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200g hookah tobacco available again: a new chapter for hookah lovers
Updated April 29, 2025 6 min 
What this article is about
- Why the 25g law was originally introduced and what goals it pursued, from tax control to health protection.
- The massive effects the law had on consumers, retailers and manufacturers, including price increases, packaging waste and creative workarounds like “dry base” tobacco.
- How the industry dealt with the challenge, e.g. through economical tobacco bowls and new product formats.
- Why the law ultimately failed and was abolished again, with a focus on the black market problem and economic damage.
- When the 200g tins concretely return: sales start from 01.07.2024, availability in stores expected from August.
- How the repeal of the law could affect the future of the hookah market, among other things with regard to price stability and product selection.
- Why 25g packs could still have their place, especially for those keen to try new things.
On 01.07.2022, the law regulating tobacco quantities for hookahs came into force, prohibiting the production of hookah tobacco in units larger than 25g. This regulation also ended the sale of 200g and 1 kg tins after 30.06.2023 and posed considerable challenges for the hookah community. Now, finally, after a year of the sales ban, this law was repealed as of 01.07.2024 with the signature of Federal Finance Minister Christian Lindner. We take a closer look at what that means for us in this article.
The big tins are back: you can find 200g hookah tobacco directly in our shop.
Why were 200g tins banned?
The 25g law was introduced in the hope of combating the black market and illegal activities around the tobacco trade. It turned out that large quantities of tobacco were often imported or sold illegally, causing the treasury to lose considerable tax revenue.
Another important aspect was the itemisation law, which stipulated that hookah bars were not allowed to take tobacco from large tins but could only pass on separately taxed portion sizes to customers. However, many bars did not comply and continued to take tobacco from large containers, which made controls more difficult. By limiting to smaller packaging, the illegal trade was to be made harder and control over the tobacco market improved.
In addition, it was hoped to limit tobacco consumption and thus have a positive impact on public health. If you are interested in the effects of hookah consumption on your health, take a look at the Hookah and Health category in our knowledge section.
The effects of the 25g hookah tobacco law
The 25g law had far-reaching consequences that affected consumers, manufacturers and retailers alike. One of the most obvious drawbacks was the drastic increase in packaging waste. The introduction of 25g tins meant that significantly more packaging material was needed to sell the same amount of hookah tobacco, which put considerable strain on the environment.
Another drawback was the high costs for manufacturers. The need to buy new machines for the smaller packaging units led to additional costs that were ultimately passed on to the price of the tobacco. That meant higher prices for us consumers.
Not to be forgotten are the creative and not entirely legal solutions developed to circumvent the 25g law. Above all, the manufacturer MixTo was the first to offer its tobacco in such a way that it could be sold not as ready-to-smoke hookah tobacco but as dry pipe tobacco. This meant the tobacco was no longer classified as hookah tobacco and was subject to neither the quantity regulation nor the increased hookah tobacco tax. Such “dry base” or “hookah pipe tobacco” could reach consumers much more cheaply, but it then had to be mixed with glycerine by the end customer to obtain ready-to-smoke hookah tobacco. This method became so popular in the community that many other manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon.
But the effects did not only concern the tobacco manufacturers. Due to the price increases and small quantities, many made a virtue of necessity. The ambition to build a bowl with as little tobacco as possible gripped many in the community. This also put pressure on the bowl manufacturers. Some very popular bowl producers like Hookain or Cosmo Bowl rethought the chambers of their bowls for the German market and released smaller, economical versions of their most popular models as well as entirely new models designed to use particularly little tobacco. And even the tobacco manufacturer Darkside brought out its own economical bowl with the Darkside Shot.
In the last year, however, things also went steeply downhill for many retailers and producers. Quite a few online shops had to close their digital doors. Again and again, voices blamed the 25g regulation for this. To what extent that is really the case cannot be fully verified. Many signs indicate that a very large part of the tobacco smoked in hookah bars from mid-2023 came from the black market. As a result, many honest retailers struggled with high financial losses. The hookah hype of the corona pandemic ebbed away due to the rising tobacco prices and the more complicated handling, and many customers switched to the environmentally harmful disposable e-cigarettes.
