fraction but a porous structure, thanks to which they are well soaked with syrup.

There are no difficulties in packing smoking stones, the main thing is to choose the right bowl. Since this mixture is usually well soaked, Vortex, Phunnel, and Alien bowls are best suited, the shape of which ensures the preservation of syrup. All the products described below are also packed in the listed bowls for the same reasons.

In addition to the absence of nicotine and harmful tars, smoking with stones also eliminates the burning of products, which makes them so popular. Furthermore, smoking stones provide a large amount of vapor when smoked, so they are often mixed with regular tobacco to make the hookah very smoky. The main feature of steam stones is that they can be reused! It is simply enough to “marinate” them again in syrup, which can be purchased separately or made at home.

Smoking mixtures with a plant base.

For those looking for something as close as possible to a tobacco mixture in consistency, some manufacturers use a base of tea leaves or other herbs. Among fans of nicotine-free hookahs, bases made from reed, vegetables, fruits, and berries also hold a special place, as each ingredient imparts its own unique flavor notes, unlike stones.

Manufacturers using tea as a base pay exclusive attention to the varieties and quality of the leaf preparation. For example, Chabacco uses premium grades of Chinese tea, processed using a technology of leaf thermomechanical expansion to enhance the duration of flavor, increase heat resistance, and fully unfold the aroma.

The base for the well-known line of non-tobacco hookah products Saalaam Molasses is beetroot. The soak consists of sugar or corn syrup, and the flavorings used create a wide range of flavors.

Soex is a well-soaked, smoky smoking mixture made from finely ground sugarcane. The range of flavors includes over 50 varieties, including popular hookah classics.

Among the producers of fruit blends for hookah, the recognized leader is DeCloud. The contents of the jars look very appetizing, like jam or preserves (a real dessert from the world of hookahs), but you cannot eat it.

Unlike tobacco and herbs, a fruit blend is more heat-resistant, so smoking time can be extended up to 2 hours without losing taste and aroma. However, to properly heat it, it is recommended to use 3-4 charcoal pieces.

Hookah cream.

Another option for non-tobacco hookah filling is to use a paste or gel for hookah. It usually consists of glycerin, flavorings, food coloring, and sometimes absorbents that remove a quarter of harmful emissions.

Is hookah without nicotine harmful?

At first glance, no nicotine means no harm. However, things are not so straightforward, and opinions are divided into two cardinal camps: some are completely convinced of the unparalleled benefits of fruit or herbal hookahs, comparing smoking to inhalation; others talk about even greater harm than from tobacco products.

The truth lies in the golden mean. Firstly, the healing power of nicotine-free hookahs has not been medically proven, nor has their irreparable harm to health. Secondly, just pay attention to the quality of smoking products and their composition.

A hookah cannot completely clean smoke from combustion products, so if the mixture contains preservatives, dyes, low-quality flavorings, then burning may release many other different substances that can depress the nervous system just as much as tobacco. Therefore, it is better to treat smoking nicotine-free mixtures the same as tobacco, not rely on their usefulness, and of course, do not smoke while pregnant, for children, and for people with health problems.

In tastes, there is no disputing.

Non-tobacco and nicotine-free mixtures differ from classic hookah blends not so much in taste, but in the smoking effect. Therefore, everyone has a strictly individual attitude towards them. As a rule, those who are accustomed to tobacco cannot fully appreciate any other products, even if they are very tasty and aromatic. Those who do not have a nicotine dependency are more willing to choose such smoking blends. More often, stones, creams, fruit, and tea bases are used in collaboration with tobacco to create bright mixes and the smokiest hookahs.

Mixology is not just adding+adding=sum, it is a set of specific rules. By mixing equal parts of suitable (in your opinion) tobaccos, you can get a completely unpredictable result. Which may not please you at all.

 

 

Before we move on to flavor mixing, it is necessary to determine what types of flavors there are in general.

1. Fresh flavors. These include all aromas of menthol, eucalyptus, peppermint;
2. Spicy flavors, including cinnamon, ginger, coffee;
3.  Sweet or sweet-sour flavors – a huge variety of different variations ranging from lemon pie to delicious flavors such as bubblegum or alcoholic liqueurs, etc.;
4. Fruit and berry flavors – such as raspberry, blackberry, cherry, blueberry, apples or tropical fruits and so on;
5. Exotic flavors – in this category we have unusual flavors such as arctic freshness, a bright cola flavor, or Redbull.

There are several ways to mix tobaccos in a bowl:

1. Mixing together – provides a more uniform flavor.
2.  Layering – allows different flavors to unfold gradually.
3. Sectoring – makes the mix more multifaceted.

