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Last updated on 23.04.2025 | Reading time approx. 01:41min
We regularly get questions from customers asking whether and how much nicotine is in hookah tobacco. The answer: Yes, hookah tobacco contains nicotine. The reason is simple – it’s made from the same tobacco plants as cigarette or pipe tobacco. The difference lies in the processing: For hookah use, the tobacco is enriched with molasses, flavorings, and glycerin. This gives it a different texture, but it still contains nicotine.
On average, hookah tobacco contains around 0.26% nicotine based on dry mass. That may seem low – by comparison, other tobacco products contain between 1% and 2.5% nicotine.
But beware: Due to longer smoking sessions and deeper inhalation when using a hookah, the actual amount of nicotine absorbed can be higher than when smoking cigarettes.
For comparison:
Important: The nicotine content refers to the dry tobacco. Since hookah tobacco mainly consists of humectants, its percentage of nicotine is lower than in cigarettes.
According to the WHO, the effects of one hookah bowl are roughly equivalent to 100–200 cigarettes. That sounds like a lot – but it's due to the amount of smoke inhaled.
Here’s a numerical comparison:
You’d need to smoke about 4 hookah bowls to reach the same nicotine level as one 2-ml disposable e-cigarette.
Yes and no! There’s no such thing as hookah tobacco without nicotine. But: In addition to classic hookah tobacco, there are nicotine-free alternatives, such as cellulose-based substitutes or vapor paste. Steam stones were also once common, but are no longer legal. If you’re curious, check out this blog post:
Yes, hookah tobacco contains nicotine because it’s made from the same tobacco plants as cigarette or pipe tobacco. The mix with molasses and glycerin changes the texture, but not the nicotine content.
On average, hookah tobacco contains about 0.26% nicotine based on dry mass. Due to the longer smoking duration and deeper inhalation, the actual amount absorbed can be higher than with cigarettes.
One hookah bowl (20 g Virginia tobacco) contains approx. 10 mg nicotine, one cigarette about 13 mg/g of tobacco, and a 2-ml disposable e-cigarette around 40 mg nicotine. The comparison shows how much the intake can vary.
No, true hookah tobacco always contains nicotine. However, there are nicotine-free alternatives such as cellulose-based tobacco substitutes, vapor pastes, or other non-tobacco products.