The advantages of the 25g regulation
Although the 25g law brought many disadvantages, there was also one advantage we should not forget. The smaller packaging units allowed consumers to try different tobacco varieties in small quantities without having to commit to a large tin straight away. That was particularly beneficial for new customers or for anyone who likes to test new flavours.
As things currently stand, many manufacturers will continue to produce the small 25g packs, so the option remains to cost-effectively try different varieties in small quantities. For this, by the way, our specially curated hookah tobacco sampler packs are particularly suitable. Of course, demand determines supply: if no one buys 25g tins anymore, this size will eventually die out, which would be a real shame for every experiment-loving customer.
Why is the 25g law being repealed now?
Unfortunately, the 25g law did not work as hoped. Instead of combating the black market, it often even strengthened it, as demand for larger quantities remained undiminished and could only be met illegally. In addition, the law brought considerable inconvenience for legal retailers and consumers, who now had to contend with higher costs and more packaging waste. After thorough review and numerous complaints from the industry, it was decided to repeal the law in order to stabilise the market, strengthen legal trade channels and increase consumer friendliness.
When can I get 200g tins again?
The repeal of the 25g law is a welcome step for all hookah lovers. From 01.07.2024, it is again permitted to sell hookah tobacco in 200g tins and even larger quantities. But will the 200g tins be available immediately? Probably not. It will presumably take about a month before the first deliveries arrive at retailers like us, because it takes time to switch production and to produce and distribute the larger units.
For many of us, the return of the 200g tins means a return to normality: no more constant purchases of small units, no more scraping out small foils, no excessive packaging waste and, finally, the option to stock up on favourite varieties in sufficient quantity again.
A look into the future of the hookah tobacco market
With the repeal of the 25g law, a new chapter opens for the hookah community. Manufacturers will produce larger quantities again, which will hopefully lead to price stabilisation. Consumers can look forward to finally being able to buy their preferred tobacco varieties in the usual quantities again. What happens to the dry base tobacco varieties in future and what becomes of the 25g packs remains to be seen.
We at Moze are excited about the coming months and look forward to soon being able to offer you the popular 200g tins again. In the meantime, we continue to carry a broad range of 25g tobacco varieties so you can try new flavours and find your favourites.
Conclusion
The last few years have been a challenging time for all friends of a good hookah. The 25g law forced many of us to find new ways to enjoy our passion efficiently and affordably. But with the repeal of the law on 01.07.2024, we look to the future optimistically. The return of the 200g tins not only makes enjoyment easier but also lowers costs and reduces the environmental impact of packaging waste.
We thank you for your patience and support during this time and look forward to soon being able to supply you again with your favourite varieties in the usual quantity. Stay tuned and check our blog regularly to stay up to date on the latest developments. See you soon and always a good smoke!
FAQ: the return of the 200g hookah tobacco tins
Why were 200g hookah tobacco tins originally banned?
The 25g rule was introduced to curb the black market, prevent tax losses and improve control over the tobacco trade. In addition, it was meant to contribute to health protection.
What effects did the 25g law have on consumers and manufacturers?
The regulation led to more packaging waste, higher prices and the development of alternatives like dry base tobacco. Many manufacturers also had to invest in new machines.
Why is the law being repealed now?
The law did not have the desired effect and in part even strengthened the black market. The repeal was meant to strengthen legal trade again and relieve consumers.
From when are 200g tins available again?
Sales have been permitted again since 01.07.2024. In online shops and in stationary retail, 200g tins were available again from August.
Will 25g packs continue to be offered?
Partly. Many manufacturers no longer offer 25g packs for end customers, as they are less lucrative. Some are still produced, mainly for hookah bars, as this size remains relevant there.
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