Need Someone Who Knows Their Tobacco!

[baumann]

I am going to make another batch of homemade shisha soon. Last time, I used America Spirit rolling tobacco, vegetable glycerin, molasses, and dried apples and it turned out pretty decent. I quit cigarettes though because I just didn't want to deal with the amount of additives. American Spirit claims that their product is additive free, but a large part of me believes that this is bullshit. I was wondering if there are any independent-type comapanies that make a safer rolling tobacco, or perhaps a place I could order some raw tobacco from.

PS...Is raw tobacco even smokable???
I don't know much about tobacco. Maybe Eric could fill me in a little bit.

[srawas89]

If you can find some Tambuk for cheap I think that would work as far as tobacco that you can use make your own shisha.

[baumann]

I just searched Tambuk and didn't find anything about it really...any links you could give me?

[Rani]

I'd stick with American Spirit organic. They make an organic version as well as the "non-additive" version. Remember that our national laws about pesticides, etc. apply only here in the states. Imported anything is subject to the local laws about additives and disclosure, so you have very little control. The alternative is to grow your own tobacco which I've heard is fairly easy. It's the washing, etc. that's the hard part.

'Rani

[hookah hippie]

I think American Spirit is your best bet go with the red organic pack

[ColibriDon]

I believe that Natural American Spirit is actually additive free. Based on how slow that stuff burns versus Marlboro or something, I would say it's a legit claim.

I would stick with them for a homemade base. If it were me, I would try to find some Perique tobacco to use. American Spirit has some, comes in a black pack--all I used to smoke.

There are places online that sell raw tobacco in small batches but I think it's pretty expensive. I found it a while ago and don't remember where. Just google it and you should find it.

[mjdx88]

Here is the Tombac link

http://www.hookahcompany.com/iranian_tombeic_666_prd1.htm

[baumann]

this tombac stuff is exactly what I was lookin' for

how do you guys think the buzz will be? will that depend on how well I rinse the leaf?

[Zinite]

this tombac stuff is exactly what I was lookin' for

how do you guys think the buzz will be? will that depend on how well I rinse the leaf?

It should be pretty intense. You can try boiling the leaves. Someone here should know about it though.

[baumann]

What do you think boiling the leaves would do? I am planning on mixing some veggie glycerin, molasses, and possibly dried mango into the whole thing. Do you think that would work out well? I'll have to experiment with the ratios, but I got it to work out alright with American Spirit, so I figured if I just shred the leaves real small and dry them out well after soaking them (by the way, what does soaking them do?), I could get the same results.

[mattarios2]

when you soak the leaves it cleans or washes the tobacco removing some nicotine etc. the longer you wash the less buzz you will get.

but washing tombak is a routine process that you do with tombac to smoke it.

mush posted up a vid a while back on how to do it.

look for mushrats video on packing and preparing tombac.

[mustang_steve]

If you can find a cigar shop that makes their own in house, you may be able to talk to the owner about getting some of their tobacco.

I recently talked to the owner of a shop down here about that, and he was pretty accommodating, his prices were actually really good. I'm considering making my own shisha after the state tax hikes nearly doubled the price of shisha down here (most places are simply playing dumb and acting like they don't know the difference between herbal and non herbal shishas...that will only last for so long).

[Sonthert]

You should not smoke raw tobacco. Its bad.

There a number of factors that could affect the naturalness of the tobacco. Believe it or not, the new legislation that bans flavored cigarettes is a big step in the right direction for making sure tobacco is "safer".

Before the recent legislation, there was no regulation, so what constitutes organic or more natural or less additives wasn't regulated, except by the Attorney General (next to none).

I don't have a recommendation for you. The data on that kinda stuff isn't available from most distributors/blenders I buy from. I am looking into lower nitrosamine sun-cured tobacco, but that's a work in progress. We're waiting for the new crops. That being said, there is some percentage of sun-dried tobacco in a lot of blends...they just use it like higher nitrosamine flue-cured tobacco. I don't think its that significant. I think besides some of the crap cigarette manufacturers actually put on the tobacco intentionally (after its out of the fields) would be the most problematic. I think most of the farmers would take the most natural (and cheapest) approach possible. The regulation just adds a check step to the process. In terms, I don't think its going to make the final product safer. That being said, I use the best things I can for making Tangiers. Always. If I can find a way to make it better or with less crap, I do it.

Hope this helps. (?)

[Bulldog_916]

You should not smoke raw tobacco. Its bad.

There a number of factors that could affect the naturalness of the tobacco. Believe it or not, the new legislation that bans flavored cigarettes is a big step in the right direction for making sure tobacco is "safer".

Before the recent legislation, there was no regulation, so what constitutes organic or more natural or less additives wasn't regulated, except by the Attorney General (next to none).

I don't have a recommendation for you. The data on that kinda stuff isn't available from most distributors/blenders I buy from. I am looking into lower nitrosamine sun-cured tobacco, but that's a work in progress. We're waiting for the new crops. That being said, there is some percentage of sun-dried tobacco in a lot of blends...they just use it like higher nitrosamine flue-cured tobacco. I don't think its that significant. I think besides some of the crap cigarette manufacturers actually put on the tobacco intentionally (after its out of the fields) would be the most problematic. I think most of the farmers would take the most natural (and cheapest) approach possible. The regulation just adds a check step to the process. In terms, I don't think its going to make the final product safer. That being said, I use the best things I can for making Tangiers. Always. If I can find a way to make it better or with less crap, I do it.

Hope this helps. (?)

You might try Turkish Tobacco. Most oriental types are sun-cured, low nicotine to begin with, and from what you're saying lower nitrosamine.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/104915...al_Tobacco.html

Yes, you'll have to import, but it might contribute to a higher quality product, if that's even possible.