How To Roll A Backwoods (And Where They Came From)

Brief History Of Tobacco

To truly understand how to roll a backwoods, you’ll first need to understand tobacco. Light up a Backwoods blunt and enjoy. Imagine, if you will, that you are a 16th-century European sailor headed home after a trip to the new world. The waves churn back and forth, sending you every which way as you fight for your footing. Along with you in the hold are exotic goods and treasures for the people back home to marvel at. In the thick of The Columbian Exchange, goods, technology, and cultures were transported around the world. This exchange of goods and culture eventually shaped the way the world we live in today looks and works. Among the goods that made their way around the world were food crops such as potatoes, tomatoes, maize, and of course, tobacco.

Early Tobacco Use

We don’t know much about tobacco use predating Christopher Columbus’ first arrival in the new world from Europe in 1492. There are some drawings found on ancient Mayan clay pots that appear to show Mayans smoking tobacco leaves bound together with some kind of twine or string. They would have had no idea how to roll a Backwoods. However, when it comes to the specific purposes ancient Mayans may have used tobacco for prior to Columbus’ landing in 1492, there is only speculation. What we do know is that upon his arrival in 1492, tobacco began a centuries-long journey that would span the farthest reaches of the world. Flash forward past the beginning of early Spanish cultivation to the year 1542. North American commercial cultivation of tobacco begins in response to the first Spanish cigar factory opening on the island of Cuba.

From B.C. To Backwoods

While tobacco may have been regularly used by humans since around 5000 B.C., Backwoods cigars have only been around since 1970. Backwoods were originally developed as a way to circumvent new restrictions placed on advertising cigarettes after Nixon passed the Public Health Cigarette Smoking Act. People were slowly but surely beginning to learn about the dangers associated with cigarette smoking. Laws forcing cigarette companies to halt any and all cigarette advertisements were passed as public concern grew. However, cigarette manufacturers were not willing to go down without a fight. In response to the universal ban on cigarette advertising, they began developing products that were not technically cigarettes. Backwoods was one of these products. Technically, backwoods are not cigarettes. Instead, they were classified as small cigars or “cigarillos” and were, for all intents and purposes, perfectly legal to advertise on television, radio, and in print ads.

The Backwoods Of Today

Over the years, backwoods have grown and changed as a company but the product has stayed the same. While some people out there love to smoke Backwoods cigars right out of the pack, where they shine is as a blunt wrap. Perhaps it is the single leaf, traditional wrap style as opposed to pressed tobacco pulp. Or maybe it has to do with their line of flavors. It may even have something to do with the fact that there are “rare” or “exotic” flavors available. To the blunt lover with a big wallet and time to wait, that is. (They have to be shipped – not all flavors are available in the U.S.). Whatever it is about Backwoods blunts, people really seem to enjoy them. Flavors available in the U.S. include Original Wild N’ Mild, Honey, Honey Berry among others. Rare flavors include Port Wine, Wild Rum, and of course Banana.

How To Roll A Backwoods

Finally, we can get into the meat of this thing. After all, you are reading this because you want to know how to roll a Backwoods blunt. Not because you want a history lesson. However, it is important to know where you came from in order to know where you’re going. Here in Glass Nation, we pride ourselves on not just selling a product, but also an experience. That goes for our blog as well! That being said, let us begin the lesson for today. When it comes to how to roll a Backwoods, the flavor is key. What you plan to roll inside it should help you determine which flavor to choose. Don’t worry, they’re all good!

Step 1: Emptying Your Backwoods

In order to learn how to roll a Backwoods, you’ll first need to empty the tobacco inside. This is where Backwoods blunts differ from other kinds of blunt wraps on the market. Some blunts are cigars that are not made of a single leaf. These can be split open using a blade or your fingers. Some wraps come as just that. Wraps. flat pieces of dried pressed tobacco pulp that never contained a filler in the first place. Backwoods are different. Backwoods are wrapped with a single piece of tobacco leaf. This is the traditional way of cigar rolling. Because of this, emptying a Backwoods can be a bit tricky. You have to find the end of the leaf on one side and carefully unravel it. Once it’s unraveled, you can dump the tobacco that was inside in the trash.

Step 2: Filling Your Backwoods Blunt

Now that you’ve removed the tobacco from inside the Backwoods, it’s time to fill it back up! Take your single leaf Backwoods blunt wrap and lay it flat on your rolling surface. Next, take a good amount of your sticky icky (about 0.5 – 2 grams on average) and lay it along the center of the leaf, lengthwise. The ratio is key. People have been mixing tobacco and the sweet sensimilla for centuries. However, add too much and it will be hard to roll. Add too little and you’ll be smoking more tobacco than anything. What you’re looking for in the finished product is a blunt that looks somewhat like it did before you unraveled it. Slightly bigger or smaller, depending on your preference.

Step 3: Rolling Your Backwoods Blunt

Learning how to roll a Backwoods can be tricky. They are known for being the hardest wrap to use for a blunt because of their thin, often fragile state. For this reason, it is important to always be gentle with woods. They also roll a bit looser than other blunts. So don’t try and roll it super tight like you would with a paper. You’ll probably end up breaking or tearing it and there’s nothing worse than a blunt with a hole in it. First, pinch and fold one end of the leaf over the herb and tuck it in. Then, lick and stick that end. From there, gently massage the rest of your herb into the tobe shape you created where you stuck it. Continue this process, working your way to the other end of the blunt.

Step 4: Lick It And Stick It

You’re almost there. In the home stretch now, and soon you’ll be smoking a fat doink like the best of them. However, before you can pull out your lighter and spark it up, you’ve got to finish what you’ve started. You filled up the leaf and began the wrapping, tucking and licking process. Working your way up to the end of the blunt, you’ve taken time to lick and seal one end of the wrap inside the other. Now there is just one pesky bit of wrap left that separates you from pure bliss. So what are you waiting for? Lick it, fold it over and boom! You’ve got yourself a genuine Backwoods blunt!

How To Roll A Backwoods Blunt – IMPORTANT!

If this is your first time attempting to roll a Backwoods, there are a few things that you should keep in mind. First off, they are not easy to roll. For this reason, I would recommend starting with a whole pack, rather than a single. You may rip one and you definitely don’t want to have to make another trip to the liquor store. Also, when you do finally get it down, take a minute to inspect your work. Backwoods don’t come with a glue strip like other wraps do. So your spit has to do the heavy lifting when it comes to making a sealed blunt. Make sure there are no tears, rips or holes. After that, you’re ready to go! Light it up and let your worries drift away, my friend. You’re in Backwoods country!

Blunts not your style? No worries, check out our article on How To Roll A Joint

Sincerely, @sacramentodabber

Bill Wallis

 

 

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