Smoking Tea: Can You Smoke Tea And Is It Bad For You?

These days in many states in the US, smoking marijuana has become legal. Still, there are some folks who look askance at this practice. What about smoking tea? Did you know that this is becoming a bit of a fad?

More and more people are lighting up with specialised tea blends meant just for smoking and even with regular, everyday drinking tea. Is this a safe practice? Is it enjoyable? Is it good for you? In this article, we will explore these questions and more.

Is tea smoking new?

The fact is, tea smoking is a fairly old and well-established practice. The Chinese make a family event of it by vaping tea with a hookah. In the US, teens dabble with tea smoking as a way of enjoying a mild high (i.e. gentle relaxation and soothing benefits).

College students and others who are plagued with anxiety also enjoy smoking green tea for its relaxing properties. People who are pursuing weight loss or athletes who are forbidden the use of drugs and alcohol also partake.

Is it good or bad for you?

We all know that drinking teas of all kinds can be very good for you. Is the same true of smoking tea? Just as with any other smoking practice, this question is rather controversial. People who are absolutely opposed to any kind of smoking (or vaping with electronic cigarettes) oppose tea smoking. Others tend to view it as harmless or even beneficial.

Some people believe any kind of smoke is bad for your lungs. Others believe that the antioxidant properties of tea offset any damage the actual smoke might cause. It is important to note that the smoke from pure tea is bound to be a lot less harmful than tobacco smoke.

The reason for this is that tobacco products don’t just deliver nicotine. They also deliver an unhealthy dose of pesticides and chemicals, which many believe are actually to blame for the high rate of cancer associated with the use of any and all tobacco products.

Can smoking tea actually be beneficial?

It would really depend on the type of tea you smoke. It is popular to smoke plain, green tea. While this substance does have many health benefits when brewed as a beverage, the jury is out when it comes to benefits to be derived by smoking it. There have not been any studies or clinical trials conducted to determine claims that the practice is beneficial.

What does tea smoking do to you?

When you smoke tea, you are likely to experience gentle relaxation and a slightly light-headed and euphoric feeling. Most people prefer the flavour of tea to tobacco and marijuana. The scent is also aromatic and enjoyable.

Just as with any other indulgence, too much can be detrimental. Introducing smoke to your lungs is generally not a good thing, and you should be concerned with the possibility of developing cancer.

Be aware that teas that contain caffeine may tend to energie you. Additionally, as the caffeine effect wears off, you may find yourself becoming drowsy or experiencing a headache. Intake of caffeine can also reduce your appetite. This can be good in measured doses, but excessive loss of appetite can definitely lead to poor overall health.

Combustible products also produce CO2, so excessive smoking of any substance can result in carbon monoxide poisoning. Always be sure to moderate your smoking and smoke in a well-ventilated area.

What kind of tea is tastiest?

As far as flavor and enjoyment go, there are a number of types of tea that many find enjoyable. Among them are:

  • Lapsang Souchong
  • Vanilla Comoro
  • White Peach
  • Lemon Zest
  • Peppercorn
  • Peppermint
  • Cinnamon
  • Apricot
  • Cocoa
  • Honey
  • Malt

There are so many different types of flavoured and herbal teas available that exploring them could be quite an adventure. Be sure to stick with teas that are completely natural and do not have artificial flavors and colours added.

Can I smoke the tea in my kitchen cupboard?

Many people do smoke plain old green, black and herbal teas of all kinds. These types of teas are easy to come by and inexpensive. They are also perfectly legal to smoke.

Be sure to purchase high quality, organic teas for smoking purposes. As noted earlier, it may very well be the pesticides and chemicals in tobacco that cause a majority of the health issues associated with tobacco use. Teas that are grown with the use of pesticides and chemicals could pose many of the same hazards as commercially grown tobacco.

What about the “cool” factor?

One real danger with tea smoking is that it could be considered a “gateway” substance to cigarette smoking. It is legal for teens to purchase tea of all kinds and roll their own tea cigarettes.

While this may be fairly harmless in terms of substance consumption, it is important to remember that a large percentage of the addictive quality of smoking tobacco products lies in the habit. By cultivating the habit of smoking, teens may be setting the stage for a future of tobacco consumption.

Then again, the opposite may be true. Exploring tea smoking may be more interesting, more pleasant and certainly more affordable than smoking tobacco. Teens who start out with tea smoking may just stick with it for life or allow the practice to dwindle with the passage of time.

As with any behaviour, the basic personality and tendencies of the person in question account for a great deal of the outcome. Depending on your personality type, you may or may not become addicted to tea smoking.

Can you smoke tea bags?  Look at this video

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