Can You Use Pipe Tobacco as Dipping Tobacco?

Various tobacco products are available in the market today. Some of them are categorized under combustible tobacco products, while others are considered smokeless tobacco products. The difference between them is that the former requires combustion before you can enjoy their content, while the latter can be consumed through chewing, sniffing, or parking them in your mouth.

Aside from cigarettes, which are known to be the most popular combustible tobacco products today, a number of users are leaning towards pipe tobacco as a way to get their desired nicotine hits. While it is meant to be smoked, some have reported to be using pipe tobacco as dipping tobacco. 

Can you really do this? Is it safe to consume pipe tobacco as dipping tobacco? Or does it pose some risks to your health? Continue reading to know the truth.

Can You Use Pipe Tobacco as Dip in Your Mouth?

Pipe tobacco, in general, is loose-leaf tobacco that is burned in a smoking pipe with a bowl. As mentioned earlier, it is classified as a combustible tobacco product, which means you have to light it up to enjoy its nicotine content, flavour, and aroma. 

As the combustion process takes place, smoke comes out from pipe tobacco, which you essentially inhale like you often do when smoking cigarettes.

When opting for pipe tobacco, you often have to put shredded tobacco leaves on the pipe’s bowl. You then have to burn the leaves by lighting them up. Since you will be the one who will put the leaves on the pipe, you have the liberty to choose different flavours and styles of cut, letting you consume pipe tobacco that matches your taste and hit preferences.

There are different blends of pipe tobacco that you can try and opt for. They include:

• Virginia: Virginia is arguably one of the world’s most popular blends of pipe tobacco. It boasts a naturally sweet flavour that enriches the aromatic experience of smoking tobacco. The tobacco leaves used for Virginia undergo a meticulous production process that is free from any additives or artificial flavours. Its natural sweetness blends seamlessly with other varieties like Burley, Perique, Latakia, and Orientals. 
• Perique: Perique is another variant of pipe tobacco that is popular for its strong fruity aroma. It is typically considered a component of varying blended tobaccos. The Perique piping tobacco leaves are often dried partially to make sure they are still supple, allowing the stems on the leaves and any dirt to be removed easily. The leaves are then rolled into torquettes and packed into whiskey barrels. Subsequently, they are stored under pressure. After a month or so, the pressure is released, letting a little air to be back into the leaves. These steps are repeated for a year before the Perique tobacco leaves are offered and sold to consumers.
• Latakia: Latakia tobacco, which originated from Syria, is a sun-cured tobacco that is similar to many other Turkish tobaccos. It is then further fire-cured using various woods and herbs to attain varying flavours. Latakia has a rich, heavy taste, making it one of the ingredients in traditional English mixtures as well as modern blending tobacco. Smoking it alone, after all, might be too potent for most people’s preferences. 

Now, why do some users want to use pipe tobacco as a dip?

The idea of using tobacco leaves used for pipe smoking as dip may stem from the fact that the leaves look similar to the ones being used orally. When you compare pipe tobacco leaves and dipping tobacco products, you are essentially left with similar-looking tobacco leaves that are both shredded and cut into consumable pieces.

For your reference, dipping tobacco is a type of smokeless tobacco product that takes advantage of finely ground or shredded, moistened leaves. Dipping tobacco, as its name suggests, can be consumed by placing a pinch or dip of the leaves between your lip and the gum.

With the various types of pipe tobacco described above, it is easy for tobacco users to think that the leaves can be dipped instead of smoking them. 

When you dip, you don’t have to deal with the preparation required in placing the leaves on the pipe. You don’t even have to inhale any smoke from the tobacco, which contains chemicals that are often attributed to different health risks and illnesses.

Even though pipe tobacco leaves don’t have chemicals on them, lighting them up may only lead to the production of smoke elements that can be toxic to your body. As a matter of fact, the Food and Drug Administration in the USA considers pipe tobacco as well as cigarettes and other combustible tobacco products as the most harmful type of tobacco product you can consume.

Since some tobacco users don’t want the extra chemicals from the tobacco smoke, they now want to use pipe tobacco leaves in a different way. Dipping is one of them, converting the pipe tobacco leaves to oral tobacco. Through dipping pipe tobacco, they can enjoy its flavours and nicotine content without the risks associated with tobacco combustion, which one may typically find from cigarette smoking.