Three components are at the base of a good, delicious mix:

• Dominant flavor – base tobacco;
• Additional flavor – tobacco aftertaste;
• Undertone – tobacco note.

Formula approach.

Most often, this approach is used: it involves simply defining the percentage ratio of tobaccos. This method is ideal for novice hookah enthusiasts, as it minimizes the possibility of error.

The formula is as follows:

1. Base flavor share – 50-70%;
2.  Additional flavor share – 20-40%;
3.  Undertone flavor share – no more than 20%.

But keep in mind: in a mix, the dominant flavor is not always determined by the quantity of tobacco, but by the intensity of the tobacco flavor. Sometimes even a very small amount of tobacco can set the tone for the entire mix.

Base flavor

This is the primary flavor that will dominate the mix. When choosing this flavor, consider that all subsequent decisions should be based on the dominant flavor: whether to enhance it, complement it, or emphasize it.

! A mix can have multiple bases, but using equally strong and vibrant flavors is a mistake.

Additional flavor

This flavor is also strong enough, but not expressive enough to be used solo. When we talk about expressiveness, we mean depth of flavor rather than intensity. For example, spicy mixes should not be based on cinnamon or ginger; these blends are better used as additional flavors.

Undertone flavor

This is the final note – a flavor that adds a subtle aroma to the mix, helping to enhance the base and additional flavors. A mix is considered particularly successful when the additional notes come through in the aftertaste.

It should be noted that increasing the percentage of a specific flavored tobacco does not always mean that this flavor becomes dominant – it all depends on the specific tobacco, the specific flavor, and how you use it. Some tobaccos are overpowering, while others are difficult to detect even in a solo pack.

 

The main thing when creating a hookah mix is – Do not be afraid! And then everything will come with your experience.

 

 

Tobacco raw materials: tobacco leaves that have undergone post-harvest processing and are intended for the production of tobacco products.

Cigarettes contain mixtures of various types of tobaccos and sub-tobacco components. Sub-tobacco raw materials include: reconstituted tobacco, rolled veins, exploded veins. Such raw materials allow for the regulation of nicotine and tar content in tobacco products, along with a significant reduction in overall costs. The basis of tobacco raw materials consists of three main groups of tobacco: Virginia, Burley, and Oriental.

Climate, region, plant features.

These main types of tobacco are further divided into subgroups depending on where the tobacco is grown. Tobacco raw materials are usually grown between 40° north latitude and 40° south latitude. Tobacco farms can be found in more than 30 countries, including Argentina, Brazil, China, Greece, Italy, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Spain, Turkey, and the United States.

For a specific tobacco blend, the next step is to choose which part of the plant (top or bottom) to take based on characteristics related to the perceived quality of the tobacco, including color, maturity, and uniformity. These subgroups are called “varieties” of tobacco.

One tobacco processing plant can produce several varieties of leaf. The sensory, physical, chemical, and visual properties of a tobacco variety are typically determined by the position of the leaves on the plant. For example, leaves in the upper part of the plant are more exposed to sunlight than those in the lower part, and generally contain higher levels of nicotine and other alkaloids.

The leaves are purchased from growers, sorted into classes, and sent for threshing to separate the stem and lamellar parts of the leaves. The threshing process also allows for the control of moisture content, which is important as the tobacco is stored for several months to mature.

The chemical composition of the leaf can vary widely depending on the type of tobacco, soil, and environmental conditions in which it was grown.

Tobacco Group: Virginia.

Virginia (Lemon Virginia, Bright Virginia, Red Virginia, Matured Virginia, Black Virginia, Gold Virginia, Brown Virginia, Stoved Virginia, Yellow Virginia, Orange Virginia) tobacco is often referred to as “bright tobacco” and is characterized by its golden-yellow to dark orange color. Virginia is a large group of tobaccos with varying sugar content, usually dependent on the color – the brighter the tobacco, the higher the sugar content, and the darker the tobacco, the lower the sugar content. It is the most popular type of tobacco leaf used today, accounting for 60% of tobacco consumption worldwide. Virginia, or flue-cured tobacco, is named after the American state where it was first cultivated.

This type of tobacco grows particularly well in subtropical areas with light rainfall, such as Georgia, Virginia, and the Carolinas in the USA, Southern Brazil, Zimbabwe, Argentina, China, India, and Tanzania.

