How can one tobacco be dramatically stronger than another?

[Reynard]

Hi guys,

I have a question. How is it possible when using a common raw ingredient - the tobacco plant - for a gram of tobacco in skruf mellan to be (estimated at) 6mg/g and for a gram of tobacco in Oden's extreme or thunder raw to be 22mg/g? I can't get my head round it, thats nearly 4 times the strength. I mean I'm assuming no nicotine is added and yet surely tobacco is tobacco. I suppose lighter varieties are weaker than kentuckys but from 6 to 22?

I'm sure there's a logical answer, I just wondered.

[justintempler]

By blending in some Nicotiana Rustica (standard tobacco is Nicotiana Tabacum)

Nicotiana rustica leaves have a nicotine content as high as 9%, whereas Nicotiana tabacum (common tobacco) leaves contain about 1 to 3%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotiana_rustica

[NicLover]

Varieties + Cultivation + Selection

Even with only N. Tabacum, the nicotine yield is dramatically different depending on: soil, sunshine (more sun = more nic), plant variety, leaf position (older, upper leaves are stronger) and curing method after harvest, and so on. With cigars it's the same.

[Reynard]

By blending in some Nicotiana Rustica (standard tobacco is Nicotiana Tabacum)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotiana_rustica

Wow, you learn something new every day. Many thanks, JT

[precious007]

It's all about the nicotine ..

Same as with alcohol .. why is vodka stronger than beer? :-)

[Mykislt]

Maybe it's not really 22mg/g, maybe they just added more baking soda. Increasing pH increases the amount of nicotine absorbed, and adding more baking soda increases the pH.


You can try it at home, but it may too strong if you are not careful.

[lxskllr]

I seem to remember reading that GN uses a hybrid tobacco for the Extreme. It might be a bit of both. More nicotine naturally, and a higher ph. I'm not thoroughly versed in the different starks(I don't really use them), but with people saying the nicotine comes on slower with the Extreme than it does with Thunder would indicate a higher natural nicotine content, rather than higher ph(I believe gives faster delivery).

[whalen]

GN is using Rustica, probably more lamina than stem. The snuff I made had that classic Rustica drip, not my favorite thing that Rustica drip. PH is not particularly high at all. Thank goodness Rustica tastes pretty good.

[thatguyjeff]

I wouldn't be surprised if nicotine is added. Tobacco leaves can be simply soaked in water to extract the nic, then maybe boiling off most of the water and then adding that juice to the final product. It's not necessary to use/add chemicals to do this. The ingredients would still be water and tobacco.

[precious007]

I wouldn't be surprised if nicotine is added. Tobacco leaves can be simply soaked in water to extract the nic, then maybe boiling off most of the water and then adding that juice to the final product. It's not necessary to use/add chemicals to do this. The ingredients would still be water and tobacco.

haven't you seen any of the snus production videos on youtube?

they're literally spraying nicotine over the snus portions ;-)

[precious007]

Lewl just saw anothe video on ytube now...

In Sweden they have public automated machines for buying snus (not sure what they're called) just like the ones coca-cola and other beverages have.