Would You Smoke Your Herbal Tea?
That’s what our friends at Well+Good are asking, so we thought we’d put it to you. Apparently tea smoking is catching on, at least with certain Etsy shoppers. We like to say that we’d try anything once—but is this more healing or hoax?
From the post:
Sure, you can steep and sip your tea for its health benefits. Or, you can go the route of some New Yorkers, and roll it up and smoke it.
That’s what Liz Neves suggests. She’s the Brooklyn-based creator of Vivid Visions, an herbal tea blend that’s meant to be smoked, not sipped. And it’s flying off the Etsy shelves.
Since Vivid Visions was featured on FoodCurated.com two weeks ago, she’s been unable to keep up with the demand, selling out of batches of 150 within hours.
So why are people so excited to toke their tea?
“There’s something taboo about smoking things, and people are drawn to that,” says Neves. “It feels like you’re getting away with something.” And given that wholesome Brooklyn foodies were the first to discover her, even healthy types like that.
But there’s also the effect of smoking tea that a cuppa can’t give ya (because the smoke enters your bloodstream much faster, while sipped tea has to make its way through your digestive system).
What is it? Well, as its name implies, Vivid Visions has some properties that are a little trippier than, say, your Celestial Seasons Tension Tamer.
Read more about supposed tea-toking benefits here.
Funny! Years ago I smoked a variety of herbs (nothing illegal) for possible health benefits, I’m not sure it actually worked for health but it was kind of a fun thing, tasted and smelled good too.
I think thats a great way to turn an otherwise healthy tea into a toxin! Anything, once burned, is a carcinogen.
I just love the whole ritual that goes along with my daily tea too much to trade it for smoking. I can’t imagine that it’s a whole lot better for you, but who knows! making a pot of hot tea is more relaxing for me than going outside and lighting up.. but that’s just my opinions!
Ha. Oh dear.
Ah, I knew a kid in Junior High who smoked catnip, thinking it would give him a buzz… turns out it’s a sedative to humans! In his case, this was a very good thing.
I’m a smoker (who is trying to cut back) so I find this pretty appealing. I’m thinking it might be a way to help reduce cigarette smoking by replacing some. Even if smoking tea doesn’t actually give the health benefits that tea has, it’s probably better for me. I’ll have to try some
I am a ICU nurse and have seen that people will smoke, snort, ingest and inject almost anything. Tea is made to drink-I would not smoke tea or anything for that matter. I agree with Alicia; once burned it is a carcinogen. You never know what the consequences are, short or long term and I do not want to end up intubated with a tube out of every orifice.
Alicia, I was thinking the same thing, but doesn’t it really depend on what exactly is in the product? If there are no additives then that’s good, yet does the toxic effect of inhaling anything being burned outweigh the benefits of the tea leaves?? Seems subjective.
Some herbs burn at too high a temperature to be smoked. Marajuana for example. When you smoke it, you are actually causing damage to your lungs. Better to eat it if you are going to do it at all. I imagine these herbs could have similar burning properties.
@Dylan, you may want to check out http://www.shop.honeyroseusa.com/main.sc, they make herbal smokes. Some people have used these to help quit the more toxic tobacco, and I guess this is the type of thing used in movies if the actor doesn’t want to use regular cigarettes.
this is just silly and pointless.
Anything burned becomes a carcinogen, whether it’s mint or tobacco or plastic or wood or… well, you get the point. I am shocked that a “healthy” blog like NMDL even brings up the idea of smoking, whether tea or tobacco. Just because certain teas might have a positive effect on health does not mean that one needs to smoke them!
I agree that the only people who should take up this habit are the ones trying to quick smoking tobacco and to them I wish the best of luck.
I see this is just another of many short-lived trends and, albeit, not the healthiest sounding of them. Baa. Baa.
hmmm! I find this very interesting…
I love Vivid Visions. Has allowed me to dream deeper. And it tastes delish.
Full disclosure: Liz is my friend so I’ve had access to Vivid Visions as both a tea and as a cigarette many times . I love it! It’s not a hoax or trying to be anything new and weird. Vivid Visions is based on the traditional benefits of herbs that have been used by humans for centuries.
@Olivia Cool! Great to have someone who’s tried it.
I do this as a weekly routine. It has no bad affects on me and is a very good way for me to gather thoughts and relax. It also tastes very good (depending on the type of tea). It is also good smoked from a bong.
Well I know in the local gas station it is on the market to replace the k-2 spice sold by gram… Giving teens the impression it will get you high as the spice did… so does it give you that effect and is it dangerous … I am afraid this is the way they will get away with spraying it will those mind altering chemicals…
I think this is one way for a smoker to stop smoking cigarette. I’m a smoker myself and I’ve been smoking tea for 3 months now and honestly,I don’t have that craving for cigarette as much as I was in the past. So, I would say that this is an effective way to stop smoking, at least for me.