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Vaping tobacco: 12 things you should know about vaping tobacco

1. Can I vaporize tobacco?

This question is asked very often. Vaporizing dry herbs has been around for a long time and is a very popular way of using a wide range of herbs, including cannabis. Most dry herb vaporizers are designed specifically to vaporize cannabis and other herbs, however the process of vaporizing tobacco leaves is the same.

So the answer is: definitely yes. You can vape tobacco leaves in dry herb vaporizers. Not only that, but there are already many vaporizers on the market that are designed specifically to use tobacco leaves. You can find out more about this below. If you want to get inspired about which herbs are suitable for vaporization, read our article 20 legal herbs you can vaporize in aromatherapy. However, each herb requires a specific temperature to use its potential and the active ingredients from it to the fullest. Our guide to the world of vaporization temperatures will come in handy.

farmer and tobacco leaves

2. How is vaporizing tobacco different from smoking tobacco?

When you vaporise tobacco, you heat the tobacco leaves to around 200 degrees Celsius, well below their burning point. Tobacco leaves are burned at approximately 900 degrees Celsius. Heating the tobacco instead of burning it allows the nicotine to be extracted and saves you from tar and almost all of the other harmful by-products associated with combustion.

Smoking tobacco vs. vaporizing tobacco

Side effects of smoking tobacco:

  • Lung, heart and other serious diseases
  • Increased blood pressure and heart rate
  • likelihood of cancer
  • Impaired physical appearance: stained teeth and smelly fingers
  • Harmful passive smoking

Benefits of vaporizing tobacco:

  • minimal or no tar, smoke or ash
  • no toxic and deadly chemicals
  • no guilt or shame
  • You can vape virtually anytime, anywhere
  • nothing burns and no lighter is needed

Some tobacco smokers think vaping isn't right for them and don't see much benefit in it. Considering only the health benefits of vaping, not taking into account other factors, don't you think vaping is clearly the smarter choice?

3. What is the difference between electronic cigarettes and vaping tobacco?

With e-cigarettes, the device heats a liquid, called e-liquid, which is then vaporised. These e-liquids usually contain synthetic substances such as synthetic nicotine and flavours. Your device heats the liquid and nicotine enters your body when you inhale. There are many different types of e-cigarettes. Some of them have larger refillable tanks. Others work with pre-filled capsules. The big difference is that when you vaporize tobacco leaves with a vaporizer, you inhale air (vapor) passing over the heated tobacco leaves, which releases nicotine - so nothing synthetic gets into your body.

E-cigarettes vs. vaporizing tobacco

4. Is vaporising tobacco common?

Yes, it is an increasingly popular alternative to smoking and even vaping e-liquids. More and more tobacco users are realising that e-liquids are synthetic. While they are considered safe, vaping tobacco is undoubtedly more natural or closer to nature. The use of dry tobacco vaporisation technology is certainly not a new phenomenon. Tobacco vapourisation is quite widespread in Japan, South Korea, even in Russia and in southern Europe, Spain and Italy. In some of these countries it is as popular as vaping e-liquids. A tobacco vaporizer from Philip Morris called IQOS has 8 million users worldwide and sold nearly $1 billion worth of tobacco last year. IQOS stands for "I Quit Original Smoking." A recent article in The Atlantic magazine called dry herb vaporizers a "new class" called "Heat not Burn." These products have been on the market for years, some for decades.

5. Does vaporizing tobacco stink?

Yes and no. Let us explain. Vaporized tobacco does not smell the same as smoking. It may "smell" a bit, especially to those who know its smell. However, it is not the smell of smoke, rather the smell of tea or something being brewed. And even that is so subtle that most people don't notice it. Nothing approaching the disgusting smell of burning tobacco. No more smoke smell in your house, on your clothes, in your car, etc. Vaporization also won't stain your teeth or fingers or anything like that.

6. Will vaporizing tobacco give me the same satisfying feeling as smoking?

This is the trouble with smokers who switch to vaping and then go back to smoking because they don't "get" that feeling of satisfaction. This is slightly more true for e-cigarettes than for vaporizing tobacco. This is because e-liquids contain synthetic nicotine. Of course, vaping tobacco puts the same nicotine into the body as smoking. The smoke blown out is unlikely to be as thick as from a cigarette, but even pocket vaporizers of proven quality can produce a visible and thick vapor.

Some smokers experience withdrawal symptoms when switching from smoking to vaping. This could be due to a degree of 'craving' for the chemicals in the smoke, especially carbon monoxide. The carbon monoxide in smoke blocks the receptors in red blood cells that carry oxygen, resulting in lower oxygen levels in the body. The lower oxygen levels in the brain cause a subtle feeling of suffocation. You'll be cranky and out of tune for a while, and you'll feel like lighting up a cigarette to quell the rising anxiety. But what's two weeks to a lifetime without chemo? It's one of those habits that's hard to break. People who have mastered it are happier now.

