It’s definitely not easy to quit smoking, especially if you’ve been doing it for a while, and considering how severe withdrawal symptoms can be. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible – it’s all about baby steps, and one of the first things you can do is find an alternative to tobacco, which contains nicotine.
A solution that’s been gaining popularity in recent years is smoking tea. While it might not seem like a good idea at first, the truth is that it is definitely a healthier choice than smoking cigarettes that contain tobacco. But how exactly does it work? And does it have any kind of effect on your health? That’s what we will be talking about in this article.
Smoking Tea – Overview
Tea, specifically oolong, green, black, and white tea, is made out of leaves of Camellia Sinensis. Yes, they all come from the same source – what causes them to be different from each other is the level of oxidation. Green tea is the least oxidized, while black tea is the most oxidized.
While most people consume tea in the form of a beverage that can be made from both loose-leaf tea and bagged tea, more and more are deciding to try something new and smoke it instead.
So, how exactly do you smoke tea? Well, the procedure looks the same as when it comes to smoking regular cigarettes. There are three main ways in which you can smoke tea:
- pre-made tea cigarettes – you can purchase tea cigarettes from a number of online retailers, and they will be delivered straight to your door.
- homemade tea cigarettes – you can easily make tea cigarettes at home. All you need is loose-leaf tea (you can use tea bags, just cut them open and use their contents) and rolling papers.
- NEAFS sticks – for those seeking an alternative plant-based option, NEAFS offers tobacco-free sticks that you can use either with your own TEO or with another device. Their additional advantage is that they come in a variety of flavors, so everyone will be able to find something to suit their taste. Unlike tea cigarettes, NEAFS products are specifically designed as a modern alternative to traditional smoking.
Tea Smoking – Are There Any Health Benefits?
While there are currently no sources that would completely confirm or deny health benefits associated with smoking tea, there are some people who claim that they did experience certain health benefits. Some of them include:
- lowered anxiety – L-theanine interacts with neurotransmitter receptors which could potentially have an anxiety-lowering effect, especially when it comes to smoking green tea.
- cognitive enhancement – L-theanine and caffeine might potentially improve your cognitive skills, although, as of now, that is only a confirmed benefit of drinking tea, specifically green tea.
- faster metabolism – smoking green tea could potentially be helpful in the weight loss journey, although again, as of now, that is only applicable to drinking green tea (due to green tea’s powerful antioxidants called catechins).
- nicotine addiction treatment – some people smoke tea to quit smoking normal cigarettes. Thanks to tea cigarettes and other alternatives, they don’t have to drastically change their cigarette habit while also choosing a healthier option.
- caffeine boost – another reason many people reach for a tea cigarette is an energy boost that is possible thanks to the caffeine tea contains.
Smoking Tea – Frequently Asked Questions
Below, you will find some of the most common questions someone who is at the beginning of their tea smoking journey might ask, as well as the answers to them.
Can smoking tea get you high?
There are currently no studies or research that would suggest that smoking tea can get you high. Truthfully, tea does not contain any compounds that could cause the same effect as being under the influence. The two main ingredients – caffeine and L-theanine will not affect your mental function as getting high would, no matter how much of them you inhale.
The only exception would be cannabis tea, but even in that case, experiencing the psychoactive effects isn’t a given, as it all depends on the cannabinoid profile of the tea you decide to smoke.
Is smoking tea legal?
Absolutely. Both tea leaves and pre-made tea cigarettes are completely legal to purchase and smoke. The only thing that you need to pay attention to when it comes to tea smoking and legality is doing it in smoking areas and definitely not in enclosed spaces (unless otherwise specified), but that’s also the case for regular cigarettes so if you’ve been smoking for a while you probably already know that.
What is the best tea to smoke?
It all depends on your personal preference. However, generally speaking, the more oxidized tea, the better it is for smoking, as it contains less water and therefore burns better. Still,
Can smoking tea be addictive?
Since tea does not contain the ingredient that makes normal cigarettes addictive (nicotine), the chances of someone becoming addicted to it are rather low.
Can breast feeding women smoke tea?
We would recommend consulting it with your doctor, so that you can be sure that your baby won’t be affected by you smoking tea. However, it is always better to avoid smoking anything altogether when you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Are there any health risks associated with smoking tea?
Smoking tea can make you lightheaded due to the fact that you’re inhaling carbon monoxide. Aside from this, the only health risks that come with smoking tea are those that are present with smoking anything, whether that be tobacco, coffee, tea, or something else, which include lung cancer or heart disease.
Which is better – drinking tea or smoking tea?
That depends on what you prefer and what you feel more comfortable doing. Drinking tea is a practice that’s been around for thousands of years and that we have already managed to study and understand the effects of. Smoking tea, on the other hand, is quite a new thing, which means that there are many things we still don’t know about it, although, as of now, its future is looking very promising.
The Bottom Line
Many people want to quit smoking but don’t know how to do it, since their smoking habits are such an integral part of their routine that they wouldn’t know what to do if they didn’t have anything to smoke – not to mention that depending on the individual, withdrawal symptoms are no fun. However, thankfully, there’s a solution that not only allows you to slowly drop out of your habit, but provides a healthier alternative to normal cigarettes in the meantime – that is smoking tea.
If you’re someone who wants to stop smoking without making drastic changes, don’t hesitate to browse through our selection of NEAFS sticks. These tobacco-free, plant-based alternatives come in a number of flavors, so we’re sure that you will find something for yourself. And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to us via the contact form available on our website.
