Shisha is increasingly popular among users from various countries because it offers a different experience compared to regular cigarettes. Many people claim that shisha carries different risks compared to regular cigarettes. But what exactly are the contents of shisha tobacco? Just like regular cigarettes, shisha also contains tobacco with nicotine. Here’s a more detailed explanation.
What is Shisha Tobacco?
Shisha tobacco is a blend of tobacco that is processed with added molasses, flavorings, and other ingredients. The use of shisha has a long history originating in the Middle East, particularly from India and Persia, around the 16th century. At that time, shisha was used in social and cultural contexts as a status symbol and a means of socializing. Unlike conventional tobacco used in cigarettes, shisha tobacco undergoes a blending process with molasses and flavorings, which provides a more varied and aromatic taste, and is often burned with charcoal to produce smoke.
What Are the Ingredients in Shisha Tobacco?
Understanding the ingredients in shisha tobacco is crucial for users to anticipate potential risks. Here are the main components and ingredients found in hookah tobacco:
Shisha Tobacco
The tobacco used in shisha is generally different from conventional cigarette tobacco. Shisha tobacco is typically Virginia or Burley type tobacco, finely chopped and soaked in a molasses solution. The processing of shisha tobacco involves trimming the tobacco leaves, fermenting, and mixing with additional ingredients before it is finally prepared as a ready-to-use blend. This processing aims to produce a smoother, more burnable tobacco that is well-suited for mixing with molasses and flavorings.
Molasses
Molasses is a key component in shisha tobacco that provides moisture and sweetness to the tobacco blend. It is made from sugarcane or sugar beet juice that is heated to produce a thick syrup. The main functions of molasses are to keep the tobacco moist and enhance flavor, resulting in richer and more aromatic smoke. Additionally, molasses helps bind tobacco particles, resulting in a consistency that is easy to handle and burn.
Flavorings
Flavorings in shisha tobacco play an important role in creating various flavor profiles. Commonly used flavorings include fruits (such as apple, grape, or orange), spices (such as cinnamon or clove), and more complex flavor combinations. These flavorings are usually added in the form of extracts or synthetic aromatic substances mixed into the tobacco and molasses. The addition of flavorings aims to provide a more varied and enjoyable smoking experience.
Sugars and Syrups in Shisha Tobacco
In addition to molasses, sugars and syrups are often added to the shisha tobacco blend. Sugar helps to enhance sweetness and improve the moisture content of the mixture, while syrup, typically made from sugar and water, helps to maintain the texture of the tobacco and molasses. The use of sugars and syrups contributes to a more flavorful taste and smoother texture, as well as an overall enhanced smoking experience.
Artificial Colorants and Fragrances
Artificial colorants and fragrances are often used in hookah tobacco to enhance the appearance and aroma of the blend. Artificial colorants provide an appealing visual aspect, while artificial fragrances add complexity to the flavor and aroma of the tobacco. Colorants are usually in liquid or powdered form added during the manufacturing process, while artificial fragrances are typically extracts or chemical compounds added to give a distinctive and consistent aroma. The use of these ingredients aims to increase the appeal and satisfaction of shisha users.
Read Also: What is Hookah? And How to Use It?
Health Impacts of Shisha Tobacco Ingredients
Tobacco in shisha, like cigarette tobacco, contains nicotine, which is addictive and potentially harmful to health. The use of tobacco can lead to various health issues, including heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory disorders. Additionally, tobacco smoke contains carcinogenic and toxic substances that can damage body organs and worsen the quality of the surrounding air.
The molasses and flavorings used in shisha also have impacts on users. Molasses, added to provide sweetness and moisture, contains high levels of sugar. Excessive sugar consumption can contribute to health problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Moreover, artificial flavorings added to create various flavor profiles may contain chemicals that could cause allergic reactions or irritation to the respiratory tract and skin. While not all flavorings are harmful, some synthetic ingredients can have negative health effects if exposed over the long term.
Furthermore, additives like artificial colorings and fragrances also pose potential health risks. Artificial colorings often contain chemicals that can lead to side effects such as allergic reactions or health disturbances if consumed in large quantities. Artificial fragrances, used to enhance the complexity of taste and aroma, may contain volatile compounds that could cause respiratory irritation and contribute to air pollution. Overall, while shisha provides a different smoking experience, the use of these additives can exacerbate the health risks associated with tobacco.
Comparison with Conventional Tobacco
Shisha tobacco and cigarette tobacco have several differences and similarities in terms of composition and health effects. Both contain tobacco, which is harmful due to its nicotine content, which is addictive and can cause heart disease and lung disorders. However, shisha typically contains more sugar and molasses compared to cigarettes, as well as flavorings and other additives. This can affect how the body responds to and absorbs harmful substances. Additionally, although shisha is believed to filter smoke through water, research shows that this does not significantly reduce the levels of toxins in the smoke.
Pros and Cons of Hookah Smoking
One advantage of shisha over cigarettes is the social and ritualistic aspect of its use, often enjoyed in a relaxed and communal setting. However, this advantage does not mitigate the health risks associated with shisha. Shisha use tends to result in longer and larger volume exposures to smoke compared to cigarette smoking, which can increase the risk of respiratory issues. The main drawback of shisha is the potential for similar or even worse health effects compared to conventional cigarettes, including risks to lung health and cardiovascular disease, as well as possible impacts from additives such as molasses, flavorings, and colorings.
Read Also: Smoking Hookah Every Day, What Are the Effects?
Coconut Charcoal for Heating Process
One component in shisha smoking is coconut charcoal. Coconut charcoal is preferred because it provides a clean taste during the shisha heating process. However, it is important to choose high-quality coconut charcoal that is free from harmful chemicals. High-quality coconut charcoal can be obtained from Little Briquette by contacting this number.