My response to this question on Quora has gotten more views than any other tea-related response I’ve written, with over 100,000 views. Apparently, this is a question in a lot of people’s minds. Given that, I’ve decided to expand upon that answer for my friends and readers here on Tea with Gary.

The original question: “Is it possible to smoke tea leaves? If so, is it harmful?“

Why yes, it is possible to smoke tea leaves. I drank a cup of smoked tea yesterday. It’s lovely. Look up “lapsang souchong” for more information.

I assume, however, that you’re not talking about drinking tea leaves that have been dried in smoke, but about lighting the leaves on fire and sucking the smoke into your lungs.

Again, the answer is yes, it is possible to smoke tea leaves. I’m really not sure why someone would want to do that, though. It doesn’t give you a buzz like nicotine nor a high like THC, yet it still fills your lungs with harmful particulate matter.

I have enjoyed a fine cigar from time to time, but I still get that inhaling smoke—any kind of smoke—is bad for your lungs. I gave up the cigars years ago, but I continue to enjoy smoked teas and smokey single-malt Scotch whisky. I get the aroma of the smoke but I’m not getting the harmful effects.

If you want to try rolling up a tea-leaf cigarette, by all means give it a try. Doing it once isn’t going to kill you, though it may thoroughly annoy everyone around you.