Flue-curing is a thermal process that creates a dry, controlled product with reduced mold risks and promotes chemical changes that enhance sensory quality. It also results in color changes in the leaves. The drying process takes a week. Virginia tobacco has a light, bright aroma and flavor. Virginia tobacco can contain a wide range of nicotine levels – from 1% to 3.5% – and has relatively high levels of natural sugars – from 5% to 25%. Virginia is a mild tobacco leaf that naturally has a high sugar content. Virginia has a low tar content. A block of Virginia tobacco provides a sweet taste, fruity aroma notes of varying intensities, and olfactory richness to the blend. The Virginia tobacco group provides a slightly acidic smoke environment.

Tobacco Group: Oriental.

Oriental, also known as Eastern tobacco or Turkish tobacco, is the smallest and most hardy of all types of tobacco. The name “Turkish” refers to the Ottoman Empire, which controlled the historical production areas until the late 19th/early 20th century. Over time, Ottoman farmers developed their own method of growing and consuming tobacco. Historically, it was mainly cultivated in Thrace and Macedonia, now growing in Bulgaria, Greece, Republic of Macedonia, and Turkey, but is also cultivated on the Black Sea coast, in Egypt, and in South Africa.

Oriental tobacco is very aromatic. It has small leaves, which are harvested leaf by leaf, similar to Virginia tobacco, and is sun-cured outdoors. These conditions, along with high planting density and the appropriate Eastern variety, create an aromatic composition when smoked. This is amplified by sun-curing. An Oriental blend can contain up to 100% sun-cured tobacco found in traditional Turkish cigarettes. Many early cigarette brands were made primarily or entirely from Turkish tobacco, but today its main use is in pipe blends and as an essential type of tobacco in cigarette blends. Characterized by medium sugar content, low nicotine levels, and high levels of essential oils. They are usually used as blends of several varieties and give the blend a characteristic tangy aroma with a spicy-sweet taste and nutty notes. They are also used to give the blend smoothness, thanks to the appropriate pH hydrogen level, in a moderately acidic environment. Raw materials of the Oriental tobacco group have a yellow and light brown color, with rare tobaccos having shades of greenish-olive color.

Burley tobacco group.

In the field, Burley is slightly lighter than Virginia’s green leaves. This is due to heavier soil and more fertilizers. The highest quality Burley is grown in American states such as Maryland and Kentucky. It is also cultivated in Central America, Malawi, Uganda, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, and Italy. After harvesting, the Burley tobacco group undergoes air-curing. Air-curing is a method that creates a dry product with controlled characteristics, minimal risk of mold, and promotes chemical changes that enhance the organoleptic quality of tobacco. Burley ranges in color from light to dark brown. The dense leaf buries almost without natural sugars remaining after air-curing, which takes up to two months, giving it an almost cigar-like taste. Typically, a cigarette containing only Burley tobacco will produce a sensory irritating smoke.

In the field, Burley is slightly lighter than Virginia’s green leaves. This is due to heavier soil and more fertilizers. The highest quality Burley is grown in American states such as Maryland and Kentucky. It is also cultivated in Central America, Malawi, Uganda, Indonesia, Argentina, Brazil, and Italy. After harvesting, the Burley tobacco group undergoes air-curing. Air-curing is a method that creates a dry product with controlled characteristics, minimal risk of mold, and promotes chemical changes that enhance the organoleptic quality of tobacco. Burley ranges in color from light to dark brown. The dense leaf buries almost without natural sugars remaining after air-curing, which takes up to two months, giving it an almost cigar-like taste. Typically, a cigarette containing only Burley tobacco will produce a sensory irritating smoke.

Based on three types of tobacco: Burley, Virginia, and Oriental tobacco groups, as well as processed tobaccos such as reconstituted tobacco, burst vein or rolled vein analog, tobacco technologists build a tobacco blend – a recipe that is adhered to throughout the production of the tobacco product.

Tobacco is the foundation of any hookah session. The quality of smoke, aroma, and overall atmosphere of the company depends on it. Today, despite the market being saturated with a variety of options, there are still few worthy representatives. Let’s break down everything you need to know about tobacco to truly enjoy your hookah experience.

Types of Tobacco

Flavored Muassel

When you smoke hookah, you are consuming flavored muassel. The name literally comes from the Arabic word “honey,” as honey used to be used in the production of tobacco. Nowadays, molasses has replaced honey in production, but the name remains.

Flavorings are key ingredients in flavored muassels, making the tobacco fruity, spicy, sweet, refreshing, and so on. In addition to tobacco, molasses, and flavor mix, glycerin and preservatives are included in muassel.

Unflavored Muassel

As the name suggests, this mixture does not contain flavorings. It may seem stronger as a result, although the raw material used is usually the same.

