Hookah tobacco: how it differs from sticks and cigarettes, composition, types and how to choose

We picked up information from open sources on the network about hookah and tobacco mixtures for hookahs in order to figure out what they are in taste, smokiness, strength, and what they have in common and different with other products for smokers like cigarettes and heating tobacco sticks. 

 

What is hookah tobacco made of?

Hookahs as we know them today appeared in the 16th century. The first hookah mixtures were made from local tobacco, fruits, and honey. Now hookah tobacco is made more technologically.

Modern hookah tobacco is a specially created mixture, which usually includes:

• tobacco leaves of Virginia, Burley, Oriental varieties;
• Glycerin;
• food flavors;
• molasses, which moisturizes tobacco and makes smoke sweeter;
• preservatives to increase the shelf life of the mixture;
• natural ingredients — tea, honey, jam, pieces of fruit, etc.

 

Is there nicotine in hookah

Unlike the heating tobacco sticks, which have the same nicotine content in each stick, the nicotine level in a hookah mixture can be different - usually it ranges from 0.05% to 4%.

The nicotine level is indicated either on the back of the package or on the manufacturer's website. More often, packages of hookah tobacco are marked by strength (according to the manufacturer) from light to very strong:

• light (light) corresponds to a nicotine content of up to 1%;
• medium — 1–2% nicotine;
• strong - 2-3% nicotine;
• extra strong — 3-4% nicotine.

For the manufacture of hookah mixture, the same types of tobacco are used as for other tobacco products - Virginia, Burley and Oriental, mixed in different proportions. Softer-tasting hookah tobacco is made with a predominance of the Virginia variety, and stronger tobacco is made with a higher proportion of Burley.

 

Are there hookahs without nicotine

Some manufacturers are experimenting with technologies and creating nicotine-free hookah mixtures in which tobacco is replaced with herbs.

What is the difference between hookah tobacco and tobacco in cigarettes and sticks

Hookah mixes, cigarettes and sticks are made from the same types of tobacco, but the manufacturing process is different.

For cigarettes, the tobacco leaf is well dried and crushed. Into production of sticks Only the pulp of the tobacco leaf is used, which is pre- crushed and then pressed and slightly moistened with glycerin.

Glycerin is also added to hookah mixtures, but much more than to sticks. To make hookah tobacco, freshly harvested leaves are first laid out in a room with a high temperature - for oxidation. Then it is dried in smoke until yellowish-orange in color. Stronger varieties of tobacco are dried and fermented in the open air - hung in special bags.

After that, the tobacco is cut and mixed with molasses, glycerin and flavorings. A lot of them are added - 70-80% of the mixture is additional ingredients. It is thanks to this humidity that thick smoke is formed during smoldering or heating of the hookah mixture.

 

How to choose hookah tobacco

Types of tobacco mixtures for hookah

 

1. Muessel is a moist, juicy mixture with a lot of flavors in the composition. Gives a rich aromatic smoke from a hookah. 
2. Jurak is a wet mixture, almost without flavors, but it may contain pieces of fruit, spices, herbs. Gives a softer and lighter taste.
3. Tobamel or Tombak (Tobamel, Tombak) is a much drier mixture, often without flavors and with a small amount of glycerin. This type of mixture is for those smokers who love hookah with a classic tobacco flavor. It  is popular in eastern countries.

 

What are the tastes of hookah tobacco

It is impossible to count all the flavors of hookah tobacco, because new combinations can appear in the assortment of manufacturers almost every day. But there are landmarks here, too. Common flavors of hookah tobacco are fruity, mint, creamy and unique mixes. Less popular are herbal, spicy and woody.

 

Does charcoal affect the taste of hookah

It depends on the coals for the hookah how long the hookah will be smoked, and its taste. Several options are now common:

1. Natural charcoal from coconut shells, wood, bamboo gives a good heat, does not spoil the taste of tobacco, but ignites for a long time.
2. Artificial, self-igniting, saltpeter-based, quickly ignites, but can give an extraneous aftertaste.
3. There is also electric charcoal, which quickly heats up to the desired temperature and does not change the taste of the hookah. It is this type of hookah charcoal that is often used in hookah bars.

 

What affects the size of the hookah

A hookah is a smoking device that consists of a tobacco bowl, a shaft, a flask, a hose and a mouthpiece. There is a tobacco mixture in the bowl, which heats up from the heat of the coals during puffing: the hookah mixture burns out and forms thick smoke.

Hookah produces smoke, like cigarettes, but it takes longer in comparison with the cooling process, because the device itself is larger.

Smoke passes through the shaft, through a flask of water, a hose and a mouthpiece - all these elements are here for the smoke to cool. It is widely believed that the water in the hookah flask filters the smoke. In fact, water simply cools the smoke to a comfortable temperature for inhalation. Therefore, the larger the hookah, the better the smoke that is inhaled when smoking a hookah cools down.

The hookah must be completely sealed so that air enters only during drafting. If it is blown somewhere, then excess air will dilute the smoke, and it will not be so fragrant and thick.

 

 

What to look for before buying hookah tobacco

1. Slicing is like cut tobacco, it affects the transfer of taste: smaller tobacco particles give a richer and more aromatic smoke.
2. Smokiness is the content of molasses, glycerin, additional ingredients that make the mixture juicy: at 70-80%, tobacco gives more aromatic smoke.
3. Strength - stronger hookah tobacco will be with a higher content of the Burley variety.
4. Heat resistance - a wet hookah mix, with more glycerin, molasses, fruit or flavors, will smolder longer than a drier one.

 

Is it possible to make hookah tobacco yourself

There are many recipes for hookah mixtures on the Internet, but this is risky, because it is very difficult to check their authenticity. So you don't know what exactly you will get as a result. In addition, to make hookah tobacco yourself, you need to purchase a lot of ingredients - high-quality tobacco leaf, food glycerin and flavorings, molasses. You will also need special equipment for cutting tobacco and storing the mixture.

How hookah tobacco is stored

The expiration date or recommended dates for the consumption of hookah tobacco are indicated on the packaging - usually it is 2-3 years. Open tobacco is transferred to a tightly closed container (jar or box) so that the aroma and nicotine do not disappear.

How long does a pack of tobacco last and how much tobacco is needed for one hookah

It depends on the size of the pack, the size of the hookah bowl and the type of tobacco stuffing. Most often, hookah tobacco is sold in packs of 50 and 100 grams. One hookah with a medium-sized bowl with a loose clog takes about 15-20 grams (about a tablespoon) of hookah mixture. Therefore, a pack of 50 g can be enough for 2-3 hookahs, and up to 6 hookahs for 100 g.