Nicotine surprise

[cragdhack]

Hello everyone! Thought I might give a little report on a surprise I got with this new tobacco.


As I understand, generally, aromatic tobaccos are less heavy in nicotine, unless advertised otherwise (Say, if it's with some latakia), compared to virginias, virginia-perique, balkan or english blends, think it also depends on the cut. This one, Rattray's Winter Edition 2021, seemed the same.
It's a nice blend. Black cavendish, virginia, burley, with maraschino cherry topping. It smells great, tastes great and smokes great, both when slightly humid or dried out.

I have started drawing into my lungs for a little while now, just to get a slight hit while enjoying an audiobook, maybe with some stout or a good lager, after getting home from work. Helps with the mood. (I understand the other side of this topic, what with physical and mental health concerns, that's a different discussion)

Most of these sittings were pleasant, though I did notice that the hit was surprisingly strong, heavier than my Robert McConnell Latakia Flake. I should've maybe taken that as a sign that this one's more of a sippy than a huffy, which soon enough I would be firmly convinced with.
So there I sat, on the toilet, bucket in front of me, just waiting out the chills and nausea, thinking of what may have caused this. Was it the beer? Was it something I ate? So as anyone who thinks they're smart, but probably isn't, I went on a week of doing this every night, lowering the amount of potential variables until I was sure. Had a night without a smoke, had a night without a beer or a different kind, checked the vessel I keep the tobacco in and made sure there wasn't any mold. It only stopped when I didn't smoke or drew in a lot less into my lungs.

After a bit of snooping around, seems I am not the only one that had a similar surprise with a loaded tin. At least that's three lessons learned:
- Nicotine intoxication sucks ass.
- Nicotine content / 'strength' rating can vary from tin to tin of the same blend.
- I now know the signs of when to put the pipe down, or to stop drawing any more deeper than needed in my puffs. Much like alcohol, you don't know, until you know.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Say, if it's with some latakia), compared to virginias, virginia-perique, balkan or english blends

Those tend to be low in nicotine.

what may have caused this

Probably the burley.

 

[cragdhack]

Those tend to be low in nicotine.

Oh, meant it as the straight blends. At least on romanian sites I saw those as trending towards higher 'strength' than aromatics.
Then again, I remember seeing someone here saying that blends that contained latakia used to be seen as aromatics, not english, in the past.
Anyway, did not expect this "3" to pack such a whallop and I wouldn't be surprised if another tin of the same to be much tamer.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I remember seeing someone here saying that blends that contained latakia used to be seen as aromatics, not english, in the past.

They still are in many parts of the world and flavored blends are just called flavored. Latakia is made from the Smyrna Oriental and those are very low in nicotine.

 

[cragdhack]

They still are in many parts of the world and flavored blends are just called flavored. Latakia is made from the Smyrna Oriental and those are very low in nicotine.

Thanks for the insight!

 

[Jimmy_Jack]

If you feel nicotine coming on strong try to have something with sugar. A soda, eat some chocolate. Works for a lot of people.

 

[WVOldFart]

When you feel the nicotine coming on strong, stop moking at that moment. It will only get worse because it takes time for the nicotine to fully get into your system. Don't think that it will pass or you will finish the bowl, stop immediately or you will be throwing up your toe nails or finding out that what you ate a few minutes ago can go through your digestive track very quickly.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I keep some of those small Halloween candies, bite sized chocolates by my night smoking chair. If you take a bite of something sweet, the effects of nicotine overdose will stop, but yet that sleepy, relaxed feeling will remain. Give it a try.
Nicotine depletes your reserved sugars (I am using my layman's explanations, as I am not a doctor), so a bite of something sweet will quickly offset the effects. Give it a try next time you smoke this one. Also, maybe avoid inhaling. I hope that helps.

 

[cragdhack]

I keep some of those small Halloween candies, bite sized chocolates by my night smoking chair. If you take a bite of something sweet, the effects of nicotine overdose will stop, but yet that sleepy, relaxed feeling will remain. Give it a try.
Nicotine depletes your reserved sugars (I am using my layman's explanations, as I am not a doctor), so a bite of something sweet will quickly offset the effects. Give it a try next time you smoke this one. Also, maybe avoid inhaling. I hope that helps.

If you feel nicotine coming on strong try to have something with sugar. A soda, eat some chocolate. Works for a lot of people.

I'll have something sweet closeby from now on.
Though inhalation wise, the little buzz helps with certain other experiences, mainly music and book stuff, at least for me. I know it isn't wise, but it adds a bit along with the relaxation of slowly going through the bowl.

