Vegan Tobacco?

[Simon Jester]

I recently adopted a vegan diet, so I religiously read the ingredients list printed on back of all products I consume. On a trip to local tobacco shop I begin to examine the ingredients list of some of my favorite brands and flavors to find most contain glycerin (with no mention of weather it comes from an animal or plant source), and many contain honey. Is there a list Hookah tobacco companies that don't use any animal products in anything that they sell?

[JoeLipinski]

I recently adopted a vegan diet, so I religiously read the ingredients list printed on back of all products I consume. On a trip to local tobacco shop I begin to examine the ingredients list of some of my favorite brands and flavors to find most contain glycerin (with no mention of weather it comes from an animal or plant source), and many contain honey. Is there a list Hookah tobacco companies that don't use any animal products in anything that they sell?

I know that both tangiers and starbuzz use vegetable glycerin.

[hmpitags2006]

vegetable glycerin would probably be used in almost all shisha I would think.

[Scheetz]

for the most part I believe they all use Veggie.

You must have a fun life. Any reason you chose this?

[Simon Jester]

You must have a fun life. Any reason you chose this?

Well, one day I was just sitting around thinking about the food I eat, and why I eat. I never find myself eating because I am stress, depressed, bored, or any other similar reason. I usually just eat to stop the rumbling in my stomach. I then realize there were ways for me to fulfill this necessity without brining harm to any sentient beings. I took the logical next step in this realization and made the attempt to stop using all animal products (no more leather shoes, wool jackets, etc...).




I realize it's near impossible to live a life devoid of products derived from animals (most home computer contain components that have animal derivatives). And that some of the “alternatives” to animal products are of an inferior quality and/or are significantly higher priced. Though I feel as a middle class individual living in a first world nation, I should at lest give it a good effort. It is a highly unnatural lifestyle choice (we have canines for a reason, ripping into steaks), and many if not most people can not follow it because economic/nutritional concerns. So I'm not about to stand up on a soap box and tell everyone how to live their lives. What you put in or on your body is your own business, not mine.


Phew. There's my shpeal.

[art_official]

I do know however, although already stated, but Starbuzz uses vegetable glycerin

[smiley]

I recently adopted a vegan diet, so I religiously read the ingredients list printed on back of all products I consume. On a trip to local tobacco shop I begin to examine the ingredients list of some of my favorite brands and flavors to find most contain glycerin (with no mention of weather it comes from an animal or plant source), and many contain honey. Is there a list Hookah tobacco companies that don't use any animal products in anything that they sell?

Most glycerin used for Shisha is either made mostly from corn and other vegtable matter. Honey is from a liveing being. So you can't have that. But there are some that use either Corn Syrup, Simple syrup miture. I won't mention what brand. I don't want to piss more people off.I think I had my fill. Even though its my opinion.
Smiley Edited January 22, 2007 by smiley

[yashman19]

Hopefully everyone understands my reasons for deleting a few posts. No harm done, but I'd like to steer the convo back on topic to the OPs original question.

If someone wants to start a vegan discussion thread, you guys know the location.

[art_official]

no problem i figured it would happen.

i think ill do that tomorrow...

[rootdown]

You cant smoke hookah without harming any sentient being, unless you yourself are not a sentient being

any sort of smoke is at least a little bad for you

[Hookah_Bob3]

Well, there are two types of vegans that I'm aware of..Those that will do anything to avoid hurting an animal (or exploiting, whatever it may be called) and those that try their best to do as little harm as possible..You seem to fall into the second category, and even if you smoke tobacco with honey, you can still be a vegan. However, if you're looking for tobaccos without honey, then I think Tangiers uses molasses and not honey. Can't quote me on that though

[Social Smoke]

While I am not 100% sure of this, I think it is safe to believe that all tobaccos originating out of the middle east and also Starbuzz and Tangiers use vegetarian glycerin. It makes more sense as many Muslims eat “Zabihah Halal” meats which is basically the Muslim version of Kosher meat (But it is not Kosher). This means that Middle eastern manufacturers would not import animal based regular or even Kosher glycerin for risk of cutting themselves out of a large portion of their native market. So for tobacco manufacturers to be able to produce something that everyone would smoke (Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc), they would use vegetarian glycerin.

