Having a good tobacco smoking experience is closely related to grinding tobacco, mainly for those who roll their own cigarettes and for pipe smokers. Breaking down tobacco leaves into smaller pieces ensures better airflow, a more even burn and improved flavour distribution.
Without them, smokers would deal with faster cigarette burn, difficulty folding the cigarette and significantly poorer flavour release. Not to mention the hot spots of holding a cigarette with poorly ground tobacco (unevenly processed tobacco leaves).
What Is a Tobacco Grinder Used for?
Well, the name says it all, doesn’t it?! A tobacco grinder is a device that breaks down tobacco leaves into smaller pieces, producing a smoother smoke. Having a user-friendly tobacco grinder improves airflow and even cigarette burn, while allowing for rolling the cigarette or filling up the smoke pipe faster and easier. Aside from grinding tobacco, this device can also be used for grinding cannabis and a selection of herbs and spices that can be used for cooking.
Types
Well, the most important thing to note is that every type of grinder typically consists of several parts, primarily three. The first one is the grinding chamber, the second one is the grinding teeth, and the third, but not least, is the lid to keep everything in place without falling. And while most of them have all these parts, an important thing to know is that not all grinders are the same. There are several types available, so understanding each one is essential for choosing one that will improve the smoking experience.
Twist-and-Turn
The twist and turn types of grinders are among the most commonly used ones for a reason. They are super easy to use and handle, as all that needs to be done is to insert the tobacco, close the lid, twist and turn until the desired size.
These tools come in a selection of shapes, sizes, colours and materials, and out of all materials, it’s the metal ones that are considered the perfect option so far. That’s because this material allows for being washed repeatedly without showing any signs of wear, tear, mould and scratches that can leach chemicals into the tobacco.
Hand-Crank
Hand-crank grinders are similar to the hand and twist, with the main difference being in the small handle on top. This handle makes them simpler and easier to use, especially by those with certain conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome (https://cvilleortho.com/carpal-tunnel-tips/ ), arthritis or those who have some kind of hand injury and have difficulty moving the hand.
Electric
As the name suggests, these grinders are electrical and don’t require any physical strength to work. Usually, they are battery-powered and can work at the push of a button. All it takes is to load it up, close the lid and turn it on. The one thing that needs to be mentioned about them is that they’re pricier in comparison to the other models.
Grinder Cards
The grinder cards are small and compact, just like credit cards, perfect for those times when in need of backup. These cards work similar as cheese grater as they only need the tobacco to be scrubbed along the card in order to be chopped/ground. What’s important to mention is that these cards have no storage containers to hold the chopped tobacco, making them messy and harder to use when in a hurry.
The Importance of Maintaining It to Improve Your Smoking Experience
Regardless of the chosen type of grinder, maintaining it is essential, as that way, its efficiency, product quality and hygiene are significantly improved.
Cleaning it regularly prevents build up of old tobacco as well as the chance of bacteria and mould growth. Additionally, the old build-up can significantly affect the cigarette’s flavour and taste, preventing the user from feeling its new and fresh aroma/taste. So, cleaning it regularly also plays a huge role in not affecting the product’s quality in a bad way.
Speaking from another point of view, the product build-up can also lead to the user using more strength to turn the grinder, which, unfortunately, may lead to faster wear of the grinder’s teeth and entire internal mechanism. Having a well-functioning grinder that has no product buildup or residue means a more even and faster tobacco grinding, resulting in better and more even burn.
Not cleaning it properly can lead to dullness and clogging, which can lead to poor tobacco grinding. In order for it to be cleaned, all it takes is brushing off leftover tobacco leaves and residue. Ideally, this should be done after each use in order to avoid any buildup and clogging. Deep cleaning is also possible, and this can be easily done by soaking the pieces in isopropyl alcohol for up to 20 minutes, rinsing and drying the device completely.
