Making Your Own Hookah Tobacco – How Can I Produce Hookah Tobacco at Home?

Last updated on 05/07/2024 | Reading time approx. 09:08 min

Hookah tobacco keeps getting more expensive. Measures like Germany's 25g regulation are accelerating this trend.

This topic often sparks heated debates and bitter comments on our social media channels. Some followers even suggest "smuggling" cheaper tobacco from other European countries.

While this is technically legal within tax-free limits, here's the BIG but: Most EU countries have raised tobacco taxes so much that Germany now has the cheapest tobacco prices in the EU.

Let's be clear: The claim that tobacco is cheaper in neighboring countries simply isn't true.

For comparison: A tin of Blackburn Bapai Dinner costs €4.99 in our shop (March 2024). In Czechia, the same 25g tin costs 269 Kč (about €11). In France, prices are nearly double ours.

Tip: If vacationing in France, Czechia or Poland, consider bringing German hookah tobacco. For travel, we recommend the Amotion Roam hookah. Its travel kit fits tobacco, hookah, hose, bowl and mouthpiece.

What Are the Alternatives to Expensive Hookah Tobacco?

You could vacation outside the EU and bring back tax-free tobacco, but flying abroad just to save money is extreme. Alternatives in Germany include tobacco substitutes or cheaper dry pipe tobacco. We've covered these in other articles:

Nicotine-Free Hookah Tobacco: Are There Alternatives? Read our detailed blog post here.

Or you could make your own hookah tobacco. This isn't necessarily cheaper and requires time/effort, but at least you avoid tobacco taxes on raw/"decorative" tobacco.

Note: As dry base and pipe tobacco blends show, regular pipe tobacco works for hookah. It's pre-cut and stem-free. For completeness, we'll also explain processing dried tobacco leaves from scratch.

Is Making Your Own Hookah Tobacco a Good Idea?

Before 2022's legal changes, it was relatively easy to make tasty hookah tobacco at home, as some manufacturers sold pre-mixed, tax-free molasses.

Now, nearly all good molasses have disappeared because they're taxed. Worse: Every ingredient intended for hookah tobacco (flavorings, glycerin, propylene glycol) is now taxed.

This killed commercial production of easy-to-use components, making DIY tobacco far costlier than in 2022. Factoring in legal hurdles, homemade hookah tobacco is now the least appealing it's ever been.

The German Customs Directorate explicitly states that ANYONE producing hookah tobacco needs a "tax warehouse permit"—even consumers making it for personal use. This effectively criminalizes DIY hookah tobacco.

Warning: This includes two-component mixes like MixTwo, Fog Your Law or Nameless. Mixing these without a permit is punishable, and the tobacco must be reported/taxed—or it's tax evasion.

What Should I Consider Before Making Hookah Tobacco?

Ignoring the illegality, tobacco production is like any hobby: Costs add up (raw materials, containers, tools, cleaning supplies, etc.). Even in a hypothetical legal scenario, expect trial and error—early batches may be unusable due to mold or bad flavor combinations.

Note: Many tobacco ingredients can be bought untaxed (e.g., food-grade glycerin), but using them for tobacco is illegal.

Assuming small-scale production were legal, remember that developing a good product takes experience. You'd need space to dry tobacco (the washing process reeks) and patience to perfect recipes. Still, if you enjoy tinkering, it could be a fun hobby.

What Do I Need to Make Hookah Tobacco?

Hookah tobacco consists of destemmed/finely chopped raw tobacco, flavorings, sweeteners, and humectants. Ratios vary from 35% tobacco/65% additives to 20%/80%.

Equipment for Tobacco Production:

Use old household appliances (blender, cheese grater) dedicated solely to tobacco—never reuse them for food, as nicotine is a neurotoxin. You'll also need a kettle, sieve, rubber gloves, newspaper, and possibly an oven/baking sheet.

Tobacco drying in a barn

Which Tobacco for Hookah?

Choose raw tobacco by preference—light Virginia or strong Burley both work. Pre-fermented tobacco saves effort (fermentation breaks down proteins that cause burnt-hair flavors). Washed tobacco reduces nicotine but stinks; dry it within 3 days of washing.

Wash tobacco by soaking in cold water first, then boiling water. Squeeze out nicotine-rich wastewater (wear old clothes!).

After washing, hang tobacco on a clothesline with kitchen paper underneath to catch drips. Process within three days.

Preparing Tobacco – Removing Stems

Stems don't absorb molasses well. Remove them after drying by hand—dry leaves separate easily.

Chopping Raw Tobacco

Chopped, stem-free tobacco

Industry uses coarse then fine cuts; at home, a coffee grinder or blender works. Never use the same tools for food! Once chopped, soak the tobacco flakes in molasses.

The Molasses

Molasses is a sticky mixture that provides flavor and moisture, comprising at least 66% of hookah tobacco. Industrial molasses contains:

Tip: For small batches, you could omit glycerin (using just molasses and flavorings), but this reduces shelf life.

2. Flavorings: Use homemade (dried/herb powders, citrus zest, cinnamon, vanilla) or food-grade flavorings (available online).

Warning: Don't use vape liquids—their concentrations are too strong for hookah and create unpleasant smoking experiences.

3. Sweeteners: Honey (e.g., acacia), glucose, fructose, or sugarcane molasses.

Thin honey works well as a molasses substitute

Note: Organic molasses from health food stores yields excellent results with dark coloring.

To develop your perfect molasses, test small batches with different ratios, label them, and document ingredients. Typical ratios range from 1:2 (tobacco:molasses) to 1:4.

Give Your Tobacco Time

Time is crucial—longer soaking develops stronger flavors. Some aromas emerge only after weeks. Many compare hookah tobacco to fine wine needing maturation.

Note: Burley needs longer soaking than Virginia.

We recommend at least 2 weeks before smoking, though some blends need 2 months for full flavor.

Tip: A vacuum sealer is ideal for home production—it prevents mold and lets you knead the tobacco while sealed. Label packages with dates and ratios.

Conclusion: Making Your Own Hookah Tobacco?

While not rocket science, DIY hookah tobacco requires tolerance for mess and effort. With care, experimentation, and time, you could create unique flavors unavailable commercially.

Were it not for legal restrictions and costs, this could be a rewarding hobby. Given current laws, we must advise against potentially illegal activity.

200g Hookah Tobacco in Our Shop

An alternative to full DIY are "dry base" pipe tobacco blends where you just add glycerin (though even this requires tax compliance). Learn more in our article:

200g Hookah Tobacco: Old Sizes Despite 25g Regulation? Here's how to get your 200g tobacco back.

Mixing dry base with taxed glycerin produces hookah tobacco. Production requires permits and must occur in tax-approved facilities.

We hope this article clarified the topic. Feel free to explore our other blog posts. Until then, happy smoking!