Tombak and Jurak

Tombak consists of large tobacco leaves. First, they are soaked in water, the central vein is removed, then the leaves are wrapped at the top of the hookah like a cigar, with charcoal placed directly on the leaf. Tombak is very strong and has a strong tobacco taste when smoked.

Jurak is a mixture of finely chopped tobacco leaves, molasses, and sometimes spices. It is usually placed in a bowl with a mound, and charcoal is placed on top without foil.

The last two types are rarely used now: they are difficult to find and have a taste that is acquired.

We are interested in muassel, so let’s talk about it below.

Composition of Hookah Tobacco

Tobacco Leaf

The tobacco leaf is the basis of the mixture and the source of nicotine. Tobacco can vary in taste, color, sweetness, strength, and more. Each type can have different characteristics due to the soil in which it grew, weather conditions, drying technology, and other factors. The most popular types of tobacco are Virginia, Burley, and Oriental. Burley has the highest nicotine content, usually stronger than Virginia, but there are also stronger varieties of Virginia.

Burley is easier to burn since it is dried longer with dry air, but manufacturers are working on this drawback. Burley’s taste also provides a sharpness that some enthusiasts enjoy.

Of the three tobaccos, Virginia is the most common. Golden Virginia, the most popular, is smoked with smoke, allowing the tobacco leaves to retain a lot of sugar. It is this sugar that gives the sweet taste when smoking tobacco and its heat resistance. Nowadays, blends based on more than one type of tobacco are becoming more common. For example, Dark Side uses a mix of Virginia, Burley, and Oriental in its production.

It’s hard to say which tobacco is the best, as they are all of high quality. However, a blend with Burley will be quite strong, while beginners may prefer blends with Virginia or Oriental.

Recently, cigar leaves have also started to be used as raw material for hookah tobacco. This can be either raw material common with cigars or finely ground ready cigars. This type of tobacco is characterized by a special, deep, and noble aroma of the raw material. Examples of such tobaccos include WTO, Kraken, Dogma, Trofimoff’s, and Bonche.

Flavoring

The first flavored tobaccos appeared on the market in the late 1980s. In the mid-1980s, employees of the Egyptian company Nakhla noticed that people were mixing tobacco with jam to give it a unique flavor, and they proposed making similar mixtures as part of their production. Nakhla now sells flavored and unflavored tobacco with equal success, but flavored tobacco (90%) is exported. In general, flavoring is one of the most important components of the mixture. The quality of the flavoring determines whether the mixture will smoke well and if there will be a chemical taste.

For example, Arab tobaccos are more natural: if you buy grape-flavored tobacco, you will get the taste of grape. However, some tobaccos may give you a taste more like grape soda than the fruit itself, so it makes sense to try “natural” tobaccos first.

Glycerin

Glycerin is added to any tobacco to preserve the leaf and remove moisture. It is worth knowing that there is no smoke in the hookah itself, but rather glycerin vapor, formed from the moisture from the tobacco. Glycerin also increases the smoke density of the hookah. Some try to add it to the mixture additionally, but such experiments are not recommended as it is easy to ruin the hookah.

Preservative

Even tobaccos require a preservative, as without it, they will spoil, such as mold appearing. The composition and name of preservatives are not disclosed, but it is believed that E211 is used, which, according to open sources, is quite safe and is even found in fruits and berries.

Colorant

To make the mixture look attractive and “appetizing,” sometimes a colorant is added. This does not mean that the tobacco will taste worse with it: the colorant does not affect the taste qualities. However, in recent times, manufacturers have started to abandon the option to “decorate” the product, considering colorants unnecessary. However, they can still be found in popular tobaccos like Al Fakher or Nakhla.

Blend Characteristics

Cutting

Tobacco for hookah mixtures comes in coarse, medium, and fine cuts. Coarsely cut leaves absorb flavor better, but they are less heat-resistant. Tobacco leaves with a medium cut absorb flavor better and are also very heat-resistant. Fine cut tobacco, like coarse, absorbs liquid poorly, but this depends on the type. Mixtures with finely cut leaves have low heat resistance. Generally, heat resistance can be adjusted using charcoal, regardless of the type of tobacco you use.

Soaking

Soaking tobacco is necessary, done in syrup made from flavoring and molasses. The saturation of flavor depends on the amount of syrup, but if there is too much, the hookah smoke may taste overly artificial.

Additionally, soaking affects smoke thickness: more syrup means more smoke.

Types of tobacco for hookahs by strength

Hookah tobaccos are not only distinguished by flavor. Mixtures come in different strengths. This is a definite plus, as every hookah enthusiast can find the ideal option for themselves.

