Have you always wanted to smoke herbs and are looking for a tobacco substitute? If you want to change your smoking routine, you can replace nicotine cigarettes with herbal cigarettes. You can buy them ready-made or as an herbal blend. Herbs make an interesting tobacco substitute because they taste good and contain no nicotine. The individual herbs have different profiles. They are especially interesting in combination with cannabis. We put together an overview of which herbs work particularly well as tobacco substitute.
1. Lavender tobacco substitute
Lavender is an herb best known for its calming character. It is associated with winding down and sleepiness, which makes lavender an interesting tobacco substitute for evening rituals. It is also traditionally used in connection with headaches or muscle tension. Please note, however, that you should not smoke lavender pure. Mix dried lavender into your joint or use a vaporizer. Alternatively, you can drink lavender tea or use lavender oil for a relaxing ritual.
Lavender has a calming character
2. Chamomile tobacco substitute
Dried chamomile works well as a tobacco substitute – including in a joint. The smoke tastes mild and is easy to inhale. Chamomile is often associated with easing tension and supporting a calm mood. Smoking chamomile will not get you high. Chamomile tea has a long tradition in everyday herbal rituals. Please do not smoke chamomile from a tea bag, though. The herbs are too crumbly, finely chopped, and dusty. Use loose chamomile tea for your herbal cigarette as a tobacco substitute.
3. Rosemary tobacco substitute
Rosemary is not only a popular kitchen herb; it also has a bold aromatic profile. Its leaves contain essential oils. Rosemary as a tobacco substitute is especially suitable in combination with cannabis. Add a few rosemary herbs to your joint and discover a whole new flavor world.
Smoking rosemary is a popular tobacco substitute
4. Passionflower tobacco substitute
Passionflower is one of the few plants in this list with psychoactive potential. That is why passionflower is especially interesting as a tobacco substitute in a joint. Smoking passionflower is also said to have a calming character, but especially in combination with cannabis or other herbs it can feel psychedelic, meaning it may alter your senses or state of awareness. Whether that interests you is for you to decide.
5. Damiana tobacco substitute
Damiana is one of the most popular plants when it comes to tobacco substitute. The herb is said to have a stimulating character and is also associated with libido. Smoking damiana not only tastes pleasant; it can also create a warm, uplifted feeling and an emotional high.
Smoking damiana is especially popular as a tobacco substitute
6. Marshmallow tobacco substitute
Marshmallow is associated with various traditional herbal properties. The aroma is fairly subtle, but marshmallow is still often used as a tobacco substitute. Marshmallow is also included in Real Leaf herbal blends.
7. Green tea tobacco substitute
Can you smoke tea? There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but green tea is definitely a popular tobacco substitute. The flavor of green tea as a smoking herb is mild and pleasant. Since green tea contains caffeine, smoking green tea can feel gently stimulating. Please do not smoke tea from a tea bag, as it is usually far too dusty. Fresh leaves are the better choice.
8. Black tea tobacco substitute
Similar to green tea, you can also smoke black tea. Black tea as a tobacco substitute tastes more tart and feels heavier in the lungs. You can almost compare smoking black tea with smoking a pipe. Not for everyone.
There are many types of tea you can smoke
9. Raspberry leaves tobacco substitute
Dried raspberry leaves are a wonderful tobacco substitute and are also included in the popular Real Leaf herbal blends. The herbs work well for spliffs too. Raspberry leaves bring a mild herbal note and are often described as slow-burning.
10. Hazelnut tobacco substitute
Are hazelnut leaves poisonous? Dried leaves from hazelnut shrubs have traditionally been smoked as a tobacco substitute. Nut leaves were often smoked instead of tobacco in the past when tobacco was not available. Nut leaves can also be used in cooking. The leaves contain essential oils and have a pleasant flavor.
11. Papaya tobacco substitute
The dried leaves of the papaya plant can be smoked as a tobacco substitute. They also appear in traditional herbal tea rituals. Alternatively, the leaves can be brewed as tea.
Papaya does not only taste good; the leaves can be smoked too
12. Hemp leaves tobacco substitute (hemp tobacco substitute)
Can you smoke hemp leaves? Yes, you can smoke the dried leaves just as you can smoke the flowers. In terms of flavor, however, they are often described as less enjoyable. The leaves of the cannabis plant can have psychoactive effects, but there are different types of leaves. Leaves growing around the flowers contain more THC (the compound that gets you high) and are therefore better suited. Smoking cannabis leaves is possible, but it does not produce exactly the same high as smoking flowers.
It is not only the flowers; hemp leaves can be smoked too
Careful: you should not smoke the following herbs:
13. Nettle tobacco substitute
You should not smoke nettle as a tobacco substitute. Even though the plant is popular as an infusion, you should not use the leaves in your herbal blend. Nettles contain many interesting compounds, including iron and magnesium, but the leaves also contain acids. These not only hurt when you touch the plant; when heated, they can release toxic substances that can harm your lungs when smoked.
Smoking nettle is highly toxic.
14. Oregano tobacco substitute
Like thyme or rosemary, oregano is mainly known as a kitchen herb. While other culinary herbs can work well in herbal smoking blends, oregano is not suitable as a tobacco substitute. Oregano contains thymol, carvacrol, and p-cymene. When these substances are heated, their structure is destroyed and can transform into dangerous compounds, for example benzene. Benzene is carcinogenic and one of the most toxic molecules there is. Apart from that, smoking oregano is not exactly a pleasure flavor-wise.
15. Thyme tobacco substitute
You should also avoid smoking thyme in your herbal cigarette. Like oregano, the herb is very aromatic, but it can develop harmful substances when heated.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many herbs you can use as a tobacco substitute. Our 15 featured plants are only a selection. You can also smoke catnip or rose petals. There are many ways to find tobacco substitute leaves or a tobacco substitute plant. Try your way through the options, or try our Real Leaf herbal blends. Enriched with natural cannabis terpenes, they are also excellent as a tobacco substitute in a joint.
