Nicotine content of fresh green tobacco leaves versus dried tobacco leaves. Which has more?

[Mazdaman]

Which has more nicotine - a fresh, mature green tobacco leaf or a fresh, mature dried tobacco leaf? And why, or why not, if there is a difference? Thanks.

 

[deluxestogie]

Belated welcome to the forum. Nicotine is produce in tobacco roots, and transported to the leaves. There, it is retained within the leaf lamina, with a small fraction excreted by the leaf hairs (trichomes) for herbivore defense. Nicotine does not evaporate during color-curing. So long as the mature leaves are not washed, their nicotine concentrations are similar.

Bob

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

Fresh mature dried?

 

[GreenDragon]

Nicotine is a very stable molecule. The moment a leaf is cut, the amount in the leaf is fixed: green or cured, the amount is the same. How the leaf is subsequently processed, blended, and consumed all have an effect on the amount of nicotine that is absorbed.

 

[Mazdaman]

Belated welcome to the forum. Nicotine is produce in tobacco roots, and transported to the leaves. There, it is retained within the leaf lamina, with a small fraction excreted by the leaf hairs (trichomes) for herbivore defense. Nicotine does not evaporate during color-curing. So long as the mature leaves are not washed, their nicotine concentrations are similar.

Bob

The sap flow direction doesn’t reverse directions at leaf maturity and impending death and flow back down to the roots? For example, with trees, this seasonally occurs.

 

[deluxestogie]

...their nicotine concentrations are similar.

Bob

Nicotiana tabacum is a sub-tropical perennial. The nicotine stays put.

Bob

 

[GreenDragon]

While trees and some plants (perennials) do transport sugars back and forth between roots and leaves, secondary metabolites (alkaloids such as nicotine, caffeine, quinine, morphine, etc.) are generally a one way street: They are produced in one part of the plant and sequestered in another. In tobacco, this is primarily the leaves. In the Opium Poppy, it is the seed capsule.

 

[WillQuantrill]

Belated welcome to the forum. Nicotine is produce in tobacco roots, and transported to the leaves. There, it is retained within the leaf lamina, with a small fraction excreted by the leaf hairs (trichomes) for herbivore defense. Nicotine does not evaporate during color-curing. So long as the mature leaves are not washed, their nicotine concentrations are similar.

Bob

Side question as Im learning something new here: would stalk curing optimize Nicotine content in the leaf? In my mind this would allow for additional Nicotine to migrate from stock to leaf. And if thats the case Im curious what would result from stalk curing with roots still attached?

 

[deluxestogie]

I am not aware that stalk-curing makes a difference in the nicotine levels of leaves. With regard to roots attached during stalk-curing, unless you include a huge ball of dirt with the roots, they would promptly desiccate. But this is just a guess. My preference for stalk-curing is base on:

• less work than stringing primed leaves
• lower probability of the leaves drying green, prior to color-curing

Bob

 

[Mazdaman]

While trees and some plants (perennials) do transport sugars back and forth between roots and leaves, secondary metabolites (alkaloids such as nicotine, caffeine, quinine, morphine, etc.) are generally a one way street: They are produced in one part of the plant and sequestered in another. In tobacco, this is primarily the leaves. In the Opium Poppy, it is the seed capsule.

Thank you! Good to know, in this case

 

[Mazdaman]

Side question as Im learning something new here: would stalk curing optimize Nicotine content in the leaf? In my mind this would allow for additional Nicotine to migrate from stock to leaf. And if thats the case Im curious what would result from stalk curing with roots still attached?

Good question. And a related one to that I’ve had is does the dried tobacco center leaf stem have a higher concentration of nicotine than the leaf? I’ve made some tea from these central leaf stems and it kicks butt / is very potent in nicotine.

 

[deluxestogie]

Nicotiana tabacum stalks and veins consistently contain lower concentrations of nicotine than leaf lamina.

Solutions of nicotine are quite hazardous to you and others, simply by spilling it on your skin. It is potentially fatal if consumed. Once a solution of nicotine reaches your stomach, there is no second chance if you've consumed too much (unless you are fortunate enough to spontaneously vomit).

For that reason, discussions of nicotine solutions are not suitable for this forum.

Bob

 

[ShiniKoroshi]

With all due respect to the above posters (I sincerely mean it) this is why I threw the comment-bomb earlier as I knew this was going sideways. Same play last week because the convo was skirting substances that should never be put on tobacco. While these are great scientific discussions, language barriers and other factors can make it a liability. To the OP, please be safe and seriously consider Bob's advice.

 

[Mazdaman]

With all due respect to the above posters (I sincerely mean it) this is why I threw the comment-bomb earlier as I knew this was going sideways. Same play last week because the convo was skirting substances that should never be put on tobacco. While these are great scientific discussions, language barriers and other factors can make it a liability. To the OP, please be safe and seriously consider Bob's advice.

I am not up to anything nepharious. My query and purpose of my post more refers to the degree of nicotne degradation of the green leaf , if any, over time.

 

[Mazdaman]

With all due respect to the above posters (I sincerely mean it) this is why I threw the comment-bomb earlier as I knew this was going sideways. Same play last week because the convo was skirting substances that should never be put on tobacco. While these are great scientific discussions, language barriers and other factors can make it a liability. To the OP, please be safe and seriously consider Bob's advice.

Making “a soutiion”, concentrate, is not my interest, desire or intention, if that’s what Bod was inferring of me. But using the whole plant in an effecient way is of interest to me, as well. A simpe herbal tea, from any herb, is a very commonly done and worthwhile thing thing to do, especially, in this case, if someone does not desire to smoke it or chew it or snort it (snuff). I see no harm in considering it. By the way, I was watching an old historic video, from England, of an old man and community in England making 1 pound dried, color cured tobacco leaf rolls inside a covering of canvas, wound tightly with rope, saying to save the leaf stems for drying and grinding into powder to make snuff with. Waste not, want not.

 

[Mazdaman]

Here is the link to that historic video from
England. “How to Make Perigue”.

View: https://youtu.be/0Sqhu11WjC4?si=3mhYlDEUolBsjQCm

 

[GreenDragon]

Making “a soutiion”, concentrate, is not my interest, desire or intention, if that’s what Bod was inferring of me. But using the whole plant in an effecient way is of interest to me, as well. A simpe herbal tea, from any herb, is a very commonly done and worthwhile thing thing to do, especially, in this case, if someone does not desire to smoke it or chew it or snort it (snuff). I see no harm in considering it. By the way, I was watching an old historic video, from England, of an old man and community in England making 1 pound dried, color cured tobacco leaf rolls inside a covering of canvas, wound tightly with rope, saying to save the leaf stems for drying and grinding into powder to make snuff with. Waste not, want not.

Actually, this can be very dangerous, especially with plants that produce alkaloids, such as tobacco. Closing this thread.