When you feel the nicotine coming on strong, stop moking at that moment. It will only get worse because it takes time for the nicotine to fully get into your system. Don't think that it will pass or you will finish the bowl, stop immediately or you will be throwing up your toe nails or finding out that what you ate a few minutes ago can go through your digestive track very quickly.

Yep, learned that by the end of the experience. Though now at least I have somewhat of a feel of when to calm it before having to stop the entire sitting.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I'll have something sweet closeby from now on.

I think (and hope) it will help your enjoyment of smoking.

 

[Talon]

Unfortunately it's one of those trial by fire sort of things. You will only begin to understand your body and its warning signs once you've gone well past that point. Sucks to hear that it happened to you but you'll get it sorted !

 

[F4RM3R]

It depends on the leaf and sugar content too. Although a Virginia may have less nicotine than some burleys, it will hit harder on inhaling because the sugars raise the acidity in the smoke and increases the absorption in the lungs. I can get dizzy from smoking a bright Virginia cigarette that has a lot of sugars, but less so with a red Virginia or a blend with burleys.

Depends on the blend and nic content too, but the PH does affect absorption. Possibly that blend had a higher Virginia content(plus added sugars?)

 

[anotherbob]

I find that my state often has more to do with how hard the nicotine hits me then what blend I smoke. If I haven't eaten in a long time I seem to feel more nicotine. If I am distracted and smoke fast I find I don't get more nicotine but I get it faster and can feel slightly off from that. And sometimes nicotine just hits me harder in ways I can't track. Also possible that these effects could be from the effects of the nicotine and not too much nicotine. Blood pressure and things like that.

 

[anotherbob]

oh aromatics don't have less nic but often the chemistry slows or inhibits the absorption of nicotine. Basically our bodies suck at getting nicotine from tobacco. Which is good because we actually get really tiny little amounts of it in our system. And even slight changings in how much gets into our system can have a dramatic effect. Notice it's measured in mg. And a strong one only will have a few more mg then a weak one. Another thing people forget is we all metabolize nicotine at different rates and even differently at different times. All the nicotine can be out of our system in a few minutes or it can take much longer and when that happens it's easier to get that horrible sick feeling.
A weird nicotine tolerance fact more then other substances the tolerance resets with sleep. If you start with a weaker blend first other blends can hit you harder then they would normally. It's a really super fascinating substance and our interactions with it make it all the more fascinating.

 

[Rob NC]

oh aromatics don't have less nic but often the chemistry slows or inhibits the absorption of nicotine. Basically our bodies suck at getting nicotine from tobacco. Which is good because we actually get really tiny little amounts of it in our system. And even slight changings in how much gets into our system can have a dramatic effect. Notice it's measured in mg. And a strong one only will have a few more mg then a weak one. Another thing people forget is we all metabolize nicotine at different rates and even differently at different times. All the nicotine can be out of our system in a few minutes or it can take much longer and when that happens it's easier to get that horrible sick feeling.
A weird nicotine tolerance fact more then other substances the tolerance resets with sleep. If you start with a weaker blend first other blends can hit you harder then they would normally. It's a really super fascinating substance and our interactions with it make it all the more fascinating.

 

[Rob NC]

I always thought it was a "Burley thing." The only tobacco that ever kicked my butt this way was Five Brothers.

 

[anotherbob]

I always thought it was a "Burley thing." The only tobacco that ever kicked my butt this way was Five Brothers.

that certainly can do it. Burlies can be strong. I guess my point is just that it's a much more complicated web of factors and interactions then it would initially seem like. The funny fact is even really weak tobacco would probably kill us if we got every drop of nicotine from it into our blood stream.
One of the most efficient ways to take tobacco is snuff. And it blows my mind how a single pinch can give me the same nicotine satisfaction as a pipe or cig. Basically a pinch that would be about a puff if smoked. Or if dipped wouldn't even make a baby feel it.
Oh and five brothers is one of my favorites. I find the danger isn't just the strength but also the cut and how it can be smoked incredibly quickly even without burning ones tongue.

 

[WVOldFart]

Nicotine is an interesting subject. In large amounts nicotine can kill someone, but in small supervised amounts it has been found to aid in Alzheimer and Parkinson patients. Information that I'm sure the anti-smoking lobby doesn't want you to know.

 

[kcghost]

I rarely have any problem with nic hit but there a very few that I must be sure to eat before smoking it.