Shag and tobacco: differences and description, what is the difference, what is better to choose

Tobacco and shag, according to popular belief, are considered almost synonymous concepts. Yes, they have common features, but there is also a difference between them. It lies, first of all, in the origin of both varieties of plants, taste and aromatic properties, the content of active ingredients. What are the differences between shag and tobacco, experts explain.

What is shag?

Makhorka is one of the varieties of the tobacco plant. Its homeland is considered to be the northern regions of South America. Presumably, the culture was obtained by crossing two varieties of tobacco - panicled and wavy.

It is an annual herbaceous plant with a round-ribbed stem. The leaves are petiolate, the root is taproot, penetrating deep into the soil. The average crop maturation period is 130 days.

There are 2 types of culture:

• smoking, made from dried stems and leaves of the plant;
• smelling, obtained from leaves crushed to a powder state, into which various additives were then added - mint oil, alcohol, s alt, glycerin or others.

The finished product was then mixed with other substances. At the same time, each factory had its own recipes for making products.

The taste of shag is spicy, the smell is strong, pronounced. It used to be that it was simply a low-quality type of tobacco, in other words, the remnants of its processing. But it's not. Makhorka is a separate plant, even if it is directly related to the Tobacco genus.

Description of tobacco

Tobacco was first discovered in North America, Virginia. Therefore, you can still find its alternative name - virgin tobacco.

The plant has pink flowers with a tubular corolla. Its leaves are oblong-lanceolate. Culture loves warmth and moisture, it is more capricious than shag. And since it reacts poorly to cold, it is practically not cultivated in the northern regions.

Tobacco processed to make cigarettes has a subtle odor and a bitter taste. It is used in the production of cigars, cigarettes, smoking mixtures and compositions for hookah or pipes.

Interesting fact. During the Second World War, tobacco became a scarce commodity, and soon it was almost completely replaced by shag. It was used to make hand-rolled cigarettes and cigarettes, which were called "goat's feet" in folk slang.

Now shag is not cultivated as widely as tobacco. It is grown, as a rule, on private land for personal use.

Main differences

Already from the descriptions of both types of plants, you can roughly understand what is the difference between them. But in more detail, the comparison of cultures is given in the table:

Tobacco Shag South America An unpretentious crop that is grown in any region. Tolerates cold and heat equally well. Quickly adapts to changes in air humidity and temperature. Family SolanaceaeGen Tobacco 4Applications Suitable for the manufacture of cigarettes, cigarettes, cigars, smoking mixtures, "placers" for pipes.It acts as a raw material in the tobacco industry. Used in the production of insecticides, citric acid, vitamin B3 (nicotinic acid). 5Cost Spicy aftertaste, well noticeable, but refined smell. High, outperforming , characteristic of tobacco.

	1	Homeland	North America
	2	Whimsical care	The plant is capricious, requires a consistently warm climate and abundant watering.Does not tolerate low temperatures, adapts poorly to them, may die. Suitable for growing in warm regions with mild winters.
	3	Botanical classification
		The plant is more expensive in price, since the cost of importing it is quite high. In addition, the excise tax on ready-made cigarettes is periodically increased, which affects the price of the goods.	The culture grows in any area, is widespread, so there is no need to import it.Therefore, the price of the plant is much lower and more affordable. More tart aftertaste, aroma less intense than that of shag.
	7	Nicotine content	Not significant when viewed in parallel with the compared plant.

As you can see, there are differences between plants that are not immediately apparent. The demand for smoking tobacco on the market is much higher than shag. The second culture is suitable mainly for home use as a raw material for rolling cigarettes.

Which is better?

What is better to choose - tobacco or shag - only the smoker can decide. It is generally accepted that tobacco cigarettes are superior in quality to shag. But they are more expensive in price. If the issue of cost is fundamental, it is better to give preference to shag. But in the case when the desire to smoke high-quality products takes over, it is recommended to opt for tobacco.

Both crops are categorized as smoking plants. They can be grown on your own to be used for home cigarette making. And, knowing about the main differences between them, it will be possible to choose the most optimal option that is suitable for price and quality.

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