But, can you really use pipe tobacco as a dip?

Generally speaking, no. Pipe tobacco is designed solely to be smoked. Even though it often comes shredded, it is typically coarser and drier than the leaves used for dipping. Pipe tobacco is even treated with additives for added flavours and slow-burning properties. Before you can use pipe tobacco for dipping, you still have to alter its moisture and texture, which can consume a lot of time.

Then there are health and safety concerns.

Pipe tobacco has additives that are intended to make it more enjoyable to smoke rather than being consumed orally. The additives added to pipe tobacco are likewise meant for inhalation and not for direct contact with your mouth’s mucous membranes. If you are dipping pipe tobacco, you only risk developing gum irritation. Additionally, it may only increase your exposure to harmful chemicals as well as heighten your health risks as compared to using traditional dipping tobacco.

Even though it is possible to use pipe tobacco as dipping tobacco in your mouth, it is neither safe nor practical. It would be better if you just use dipping tobacco products instead or explore other nicotine products that are meant for oral use.Nicotine products such as nicotine pouches and snus are known to be much safer as they pose fewer health risks than misusing pipe tobacco.

What Is the Difference Between Pipe Tobacco and Dipping Tobacco?

Knowing the difference between pipe tobacco and dipping tobacco can help you and other tobacco users understand why you have to consume them based on their intended purposes.

Pipe tobacco is a loose-leaf tobacco product that is particularly designed for smoking in a pipe. In terms of its cut, flavouring, moisture content, and intended use, it is far different from other forms of tobacco like cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and even dipping tobacco.

When talking about cut and texture, pipe tobacco can be classified into the following:

• Ribbon cut: Ribbon cut is the most common form of tobacco mixing, especially in pipe tobacco. It is known for its great burning properties. It is also easy to place in a pipe thanks to its thin, ribbon-like characteristics, allowing it to provide exceptional consistency in flavour. Since ribbon-cut pipe tobacco leaves age much faster than other cuts, manufacturers often opt for them as they can process them more quickly.
• Shag: Shag is a finer-cut ribbon pipe tobacco that is pressed in a square shape. It is then cut finely to make it effective in providing the best flavours possible. Compared to other pipe tobacco cuts, shag is known for being smoked faster. However, it still depends on the moisture content of the tobacco as well as how firmly it is loaded into the pipe’s bowl. If the bowl is packed very tightly, then the burn rate of the tobacco will be slower than that of a looser-packed bowl.
• Flake: Flake pipe tobacco leaves are pressed and sliced into thin sheets. They are then blended and added with moisture, with some manufacturers using a sugar casing or other binder to hold them together. When processing flake pipe tobacco, their moisture levels must be controlled and adjusted properly. If they become too dry, they might break up easily, contributing to a poor pipe tobacco smoking experience.
• Cube cut: Cube cut, as its name implies, is a form of pipe tobacco that comes in small, diced pieces. Cube-cut tobacco is often cut with scissors crosswise to convert it into cubes, letting more air into the mix than other types of pipe tobacco.
• Plug: Plug tobacco is a block of tobacco that can be cut into flakes using a cutter. You often have the option to pick the thickness of the strips. If you buy a ‘block’ of tobacco, you can use a knife to cut exactly what you want to smoke.
• Crumble cake: Crumble cake tobacco involves creating loose ribbon tobacco and then pressing it, but not as tightly as a plug or flake. A crumble cake plug is made using ribbon-cut tobacco instead of large pieces of leaf or whole leaves, like in flakes. While this type of pipe tobacco shares some characteristics with plug tobacco, it’s simply ribbon tobacco that has been compressed. You can pinch off a small piece and rub it to achieve a more fermented ribbon-cut tobacco.

Aside from cut and texture, pipe tobacco also differs from other types of tobacco when it comes to its moisture content.Compared to cigarette tobacco, pipe tobacco possesses more moisture, allowing it to burn slower and cooler during the combustion process.

It then comes in many flavours, which include vanilla, cherry, rum, whiskey, or honey. Non-aromatic blends are also available, allowing you to experience the natural flavours and aroma of the leaves.

