Doesn't Dark Fired Kentucky Increase Nicotine Levels?

[jmatt]

I'm curious. I thought that the process of dark-firing tobacco increased the amount of nicotine in the tobacco (or at least the concentration of nicotine in any volume of leaf). If that's the case, what are the odds the FDA will now disallow any dark-fired because it's a process to manipulate the unadulterated tobacco in order to increase nicotine, and therefor the potential for addiction?

 

[mikestanley]

Speaking as one who does not need nicotine strength in a blend, to me it does increase the strength. Sixpence is a good example. I generally love VaPers but something about this blends makes it difficult for me to enjoy. It must be the Dark Fired. I certainly don't want the beloved FDA "fixing" this blend for me but at the same time, I'm glad it (Dark Fired leaf) isn't in Beacon.
Mike S.

 

[tinsel]

I thought that the process of dark-firing tobacco increased the amount of nicotine in the tobacco (or at least the concentration of nicotine in any volume of leaf).

I don't think firing the tobacco has any effect on the nicotine levels, but may have some effect on the sugar content. I don't claim to be a scientific expert on the subject by any means. But I can say that the stuff is packed full of nicotine, so much so that you can get a buzz just by handling the raw plants.
Dark fired tobacco is actually a strain of tobacco, not just the same ol' burley put through a different curing process. It's very high in nicotine content, and I don't think the fact that it's fire cured has any real effect on that nicotine levels. I think it's more about flavor honestly ... but again I'm not a scientific expert, I just grew up on a dark fired tobacco farm
Also, dark fired tobacco has been around since long before the february 2007 "grandfather" date (that the house is attempting to amend to a later date). I think the FDA regulations are more about how it's processed by the manufacturers than how it's cured by the farmers. Tobacco curing hasn't changed very much in the last couple hundred years. It's either air cured, flue cured, or fire cured. That's about all the options you have in curing a tobacco plant. Now aging, on the other hand. That's a different story.
Here's a handy dark-fired guide from the University of Kentucky:
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/agcomm/pubs/agr/agr152/agr152.pdf

 

[mayfair70]

mikestanley - I didn't know Sixpence had Dark Fired in it. I didn't know it had Perique either. Now I'll be on the lookout for them.
The couple Dark Fired blends I've had have been pretty strong on the Nic and I thank the Gods and blenders for them.

 

[cobguy]

I thank the Gods and blenders for them

AMEN!!

 

[deathmetal]

There needs to be a new trend where people shove raw tobacco leaves in their genitals to get their nic-rush, instead of vaping. I hope the Puffington Host writes about it, just like the BBC covered Jenkem.

 

[jvnshr]

Cobguy, that is a nice pic. :worship:

 

[mso489]

I don't smoke for nicotine but it's okay when it crops up, like a prize in the Cracker Jack box. I don't notice any nic hit from dark fired in particular, or really at all. Some burleys seem strong, Five Brothers and Semois and so forth.

 

[tennsmoker]

I'm a nic wuss, granted. But, I enjoy Old Dark Fired. I just take my time, puff, think, relight, repeat.

 

[deathmetal]

Someone should do something to increase Nicotine levels!

 

[newbroom]

I've read that it's burleys that contribute the most nicotine, but then I saw a piece yesterday listing the levels within each variety and it was Virgina that topped the list.

Nicotine strength is part of why I smoke. I don't experience any rush or high from it, that I am aware of, but I do crave it as the primary reason I bother. The tastes and flavors are a YUUGE bonus!

Conclusion? If you gotta smoke, a pipe is way more enjoyable and much safer than any other mechanism, and you usually find the most nicotine and pure tobacco tastes in non aromatic blends.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Everything that is done to the leaf pretty much lowers the actual nicotine content. The perique process lowers the nicotine also. But, it adds so many variations of chemicals as well, and it increases how much you can absorb.
All tobacco has a ton more nicotine than we can ingest through smoking. Try eating some. There's enough nicotine to kill you in the weakest limp-wristed aromatic blends available, 1Q even. The problem is that the acidity and other variable effect how much (or little) you can absorb.
Before Kentucky burley was fire cured, it probably had a lot more actual nicotine, but the process helps to make more of it get absorbed as well as having a huge effect on flavor.

 

[jitterbugdude]

I've read that it's burleys that contribute the most nicotine, but then I saw a piece yesterday listing the levels within each variety and it was Virgina that topped the list.

Virginias have the most nicotine but you absorb the most from Burleys. The pH of Burley is a tad bit higher than a Virginia and considering pH is measured via a logarithmic scale, the difference is immense.
So bottom line... you get the biggest kick in nicotine from Burley.
I would suspect that the smoking process of fire cured tobacco increases the pH even more towards the alkaline side which would increase the nic hit.

 

[cobguy]

+1 Jitterbug ... the pH is the biggest factor in absorption from what I've read.

Cobguy, that is a nice pic.

Thanks! It's from Wholeleaftobacco.com ... they carry some really good stuff.

 

[deathmetal]

"Raise the pH" is the new "raise the roof."