Transition from smoking to vaporisation of tobacco

If you're trying to switch from smoking to vaping tobacco, try the tips below:

  • Think of yourself as a vaper, not a smoker who uses vaping equipment.
  • Delve deeper into more interesting herbs and flavours.
  • Get high quality tools.
  • Commit to vaporizing - make the commitment as if it were your wife or husband, and get used to it.
  • Find real stories online about how smokers have switched to vaping.

7. Is vaping tobacco more economical than smoking it?

In most cases, yes. Let's break it down into the two most important factors - money and time.

Is vaporizing tobacco cheaper than smoking?

Okay, let's do the math! If you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, for example, it costs you more than 100 crowns every day, which is roughly 3,000 crowns a month and 36,000 crowns a year. If you like to pack your own cigarettes, you may have a slightly lower cost.

But if you buy a vaporiser, it will cost you between 1 000 and 10 000 crowns, depending on the device. Add to that the cost of dry herbs, which you will save on with a vaporiser. Combustion is not as efficient a method of extracting the active ingredients as vaporisation, so vaporisation will extract more nicotine from the tobacco leaves. This means - cheaper tobacco, plus less quantity and more enjoyment. Sounds good, doesn't it? Combined with better health, vaping can save you a lot of money.

Does vaping tobacco take more time than smoking?

That depends on your smoking habits. If you buy packs of cigarettes, vaping may take more time. If you pack your own cigarettes, you may end up spending about the same amount of time vaping. Instead of rolling your own cigarettes, you are filling the chamber of the vaporizer. Many vaporizers come with capsules that can be pre-filled and simply inserted into the warming chamber when you are ready to use them. This will save you a lot of time and inconvenience on the go. Have you ever tried to roll a cigarette when it's raining or blowing? To be fair, we must mention that vaporizers need to be cleaned regularly. Residue builds up on the parts that are exposed to heat and cleaning is essential for optimal performance. There are vaporizers that are quick and easy to clean, but when we talk about time consuming, this needs to be mentioned.

8. Can I vape any type of tobacco or just a specific type?

You can vaporise any type of tobacco (dry leaf tobacco), the important thing is that it does not contain any added substances. Just empty the cigarette or buy hand rolling tobacco, you can vape both. Many people vape pipe tobacco for its purity and taste. It really just depends on your preference. One thing to keep in mind is how finely the tobacco leaves are chopped. Some tobacco comes in smaller pieces while others come in larger pieces. Pieces that are too large don't vaporize as well as smaller ones, so you may need to run them through a shredder before vaporizing. In general, tobacco intended for packaging will have a good consistency for vaporization.

9. At what temperature should I vaporize the tobacco?

Temperature plays a vital role in the effect and flavour of the vapour. Higher temperatures also provide a denser vapour. Most vaporizers today allow for temperature adjustment, giving the user the ability to try different temperatures to find the ideal temperature.

10. Does vaporizing tobacco help me quit smoking?

Although some people claim that smoking tobacco does not feel the same as vaping tobacco, vaporization is a great help for all smokers who want to quit.Many smokers even claim that once they have started vaping, they no longer find smoking a cigarette disgusting. On the other hand, some people vaporise tobacco leaves for several years before they stop using tobacco, or never stop vaping at all. It largely depends on the circumstances, but it is likely that even if you stop vaping you will experience nicotine withdrawal.

11. Is vaping tobacco safe?

Vaporising dry tobacco leaves using a good quality dry herb vaporiser is unlikely to pose any health risks to you that you would not face from smoking. Nicotine overdose is very unlikely because you are using natural tobacco leaves. Most, if not all, people who consider vaping tobacco have either smoked or vaped e-liquids. Vaporizing dry leaves is safer than both. The risk could come from using low quality vaporizing equipment that could add toxins to your vapor. To avoid this risk, always try to use a vaporizer from a proven quality brand.

12. What is the best vaporizer for vaporizing tobacco?

Portable vaporizers and vaping pens are best for vaping tobacco. A portable vaporizer is relatively small and can easily fit in a pocket or purse. They are also practical compared to cigarettes, which make you carry lighters with you all the time. Although it may sound surprising, any good quality herbal vaporizer can be suitable for vaporizing tobacco leaves. In the end, it's up to your preference which one you choose. Many of them state on the box and in the instructions that they are not intended for tobacco. This has more to do with advertising laws than actual suitability.

Conclusion

This concludes the 12 most important things you should know if you are considering vaporizing tobacco leaves. Heating tobacco leaves instead of burning them may very well be the future of tobacco. What is certain is that more and more smokers are switching to vaporizing dry tobacco leaves, and many of them will never go back to cigarettes. Quitting tobacco is truly one of the easiest and hardest decisions you can make. With the help of improving technology, it's up to you to decide.

 

Author: Canatura
Photo: Shutterstock

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