Not everyone is aware of this fact, but there are over seventy species of tobacco in the world. In addition, there are quite a few more wild species that have yet to be studied. And this is not just an interesting fact. Some hookah smokers think that blonde and dark tobacco are made from different tobacco plants. However, this is far from the truth.
The two types of tobacco can literally be made from the same bush of that plant. And they will still be different because of the difference in production.
Let's look at this aspect in more detail. First, dark tobacco does have a darker color. It can be almost black or more brownish. And blonde tobacco is much lighter and is also often referred to as golden tobacco. It ranges in color from golden to orange or dark yellow.
Blonde tobacco is light and flavorful
This type of tobacco has a lower nicotine content and is therefore quite light. It will not give you the kind of hookah "high" that dark tobacco does. That's why gold tobacco is usually recommended to beginners.
Because novice smokers usually do not have a high tolerance for nicotine. Also, because of the lower nicotine content, light leaf tobacco absorbs fruit and other flavors better.
So why is this tobacco so light? The reason is that tobacco leaves are washed or even soaked in water before drying. And the water washes away the extra nicotine, leaving behind a fresher flavor.
Another detail that makes blonde tobacco so special is the way it is dried. Blonde tobacco is dried in special industrial rooms with excellent ventilation systems. And outside of these dryers, there are special furnaces that blow hot air inside. This drying method also helps to make blonde tobacco softer and sweeter.
How to pack a bowl with blonde tobacco
This hookah tobacco is easy to score, making it the best tobacco for beginners. All you have to do is loosen the tobacco slightly and hammer it into the bowl without tramping it. That's all you need to know before you start your first smoking session and score your own hookah. Simple as that!
Dark tobacco is a heavier flavor for connoisseurs
The blonde leaves come from washing the tobacco, and the dark leaves are not washed. And so it is the purest form of tobacco. This type of tobacco is relatively new on the market, but has already gained the trust and love of many experienced hookah smokers.
We are not saying that beginners shouldn't try this kind of tobacco. You can always try it and make your own opinion. However, if you have never even smoked a cigarette before, chances are you will feel sick after smoking it.
Also, the drying process for dark tobacco is slightly different. While blonde tobacco is dried with hot air or smoke, dark tobacco is dried with air only. The same industrial ventilated mines are used. On average, this process takes up to eight weeks.
So how do you pack dark tobacco?
Properly pack a bowl with dark tobacco is not easy. If you don't have enough experience with this tobacco, the process of hammering and temperature control can be difficult. Dark tobacco leaves are very easy to burn if hammered incorrectly. Therefore, this tobacco should be pounded rather tightly. So press it well into the bottom of the bowl and make sure that the top layer of tobacco is below the edge of the bowl.
One more important tip - when smoking dark tobacco, it is very important to provide additional air passages. These can be done at the same time as piercing the holes in the foil. Simply skip the sewing needle (office button or whatever you use to make the holes) deeper than usual to reach the bottom of the bowl.
Now you know quite a bit about these two types of hookah tobacco. Hopefully, this article will help you feel more confident when choosing a new tobacco to smoke hookah with your friends. And we are more than happy to be your guides in this fascinating hookah world.