Nicotine in the Kitchen: Six Common Foods That Contain Nicotine

Despite common belief, the much-maligned substance nicotine isn’t a man-made creation invented by cunning scientists in sinister laboratories. Given the association between nicotine, addiction, and illness, you would be forgiven for thinking something along those lines.

But while nicotine certainly isn’t good for you, it isn’t quite as bad for you as many people assume. The danger of smoking owes much less to nicotine and far more to the several thousand toxic chemicals ingested with each puff. Not to mention the lung plastering tar and the harmful carbon monoxide.

Two Sides of Nicotine

But nicotine is a tale of two extremes. On the one hand, when consumed by smoking tobacco, nicotine can cause high blood pressure and hardened arteries. On the other hand, many studies suggest that nicotine can improve cognitive function and potentially help with conditions like schizophrenia and Parkinson’s disease. Ultimatley, it depends how you consume it. 

When taken through a modern tobacco alternative like our very own NEAFS, nicotine isn’t particularly menacing. While nicotine is an addictive substance, it is no more or less addictive than sugar or caffeine when cigarettes are removed from the equation. And if you ingest nicotine through natural sources, such as tomatoes, there really isn’t anything to worry about in the slightest.

You read that correctly: tomatoes.

Hidden Nicotine Sources

Interestingly, nicotine can be found in a range of products, many of which would come as a complete surprise to most people. We are all aware that tobacco products contain nicotine, but it is less commonly known that some everyday foods do, too.

Many of these foods belong to the Solanaceae family (nightshades), where nicotine is found in microgram quantities; one million micrograms equals just one gram. So, if you seeking the effects of nicotine through food, be prepared to consume an Olympic swimming pool full of tomatoes.

Not a fan of tomatoes? Let’s take a look at the full range of foods that contain trace amounts of nicotine.

• Aubergine: Contains more nicotine than any other vegetable, with 100 µg of nicotine per gram.
• Potatoes: Contain an average nicotine content of 15 µg/gram, although the green and ripening potatoes have higher levels (about 42 µg/gram). Mashing or pureeing can increase it to around 52 µg/gram.
• Tea: Both brewed and instant black and green teas contain nicotine, with levels ranging between 100 and 285 µg/gram.
• Tomatoes: Typically contain around 7.1 µg/gram of nicotine. Unripened tomatoes start with higher levels, which decrease as they ripen.
• Cauliflower: Despite not being in the nightshade family, cauliflowers have around 16.8 µg/gram of nicotine.
• Green Peppers: Contain between 7.7 and 9.2 µg/gram of nicotine, which means you need to eat an entire pepper grove – or several supermarket shelves – to feel any effects or benefits of nicotine. 

How Does the Nicotine in These Foods Affect You?

The nicotine present in these foods is only in trace amounts, so it’s unlikely to have any notable impact on your body, even with regular consumption. To put it into perspective, you’d need to eat over 10 kilograms of aubergine to match the nicotine content of a single cigarette. To spare you from a quick mental calculation, that equates to approximately 35 aubergines, so good luck with that. 

When you consume these vegetables or drink tea, the minute quantities of nicotine pass through your intestines, where they are easily digested by your body. This is quite different from nicotine products like cigarettes, which contain much higher concentrations of nicotine that are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

There Is an Easier Solution

If you are looking for a dose of nicotine without the harmful effects of smoking cigarettes, don’t waste your time eating any of these products. The amounts are so small you would need to consume a ridiculous amount of tomatoes, aubergines, or green tea before the effects of nicotine even touch the sides.

A far better alternative would be to indulge in a tobacco alternative that contains adequate levels of nicotine, such as our ingenious, popular, and incredibly satisfying NEAFS.

Unique Blend

NEAFS uses innovative tobacco-free technology with a unique plant-derived blend, providing a hugely satisfying experience that feels extremely close to an actual cigarette. Smoking without actually smoking, you might say.

Head on over to our store and treat yourself to a packet of NEAFS nicotine sticks. Check out our starter bundles for mind blowingly generous deals, and enjoy as much nicotine as you like. 

Alternatively, go grab a few veggies from your local supermarket and get your nicotine fix that way. By our calculations, 437 cauliflowers should do it.