Read this before you try to roll the perfect Backwoods blunt

Backwoods blunts are hefty, often with more than three grams of cannabis tucked inside (Shutterstock)

Backwoods blunts are a longstanding tradition among heavy tokers, combining the subtle flavors of tobacco with the richness of skunky, fruity cannabis flower.

They are not as simple to roll as a regular blunt, thanks to the tobacco leaf paper. With a little practice and patience, though, it’s possible to master the art of the Backwoods—but a little helpful instruction never hurts.

What is a Backwoods blunt?

The primary difference between a big Backwoods blunt and a normal one is what a Backwood is made of. These large, hand-rolled cannabis cigars use a tobacco leaf instead of a traditional blunt paper. The name Backwoods comes from the cigar brand most people pull the leaf from.

Backwoods are low-end cigars available across North America, usually found at convenience stores, gas stations, and liquor stores. They also come in dozens of flavors, from sweet to bourbon to original.

Backwoods blunts are hefty, often with more than three grams of cannabis tucked inside, communicating power and experience. This blunt style is beloved by the hip hop, street, and OG cannabis communities everywhere.

What equipment do you need for rolling a Backwoods blunt?

Backwoods: You can buy Backwoods cigars at corner stores, gas stations, and liquor stores. Each cigar has one all-natural tobacco leaf, used as the rolling paper. So you’ll need one cigar per blunt.
Rolling Tray: Inevitably, because of the size of the blunt, you’ll end up with bits of flower falling out as you roll. A rolling tray is valuable for keeping the flower contained and giving you a flat, stable working surface.
Grinder: You will need a grinder to break down your flower before rolling. Considering most people throw up to three grams into a single Backwood, a grinder speeds the process up significantly.
Cannabis: Choose your favorite strain of cannabis. You’ll need between one to three grams per blunt, but likely closer to three.

How to roll a Backwood blunt: step-by-step instructions

Grind your flower. Before unraveling the blunt paper, grind your flower first. Because these are usually messy to roll, grind more flower than you think you need. Think fluffy, loose, and light rather than overly powdery.
Remove the cigar. Open the Backwoods pouch and remove the cigar. Moist cigars will be much easier to work with than dried-out and stale ones.
Crack open. How do you crack a Backwood? Look to the mount end of the cigar and follow the spiral of the tobacco leaf. Pick at the end and gently pull away. Unravel from around the inside tobacco, slowly.
Put the tobacco in the pouch. Dump the remaining tobacco back into the pouch and seal to keep moist.
Smooth out wrinkles. Smooth out any wrinkles on the tobacco leaf before starting.
Soften the paper. If the paper is a bit dry, roll it into a loose tube and breathe down it, as you would if you were warming up your hands on a cold day. This should soften it to make it more workable.
Start to roll the blunt. Hold the leaf as you would a regular rolling paper, positioned so you will start rolling at the same end that you initially pulled off the cigar (mouth side).
Add the cannabis. Load up as much ground cannabis as the paper will hold. The flower will fall out throughout the rolling process, so add as much as possible in the beginning.
Make a pre-roll. Starting at the bottom side of the mouth end, do a tentative pre-roll. Tuck about 20 percent of the paper up and over the flower.
Finish rolling. Continue to roll from the bottom toward the other end. As you roll, flower will fall out onto your rolling tray. Keep adding it back into the open end as you go.
Lick the paper. How do you get a Backwood to stick? Once you reach the tip, lick the remaining paper and stick it down to the blunt.

How much does a Backwoods blunt cost?

Because a rolled-up fat Backwood blunt could contain more than three grams of weed, it’s a bit more pricey to create than a normal blunt.

Plus, you also have to consider that this isn’t your standard cheap rolling paper. You have to buy a real cigar to get the blunt paper.

An eighth of flower (3.5 grams) varies by state but typically runs between $30 to $50 depending on grade. The cigar will also set you back a few dollars.

In total, a fat Backwood blunt will be costly, likely between $33 to $53.

Pros and cons of Backwoods blunts

Pros of Backwood blunts:

contains a gram or more of flower
complex flavor profile of tobacco leaf
no processed tobacco
aesthetically appealing

Cons of Backwood blunts:

uses a tobacco leaf
more difficult to roll
more expensive than rolling papers

Why do people love Backwood blunts?

Backwoods blunts combine cigar smoking culture with weed culture while removing some of the risks associated with straight tobacco consumption.

Stoners have long loved a Backwood blunt because of the energy they communicate. Rolling a thick, fat Backwood blunt within certain cannabis circles is the epitome of cool and unlocks the upper tier of OG stoner culture.

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