How is pipe tobacco used? It is often simple to consume pipe tobacco as long as you know the key steps. During preparation, you should pack your chosen pipe tobacco into the pipe bowl. You must make sure to maintain proper airflow for an even burn of the pipe.

Once it is set up, you can light up the tobacco with a match or lighter. During the session, you might need to light the leaves repeatedly before you can smoke the pipe tobacco.

As for the smoking process, you should ensure slow, deliberate puffs to enjoy the flavours of your chosen tobacco blend. Do not puff too fast as it may only overheat the bowl.

After knowing pipe tobacco, it’s time for you to know dipping tobacco.

Dipping tobacco, also known as moist snuff, is a type of finely ground tobacco that is intended for oral use rather than smoking. It is typically placed between the lip and the gum, allowing the tobacco leaves to release nicotine and get mixed with saliva. Since it doesn’t involve combustion, dipping tobacco is typically considered by many as a less harmful option than combustible tobacco products.

When comparing dipping tobacco and pipe tobacco, the very first thing you’ll notice is how different their texture is.Dipping tobacco is often moist, allowing it to stay in the mouth for a long time. Its moisture content likewise helps in making nicotine absorption through the gum tissue easier. It is then ground finely, making it easier for the user to tuck it in the mouth.

Pipe tobacco is not as moist as dipping tobacco since it needs to be lighted up easily. It is likewise not ground finely and instead comes in larger cuts of tobacco leaves.

The flavours of dipping tobacco may then be similar to pipe tobacco. However, many users often enjoy dipping tobacco due to the variety of flavours available from different brands. Some flavours of dipping tobacco you can enjoy today include cherry, vanilla, mint, wintergreen, and straight (natural tobacco).

Some popular brands of dipping tobacco you can buy today are Skoal, Grizzly, and Copenhagen. You can buy dipping tobacco from these brands at NativeSmokes4Less today! We offer these dipping tobacco brands at very affordable prices. We can then ship them to your doorstep in Canada without any shipping issues or delays.

When consuming dipping tobacco, it’s important that you pinch or dip tobacco based on the recommended size by the manufacturer. You must then place them between the lower lip and the gum. Some, however, place them in the upper lip to reduce the amount of saliva being produced.

You don’t need to chew the tobacco while it is in your mouth. You then have to spit out the excess saliva to avoid swallowing the dipping tobacco’s content. 

Making Dip From Pipe Tobacco

There are plenty of steps involved in manufacturing pipe tobacco. Some of these steps include:

1. Select the leaves: The first step in making pipe tobacco is to pick the leaves to create the right blend. Some notable blends of pipe tobacco you can find in the market today include Virginia tobacco which forms the base of many blends, Latakia tobacco (smoky and bold), Perique tobacco (fruit and peppery), Oriental tobacco (aromatic and tangy), and Burley tobacco (nutty and earthy).
2. Cure the tobacco leaves: Curing is the process of drying the leaves to remove moisture while retaining the desired flavours and aroma. Different curing processes can be done by manufacturers. Air curing, for instance, is done by hanging the leaves in well-ventilated barns to dry them slowly. Sun curing is another curing process done by drying the leaves under direct sunlight. Fire curing involves exposing the tobacco leaves to wood smoke, adding a smoky flavour. Lastly, flue curing is done by applying heat in enclosed barns to dry the leaves faster. 
3. Fermentation: Once curing is done, the leaves undergo fermentation to minimize harshness and generate deeper, more complex flavours. This step is done by stacking or packing the leaves under controlled humidity and temperature.
4. Blending: Different types of cured and fermented tobacco are subsequently combined by manufacturers to produce a unique tobacco blend. Blenders carefully balance the proportions of tobacco, allowing pipe tobacco makers to achieve the right flavour profile, strength, and aroma.
5. Cut the blended tobacco: After blending the tobacco leaves, they are then cut by the manufacturers into specific shapes and sizes. This process is meant to produce pipe tobacco that can fit pipe smoking. Some notable cuts of tobacco include ribbon, flake, cube, and shag.
6. Add flavourings: Not all manufacturers of pipe tobacco carry out this step since some of them only produce naturally flavoured tobacco leaves. For those who want to offer various options of tobacco to users, they add aromatic additives such as vanilla, cherry, rum, whiskey, or honey to further elevate the taste of their pipe tobacco offerings. These flavourings are typically sprayed or infused into the leaves during or after the cutting process.
7. Moisten the pipe tobacco: While not as moist as dipping tobacco, pipe tobacco leaves are still moistened to make sure they can achieve a slow and even burn. They are paired with proper moisture levels to make sure they can be easier to handle and place into the pipe bowl.

