Want to leave tobacco behind and have always wondered whether nicotine-free tobacco actually exists? Here are the answers. What is nicotine-free tobacco, can you buy it in Germany, and what are the advantages of tobacco without nicotine?
What is nicotine-free tobacco?
Cigarettes contain tobacco. Tobacco is made from the prepared leaves of the tobacco plant, and from the plant itself. The tobacco plant originally comes from North and South America and was already smoked by Indigenous peoples. The Latin name for the tobacco plant is Nicotiana tabacum. That already gives away tobacco’s main component: nicotine.
Nicotine is addictive. That is exactly why so many people smoke and find it so hard to leave cigarettes behind. Tobacco contains more than 4,000 compounds, with nicotine as the main alkaloid. Tobacco also contains pollutants such as benzene, lead, and carbon monoxide. Around 40 proven substances in tobacco are carcinogenic.
The tobacco plant naturally contains nicotine
There are many reasons to move away from smoking. No longer exposing your body to these substances is certainly a strong one. Today there are many tobacco substitute products on the market, including nicotine-free cigarettes, for example in the form of herbal cigarettes.
So, does nicotine-free tobacco exist? Not naturally. Nicotine is always present in the tobacco plant. Researchers at TU Dortmund University tried to extract nicotine from tobacco. They actually succeeded: instead of 16 mg per 100 g, the researchers’ tobacco plant contained only 0.04 mg of nicotine.
However, these lab-grown cigarettes without nicotine may not be sold in Europe, because the tobacco plant’s genes were altered and the use of so-called gene scissors is not permitted in commerce.
In what form can you smoke tobacco without nicotine?
Nicotine-free tobacco itself is not commercially available, but you can switch to herbal tobacco. Herbal blends, for example from Real Leaf, contain only natural, selected herbs and are guaranteed to contain neither nicotine nor tobacco.
You do not have to smoke nicotine-free tobacco only in cigarettes. A tobacco substitute also works as a blend for cannabis. For this, you can use herbal blends enriched with terpenes. Searches such as nicotine-free tobacco joint are increasing every day, so the interest is clearly there.
Of course, if you want to move away from smoking but still use tobacco with nicotine in your joint, you are working against your own goal. Nicotine-free tobacco for pipes is also now available as herbal tobacco. One advantage of pipes over cigarettes is that you are not inhaling burned cigarette paper at the same time. Real Leaf, for example, has a small hand-carved pipe made from eco wood in the shop.
Is nicotine-free tobacco automatically harmless?
Smoking tobacco without nicotine: what is allowed and what are the downsides?
Is nicotine-free tobacco harmless? Nicotine is harmful, but tobacco also contains many other pollutants. So the question cannot simply be answered with yes. Choosing nicotine-free herbal blends as a tobacco substitute instead of tobacco can be a first step toward a tobacco-free ritual.
Whether nicotine-free tobacco is harmless is another matter. In principle, any smoke you draw into your lungs can harm your body. Compared with cigarettes containing nicotine, tobacco-free herbal alternatives avoid nicotine, but smoke itself still deserves caution.
Is nicotine-free tobacco harmful? Nicotine-free smoking products cannot automatically be described as harmless, because other harmful compounds can also be present in tobacco. Always check exactly what product you are smoking.
Combustion gases containing carbon monoxide are released whenever plant material is burned. Every user should be aware that smoke from nicotine-free products can still be harmful.
Still, nicotine-free cigarettes are often used as part of a tobacco-free switch. Cigarettes containing nicotine are gradually replaced by cigarettes without nicotine, while the hand-to-mouth ritual remains in place.
Where and how can you buy nicotine-free tobacco?
Nicotine-free tobacco: where can you buy it?
Nicotine-free tobacco is mainly sold online, at kiosks, or at petrol stations. These products are usually either herbal tobacco as a tobacco substitute or herbal cigarettes.
You can buy herbal cigarettes from brands such as Nirdosh, NTB, or Real Leaf. NTB even sells its herbal cigarettes in some pharmacies. Nicotine-free tobacco from Old Farmers, for example, is also available online.
The Knaster brand also carries nicotine-free tobacco. Knaster herbal blends are suitable for making roll-your-own cigarettes.
Like Real Leaf, nicotine-free tobacco from Knaster is made from natural herbs without additives.
How do you make nicotine-free tobacco yourself?
You can also make nicotine-free tobacco in the form of herbal tobacco yourself. Read our article Top 15 Herbs as a Tobacco Substitute to find out which herbs can be smoked in the first place. For example, you can grow catnip or lavender in your own garden or on your balcony, dry it, and then smoke it.
Many types of tea are also suitable as tobacco substitutes. Please note, though, that you should not cut open a tea bag and roll a cigarette from its contents. First, bagged tea is very crumbly and dusty; second, it is often mixed with additives or flavorings.
If you really want to smoke natural herbs, it is best to dry your own herbs or use a ready-made tobacco substitute from Real Leaf.
The best tobacco substitute products
There are many tobacco substitute products and brands offering nicotine-free tobacco. Real Leaf customers agree: Real Leaf = the best nicotine-free tobacco!
“Better than any other Knaster! I am absolutely convinced by this product!
For everyone who wants to skip tobacco, this is a great option! The flavor is very smooth. The herbs are very fine, which feels super pleasant. 🙂 I can only recommend it to everyone!”
Nicotine-free tobacco from Real Leaf does not scratch the throat, is pleasant to smoke, and contains absolutely no additives.
Please always remember, however: nicotine-free tobacco is not automatically harmless. Ideally, you should not expose your lungs to any smoke at all. Smoke is harmful and carcinogenic, whether with or without nicotine. Nicotine-free cigarettes can still be part of a tobacco-free switch because they remove nicotine from the ritual.
Personal experience with smoking tobacco substitutes
Buying nicotine-free tobacco online is the easiest way to get a tobacco substitute. On Amazon or directly in the Real Leaf shop, you can choose from many different products. In nicotine-free tobacco comparisons, Real Leaf is a clear favorite.
Users praise the mild taste of the herbal tobacco and the fact that the tobacco substitute does not scratch the throat. Many people use Real Leaf to reshape their smoking ritual without tobacco. Reviews on Amazon say, for example:
“Ideal as a tobacco substitute and perfect for mixing with other herbs!”
“In my opinion, it is the most neutral and best tobacco substitute I have tried so far. It is also easier to roll than most other alternatives.”
“Since these herbs arrived and I rolled the first ‘cigarette’ from them, I have not ‘needed’ nicotine anymore!! Not even a hint of craving for a ‘real one’. You can tell I am excited, but it really is a strong alternative! It tastes mild, the smoke smells pleasant and, unlike nicotine smoke, disappears again quickly!”
If you would also like to try Real Leaf nicotine-free tobacco, you can order it easily in the online shop!
We wish you all the best with your tobacco-free switch using nicotine-free tobacco!
