The journey continues................... Part 1:
Natural Tobaccos
Important Information:
List of Vendors who use Natural Tobacco - List compiled by billherbst
(from any of various extraction methods, including cold-process and/or heat-assisted macerated NET, Steam-Distilled (SD), CO2, Alcohol-based, or Tobacco Absolute/Tobacco Extract (TA/TE)
Revised list, current as of 18th October 2014
names of vendors are links to the home page of each site
commonly used thread acronyms follow in parenthesis
Special Mention as True Pioneers of Macerated NETs
Want2Vape *
VapeRite *
A-Tier
Goodejuice * (GeJ) – workingman’s house-brewed macerated NETs; dependable, solid, no-nonsense.
Heather'sHeavenlyVapes * (HHV) – the patisserie of NET vendors; known for sweeter blends with moderate tobacco presence.
HouseofLiquid * (HoL) – the European heavyweight of in-house macerated NETs.
MountainOakVapors * (MOV) – six good in-house cold-macerated NETs.
MyVapeJuice * (MVJ) – 2nd generation macerated cigar and pipe blends; sells both NET juices and extracts. International shipping over $100.
Naturally-Extracted-Tobacco * (N-E-T, N.E.T., or NET.com) – offers a wide range of macerated NET eliquids and extracts; encountered some start-up problems that caused delays, but well-regarded.
QuickNicJuice (QnJ) – seven tasty in-house macerated NETs.
RiverBottomFogSauce (RB) - macerated NET liquids. (available from vapingwatch.com)
Ethervapes - Increasingly popular vendor that currently offers 13 in-house heat/cold macerated NETs.
B-Tier
Mom&PopVaporShop * (M&P) – a selection of TA/TE based liquids (currently working on NETs---as yet unavailable)
Nicoticket * (Nico or NT) – one macerated NET liquid, H1N1
Moondrop (Moondrop) – a handful of TA juices
ThePlumeRoom * (TPR) – six in-house NET blends and a handful of TA blends
Sweet-Vapes * (SV) – a selection of in-house macerated NETs
VelvetCloudVapor * (VCV) – five tobacco juices; unique in making/using their own in-house TA
VelvetVapors * (VV) – 21 TA-based liquids
WholeCig * (WC) – one NET/WTA (only one on the market)
C-Tier
AltCig (AC) – one or two tobaccos that are probably TA/TE-based
BackwoodsBrew (BWB) – who knows what they use?
BeeLiquid (Bee) – not well known; a selection of in-house macerated NETs
CravinVapes (CV) – in-house NETs, but not quite ready for prime time
HappyEsmoker (HeS)– three tobaccos; perhaps TA-based
HighbrowVapor (HV) – four tobacco juices, probably out-sourced NETs (one base)
PrimeVaping (PV) – offers a modest selection of macerated NETs
TastyVapor * (TV) – offers one in-house macerated NET tobacco (in regular or menthol)
VermillionRiverEJuice (VR) – a line of spin-offs (Kentucky Blends) from one SD (steam distilled) tobacco extract blend (Kentucky Premium)
Z-Tier
TetraVapes (essential-oil-based NETs that no one here liked)
VirginVapor (VV) – one TA-based juice that misfired badly
New NET Vendors (too recent for a Tier rating yet)
DownEastVapes
Nirvana/TrueLeaf
Trabuco
IndigoVapor
Smug Juice
Real Extracts, LLC
Artistry Extracts (Australia)
Manufacturers
Both
Dekang and
Hangsen offer specialty lines of natural tobacco liquids made with their own in-house TA.
* Ships Internationally
The Tiers above are based on flavor and quality of juice. They do not reflect customer service or speed of service.
Ex-NET Vendor (No longer carrying NETs)
A-Tier -
Ahlusion (Ahl or A+) – longstanding A-List Vendor that no longer sells retail NETs online.
C-Tier -
AliceInVapeland (AiV)
NET
Natural Extracted Tobacco, or---more correctly---
Extracted Natural Tobacco.
NETs are usually made from macerations of chopped or ground tobacco, meaning suspensions in PG, VG, or a mix of those two base liquids, that are steeped (cold-process) or cooked (heat-assisted), then filtered. Occasionally small amounts of PGA (pure grain alcohol) are added to the suspension/maceration.
Cold-Process macerations take much longer. The maceration steeps at room temperature from a week or two up to two months before filtering. The flavor extracted from a cold-process maceration is often “softer” and slightly more nuanced.
Heat-Assisted macerations take only a day or two to make. The suspension/maceration is simmered over low heat for some number of hours, then allowed to cool before being filtered. The flavor produced by heat-assisted extractions tends to be more potent and intense, but may sacrifice some subtlety.
Other methods for extraction include
Steam-Distilled (SD),
Alcohol-based, and
Carbon Dioxide Gas (CO2).
NETs produce copious quantities of extract from very small amounts of tobacco. A maceration using 15 grams of natural tobacco (less than a single pack of cigarettes) yields enough extract to make 500-800mls of NET eliquid.
Tobacco Absolute
Tobacco Absolute (TA) is a commercial product made by various manufacturers (most famously in Bulgaria) that was used originally in the perfume industry. Natural tobacco is distilled or extracted into an essential oil carried as a suspension in an alcohol base. TA is super-super-concentrated and must be significantly diluted (e.g., 1:100 or more) for use in flavoring eliquids.
Tobacco Extract
The commercial product called
Tobacco Extract (TE) is the same essential oil of TA suspended in a base of PG rather than alcohol. Usually sold in diluted form, TE is still very concentrated. Used very sparingly and with restraint, TA/TE adds a smoky component to eliquids that is reminiscent of burning tobacco. Using a little more imparts to eliquids a “dirty ash tray” flavor that some vapers (who are usually ex-smokers) actually like. Using too much, however, ruins the flavor of the juice.
Whole Tobacco Alkaloids
Whole Tobacco Alkaloids (WTA) are entirely different from NETs, and the two should not be confused or assumed to be connected. NETs are about flavor and mouthfeel; WTA is flavorless. The processes of deriving WTA from tobacco leaves are designed to reproduce in vaping similar physical/psychological effects on the nervous system (in terms of calming and satisfaction) that occur when smoking tobacco. WTA is often considered an aid to smoking cessation for new vapers still struggling to give up tobacco in any of its smoked forms, although some vapers may continue to use WTA liquids even after quitting. By contrast, NET liquids are for vapers who appreciate the
taste of authentic tobacco, either unprocessed or cured, as opposed to the artificial "tobacco flavors" produced in eliquids by synthetic, lab-based flavorings. Natural tobacco extracts do not produce significant or even measurable amounts of WTA.