So, tobaccos can be:

– light. These are classic tobaccos, such as Al Fakher, Adalya, Serberli, etc.

– medium. Most popular Russian tobaccos fall into this category. DarkSide, MustHave, Severnyi, Duft, Deus, etc.

– strong. This includes tobaccos based on cigar leaves. Some classify Tangiers within this category as well. Additionally, many manufacturers, such as Hooligan Tobacco, have separate Medium and Hard lines.

Flavor Intensity

Intensity is a subjective concept, but there are blends with more or less intense flavors. There are also natural (fruit, chocolate) or chemical flavors (like cola, ice cream). However, it is worth remembering that even in the most natural blends, real fruits are not used because they are expensive, spoil quickly, and are generally a lot of trouble.

Trash

There is a common belief that if there are foreign materials like “sticks” in the tobacco, then it is of poor quality. But this is not true: even good and recognized hookah tobacco manufacturers have “trash” in their tobacco. It is quite easy to remove it by hand, and small “sticks” do not affect the taste.

Strength

The more nicotine in the tobacco, the stronger the blend. Contrary to popular belief, different blends based on the same tobacco cannot have different strengths, as nicotine is only contained in the tobacco itself, not in the flavorings. However, this rule does not apply to different lines of the same tobacco brand.

Strength is also affected by “washability”: washed tobaccos are usually less strong than unwashed ones.

It is important to understand that in reality, there are no methods to determine the strength of a particular hookah tobacco. Although manufacturers write specific numbers, they are not backed by anything, so they can be safely ignored.

Smoke Output

The smoke output of hookah tobacco is primarily influenced by the syrup with flavorings and their composition, as well as the cut of the tobacco, but to a lesser extent. If you come across tobacco with low smoke output, you can achieve thick clouds of smoke by adding more heat.

Heat Resistance

Heat resistance is another subjective and relative thing. Good heat resistance of tobacco indicates that the blend can withstand heat well and does not give off a chemical taste or bitterness at high heat. If the tobacco has low heat resistance, it makes sense to simply use less charcoal.

Heat resistance depends on the type and cut of the tobacco leaf.

Shelf Life and Storage Conditions

On average, the shelf life of hookah tobacco blends is about two years, although it is quite conditional. Of course, much depends on storage conditions: if you store fresh tobacco near a heater, it will definitely not last for two years.

Production Process

Finding information about the production process is very difficult, although some skilled individuals have successfully tried making flavored tobacco “on the fly”. Usually, tobacco leaves are soaked, washed, or not subjected to any “water procedures”. After that, they are cut, mixed with molasses, preservatives, glycerin, and flavorings. The question is whether it is worth the effort to make tobacco in this way: you need to source ingredients, calculate proportions, and mix everything correctly. It is much simpler and cheaper to buy ready-made tobacco, leaving homemade preparation methods to enthusiasts who enjoy the process itself.

However, homemade tobaccos can sometimes be found for sale, but they will always be inferior in properties and quality to industrial ones. Ultimately, buying hookah blends from individuals is simply risky, so it is better not to take unnecessary chances.

 

Not many people think about how to properly choose hookah tobacco and what to pay attention to besides the flavor. Remember, there are four essential aspects to consider when choosing tobacco: strength, heat resistance, smoke output, and flavor profile.

Strength. Hookah tobacco is divided into three types based on strength. Light types are suitable for everyone, from beginners to passionate professionals. Generally, light tobaccos are more affordable. The harm from them is slightly lower than from heavier types because the percentage of nicotine in such blends is much lower. Medium and strong smoking mixes follow in strength. It is not recommended to jump straight into very strong, select, and potent hookah tobacco the first time—you will only experience a strong dizziness, and thoughts of relaxation will remain just dreams.

Heat Resistance. This parameter indicates how much charcoal needs to be placed before the tobacco mixture starts burning and turns bitter. Heat resistance is influenced by the cut of the leaf and soaking. The most heat-resistant tobaccos are produced based on Virginia leaf.

Smoke Output. This parameter is one of the main and most important qualities for hookah enthusiasts. Fans of hookahs note that smoking a smoky blend is more pleasant, plus you can do a large number of interesting tricks like rings. The amount of glycerin used in the soaking of the tobacco has a greater influence on this parameter.

Aftertaste and Aroma. Flavors in the mixture can be very diverse. Manufacturers spare no expense in adding various flavorings, which can be fruity, floral, with a hint of menthol, gum, and more. The selection is vast and caters to all tastes.