This is assuming that they do not produce significant quantities of animal based glycerin at home, which is what I have been led to believe by American chemical manufacturers.

Plus, Vegetarian glycerin just makes more sense... Make something everyone can use...

[JoeLipinski]

Well, there are two types of vegans that I'm aware of..Those that will do anything to avoid hurting an animal (or exploiting, whatever it may be called) and those that try their best to do as little harm as possible..You seem to fall into the second category, and even if you smoke tobacco with honey, you can still be a vegan. However, if you're looking for tobaccos without honey, then I think Tangiers uses molasses and not honey. Can't quote me on that though

Yes, Tangiers uses stuff that would work with your new lifestyle. "Nobody’s brand is anywhere near natural. The best I can tell you is that Tangiers Tobacco is Kosher, Halal and Vegan friendly, no animal products are used in making it. Much of the glycerin from the Arab world is made from animal fat, where Tangiers uses only 100% kosher glycerin from plants sources." - www.tangiers.us . Eric also uses molasses - "Do you add tar to the tobacco? No, we don’t. We use natural U.S. grown tobacco that is not treated or altered in any way. The tobacco is cut and cooked in food-grade molasses and a proprietary blend of ingredients." - www.Tangiers.us . So I think you are safe to smoke tangiers

[JoeLipinski]

While I am not 100% sure of this, I think it is safe to believe that all tobaccos originating out of the middle east and also Starbuzz and Tangiers use vegetarian glycerin. It makes more sense as many Muslims eat “Zabihah Halal” meats which is basically the Muslim version of Kosher meat (But it is not Kosher). This means that Middle eastern manufacturers would not import animal based regular or even Kosher glycerin for risk of cutting themselves out of a large portion of their native market. So for tobacco manufacturers to be able to produce something that everyone would smoke (Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, etc), they would use vegetarian glycerin.

This is assuming that they do not produce significant quantities of animal based glycerin at home, which is what I have been led to believe by American chemical manufacturers.

Plus, Vegetarian glycerin just makes more sense... Make something everyone can use...

Actually Kosher meat can be eaten by Muslims, if they cannot find any kosher goods. I would also have to agree with the idea that most middle eastern tobacco manufactures use Halal based glycerin because of the areas religious influence and that religions diet.

[rattler]

But a Halal Tobacco would not mean that it was animal product free. It just means that it would be pork free correct?

[JoeLipinski]

But a Halal Tobacco would not mean that it was animal product free. It just means that it would be pork free correct?

Well the only way to make glycerin (to my knowledge) is with pork contents or vegetable contents.

[rattler]

But a Halal Tobacco would not mean that it was animal product free. It just means that it would be pork free correct?

Well the only way to make glycerin (to my knowledge) is with pork contents or vegetable contents.

Well hell in that case if you find out that a company is using *shudders* glycerine made from pork fat please PM me because I want nothing to do with it. I figured it could be produced from the fat of any animal...I looked it up and your right it is most commonly produced from pork fat.

[sicklecow]

Then why the hell is it taking so long to get some bacon-flavored shisha? Come on!

[DizzyGuy]

Shit, I'd smoke a cow or a pig

[Social Smoke]

Actually Kosher meat can be eaten by Muslims, if they cannot find any kosher goods. I would also have to agree with the idea that most middle eastern tobacco manufactures use Halal based glycerin because of the areas religious influence and that religions diet.

Not all muslims will eat Kosher meat. A very significant percentage will not. And in the middle east where almost everyone is muslim, you will not find muslims eating, buying, selling Kosher anything. Basically everything in the middle east is "Zabiha Halal" which is different than just Halal. Halal is anything that a muslim could technically eat (Beef, Chicken, Lamb, etc, But Not Pork) Zabiha Halal means that the meat was also slaughtered according to Islamic Law.

Here in the states where muslims are a minority, its more common to find muslims that will eat any "Halal" meat regardless of whether it is "Zabihah Halal" or where it comes from. But this depends on each person and what sect of Islam they follow.