All the steps of producing pipe tobacco are done properly by manufacturers to make sure their quality remains intact from start to finish. A lot of elements are even controlled and regulated by pipe tobacco makers so that the end products will be enjoyable to smoke.

Now, if you want to convert your existing pipe tobacco into dipping tobacco, then you can do so. However, doing this is generally not recommended since the steps in making pipe tobacco are solely intended for them to be smoked, not consumed directly in your mouth.

Some steps you can do to make dip from pipe tobacco include the following:

1. Gather ingredients and tools: To make a dip from pipe tobacco, you must gather your key ingredients. These ingredients include pipe tobacco, water or tea, and flavour additives. You must pick pipe tobacco that is moist or semi-moist to ensure it can blend well with other ingredients. As for the tools, you must get a mixing bowl for combining ingredients and an airtight container to store the DIY dip and retain its moisture.
2. Moisten the pipe tobacco: Pipe tobacco is typically drier than dipping tobacco, which is why you must enhance its moisture content. You can do this by lightly spraying the tobacco with water or tea until it reaches a damp, pliable consistency. You must avoid over-soaking the tobacco since it will only become mushy.
3. Add flavouring: If you prefer to add some flavours to your dipping tobacco, then you can mix in your preferred flavouring to your pipe tobacco. You can add a few drops of mint extract to achieve a dipping tobacco with a fresh taste. Alternatively, you can add a small amount of molasses or honey to attain a sweet dip. You must mix the tobacco leaves and flavourings thoroughly for an even distribution of flavours. You can skip this step if you prefer the natural flavours of tobacco.
4. Let the tobacco rest: After moistening the pipe tobacco and blending it with flavours, you should store the tobacco in an airtight container. You must let it rest for 24-48 hours so that the flavours and moisture can integrate fully with the tobacco leaves. 

After a day or two, you can now enjoy your DIY dipping tobacco and consume it whenever you want. Just make sure to only take a considerable amount of pinch to avoid overdosing yourself with tobacco and nicotine. You must also make sure to regulate your frequency of dipping tobacco consumption.

As for the flavourings, you can also use essential oils as an alternative. However, some users suggest using them in small amounts because they can be quite strong. It’s also important to only choose high-quality essential oils.

While it is technically possible to make dip from pipe tobacco, it is still highly encouraged for users to stick to commercially available dipping tobacco, especially if they like to consume smokeless tobacco products. These products have been manufactured solely for oral consumption, allowing you to enjoy their content without worrying about additional health risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use pipe tobacco as dipping tobacco?

Technically, you can. However, it is not recommended. Pipe tobacco is meant for smoking and not for oral use. It may also contain additives or chemicals that are not safe for the gums. It is not even comfortable to dip due to its coarse texture and lack of moisture.

Can you make dipping tobacco from pipe tobacco?

Yes. You can make dipping tobacco from pipe tobacco by adding moisture and flavour. The process involves adding water or flavouring and letting it rest to enhance its moisture content and taste. This DIY method, however, may pose health risks since pipe tobacco is not made for oral consumption.

Is pipe tobacco the same as dipping tobacco?

No. Pipe tobacco is not the same as dipping tobacco. Pipe tobacco is intended for smoking in a pipe while dipping tobacco is formulated for oral use. These tobacco products likewise vary in textures, purposes, and processing methods.

Summary

Pipe tobacco is intended to be placed in a pipe bowl and lit up whenever you have prepared it properly. If you’re thinking of using it as a dip, you may want to think twice since it is not meant for direct oral use. It would be better if you visit your favourite tobacco store and buy dipping tobacco to enjoy the flavours of the product without putting yourself in danger. You’ll never know, converting your pipe tobacco into dipping one may pose additional health risks to your body.

When talking about dipping tobacco, you may be curious whether it is similar to chewing tobacco or not. To learn more about these smokeless tobacco products, go here.