Tobacco Substitute for Hookah: How to Smoke Without Tobacco and Nicotine

In this article9 chapters 0% read

1. What is tobacco substitute?
2. Which types are there?
3. Cellulose: closest to tobacco
4. Steam paste and steam stones
5. What does tobacco substitute taste like?
6. Is tobacco substitute harmless?
7. Tax, labelling, age
8. Mixing with tobacco
9. Frequently asked questions

What is tobacco substitute for the hookah?

Tobacco substitute goes into the bowl where hookah tobacco would otherwise be. Instead of tobacco leaf, another material carries the flavouring: cellulose, a paste or a porous mineral. Glycerine provides the vapour, flavourings the taste. Because there is no tobacco in it, there is no nicotine in it either. In the scene the whole category is also called nicotine-free hookah tobacco, hookah without tobacco or herbal hookah.

You smoke it as usual: fill the bowl, put foil or an HMD on top, lay the charcoal on. There are differences in amount, heat and bowl – the details are below. You can find what we stock under nicotine-free tobacco substitute.

Which types of tobacco substitute are there?

Cellulose is the type that comes closest to tobacco. Paste and stones behave differently and need their own bowl set-up.

Cellulose has hardly any flavour of its own. What you taste is the flavouring – which is why the flavours are clearer than with tobacco, whose leaf always adds a note of its own. You can find the cellulose flavours collected under Smoke Island nicotine-free.

What does tobacco substitute taste like compared with tobacco?

The taste is more direct: fruit and mint are clearly in front, the spicy undertone of tobacco is missing. If you come from tobacco, you miss above all the kick of nicotine in the throat. The vapour is dense and white. Many cellulose flavours are ice flavours with mint or menthol, alongside classics such as double apple and chewing gum.

Three directions from the range: Ice Watermelon brings juicy watermelon with a cool finish, Double Apple the lounge classic apple with aniseed, Pink Lemo lemon and grapefruit with mint.

More directions from the range

Ice Love

Melon mix and passion fruit with mint. View flavour

Ice Lemon

Sour lemon with mint. View flavour

Ice Pistachio

Pistachio and vanilla, creamy and cool. View flavour

Turkish Gum Red

Strawberry with Turkish chewing gum. View flavour

Cucumber Lime

Cucumber, lime and mint. View flavour

Is tobacco substitute harmless?

No – nicotine-free only means: without nicotine. The glowing charcoal releases carbon monoxide, no matter what is in the bowl. When glycerine, flavouring and carrier material are heated, aldehydes such as formaldehyde are also produced, along with benzene and other pollutants. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has therefore expressly warned against considering tobacco-free water pipes harmless.

Only smoke the hookah in an open outdoor area, not indoors. Headache, dizziness or nausea can indicate carbon monoxide – in that case, get into the fresh air immediately.

Tax, labelling and age

Tax-wise, tobacco substitute is not a special case in Germany: products for the water pipe that contain no tobacco count as water pipe tobacco under the German Tobacco Tax Act. German customs expressly names cellulose cut pieces, smoking pastes and steam stones for this. So tax stamps and the additional tax apply as with tobacco. The nicotine-free Smoke Island tins carry the tax stamp too. How high the tax is and what must be on the tin is covered in Hookah tobacco: tobacco tax and labelling.

Herbal smoking products carry the notice “Smoking this product damages your health.” instead of the picture warning used for tobacco. In the Hookain Onlineshop we sell tobacco substitute, just like tobacco, only to adults aged 18 and over.

Mixing tobacco substitute with tobacco

Cellulose can be mixed with hookah tobacco like two tobacco flavours – for example, to make a strong tobacco fresher. Paste goes thinly on top of the packed bowl. As soon as there is tobacco in the bowl, the session is no longer nicotine-free. Ratios and mixes are in Mixing hookah tobacco.

Frequently asked questions

Is there hookah tobacco without nicotine?

Real tobacco does not exist without nicotine; it is in the tobacco leaf. Substitute products without tobacco are nicotine-free: cellulose blends, steam paste and steam stones.

Which tobacco substitute suits me?

If you are after the feel of tobacco, take cellulose: it is packed and smoked like tobacco. Paste and stones deliver a lot of vapour, but need more heat and a different bowl set-up.

Does nicotine-free hookah tobacco do any harm?

Yes. The charcoal releases carbon monoxide, and heating produces aldehydes and other pollutants. Nicotine-free only means: without nicotine.

Does tobacco substitute have to be taxed?

Yes. In Germany, products for the water pipe without tobacco count as water pipe tobacco for tax purposes and need a tax stamp. The nicotine-free Smoke Island tins carry one.

How old do you have to be to buy tobacco substitute?

In the Hookain Onlineshop we sell tobacco substitute, like tobacco, only to adults aged 18 and over.

Can I mix tobacco substitute with tobacco?

Yes, cellulose and paste can be combined with tobacco. The bowl is then no longer nicotine-free.