Yes, Tangiers uses stuff that would work with your new lifestyle. "Nobody’s brand is anywhere near natural. The best I can tell you is that Tangiers Tobacco is Kosher, Halal and Vegan friendly, no animal products are used in making it. Much of the glycerin from the Arab world is made from animal fat, where Tangiers uses only 100% kosher glycerin from plants sources." - www.tangiers.us . Eric also uses molasses - "Do you add tar to the tobacco? No, we don’t. We use natural U.S. grown tobacco that is not treated or altered in any way. The tobacco is cut and cooked in food-grade molasses and a proprietary blend of ingredients." - www.Tangiers.us . So I think you are safe to smoke tangiers

In this statement "I think" Eric says that "Much of the glycerin from the Arab world is made from animal fat" I don't know whether or not this statement is true, but it is contradictory to JoeLipinski's statements below.

But a Halal Tobacco would not mean that it was animal product free. It just means that it would be pork free correct?

Well the only way to make glycerin (to my knowledge) is with pork contents or vegetable contents.

If the only way to make glycerin is with pork contents, then there would not be any animal based glycerin made in the middle east. Anyways, I am going to send an email to the owners of a few of the middle eastern tobacco companies to get some answers on this.

[rattler]

Actually Kosher meat can be eaten by Muslims, if they cannot find any kosher goods. I would also have to agree with the idea that most middle eastern tobacco manufactures use Halal based glycerin because of the areas religious influence and that religions diet.

Not all muslims will eat Kosher meat. A very significant percentage will not. And in the middle east where almost everyone is muslim, you will not find muslims eating, buying, selling Kosher anything. Basically everything in the middle east is "Zabiha Halal" which is different than just Halal. Halal is anything that a muslim could technically eat (Beef, Chicken, Lamb, etc, But Not Pork) Zabiha Halal means that the meat was also slaughtered according to Islamic Law.

Here in the states where muslims are a minority, its more common to find muslims that will eat any "Halal" meat regardless of whether it is "Zabihah Halal" or where it comes from. But this depends on each person and what sect of Islam they follow.

Yes, Tangiers uses stuff that would work with your new lifestyle. "Nobody's brand is anywhere near natural. The best I can tell you is that Tangiers Tobacco is Kosher, Halal and Vegan friendly, no animal products are used in making it. Much of the glycerin from the Arab world is made from animal fat, where Tangiers uses only 100% kosher glycerin from plants sources." - www.tangiers.us . Eric also uses molasses - "Do you add tar to the tobacco? No, we don't. We use natural U.S. grown tobacco that is not treated or altered in any way. The tobacco is cut and cooked in food-grade molasses and a proprietary blend of ingredients." - www.Tangiers.us . So I think you are safe to smoke tangiers

In this statement "I think" Eric says that "Much of the glycerin from the Arab world is made from animal fat" I don't know whether or not this statement is true, but it is contradictory to JoeLipinski's statements below.

But a Halal Tobacco would not mean that it was animal product free. It just means that it would be pork free correct?

Well the only way to make glycerin (to my knowledge) is with pork contents or vegetable contents.

If the only way to make glycerin is with pork contents, then there would not be any animal based glycerin made in the middle east. Anyways, I am going to send an email to the owners of a few of the middle eastern tobacco companies to get some answers on this.

Awsome! You'll let us know the answer right? I don't want to be smoking up pork unknowingly.

[Donkeema]

wow, this has turned into some intresting topic, i wonder what their answers will be, just gotta sit and wait i guess....

[Sonthert]

We use 100% kosher glycerine. We try to use US made natural glycerine, but indeed, natural Malaysian glycerine (palm?) is sometimes the type of kosher glycerine the wholesaler has. To be exact, glycerine is either 99.5-99.8% pure. The glycerine has lost any animal or plant identity it once had. The last .5-.2% is water.

Tobacco is always considered Haram. Its Halal friendly because some Muslim smokers like not to have animal glycerine in it (as do some Jewish smokers). Moreover, everything is prepared in an area that has never had haram/non-kosher materials in it. It is most certainly free of animal products. To be very sure, in the future, you should avoid anything with natural flavors in. Use only things with artificial flavors. Natural flavors could come from animals whereas artificial flavors by definition couldn't. Since no tobacco manufacturer uses natural extracts for their tobacco, all the flavorings would come in one way or another from a manufacturing plant although they might contain animal products. Tangiers also tries to avoid flavorings that contain ethanol...since it is also haram.