What actually is Pipeweed?

This is an updated version of a video first uploaded in February 2021.

A gateway drug to cooking mithril

Characterising Saruman as an uptight secret smoker is a hilarious read

This explains a lot especially Gandalf "visiting" The Shire regularly with his cart and donkey.

"No one can know I smoke if I just buy ALL of the pipeweed" Saruman the stoner.

A commenter is never late. Nor is he early. He comments precisely when he means to

I love how this channel treats Tolkien's work. Tolkien's original intention is always displayed, but there's no harsh criticism of people who have alternate interpretations, or of how the movies changed things. It doesn't feel as elitist or zealous as some people who talk about LOTR. It's just a very informative and friendly community around here, which feels like the vibe Tolkien would've wanted from his fans.

Gandalfs secret to remaining so calm through such incredible events was bhutanese shadow garden grown dark evil pack

“The best homegrown still comes from that district” 👌

Sheeesh now I know why Gandalf was a servant of the secret fire 🔥 😎

Some of that sticky Samwise Ganja

My grandfather was a pipe smoker, so I've always known intrinsically what pipe weed was, particularly in that my first ever sight of Tolkien was the black and white photo of him smoking a pipe on the back cover of the edition I owned. My grandfather had a whole circular rack of pipes, owning more than a dozen ranging from work pipes to ornate 'special occasion' pipes. Likewise, at any given time, he'd have on hand between 3 and 5 different brands/flavors of pipe tobacco. And I specify 'pipe' tobacco because it's as completely different from cigar or cigarette tobacco as it's possible to be while remaining tobacco. Moisture level is different, drying process is different, even cut is different.

Regardless of what he called it, it was about the state of mind, not the biological or medicinal effect. Pipeweed or tobacco was about comfort, cosiness, fostering kinship, and taking the time to breathe deeply and slowly. It was about taking a moment away from the horrors.

I love how thoroughly you present topics that are "world important" rather than "plot important" (to use your words). It's such a nice diving into and relishing the atmosphere of a book.

I'm enjoying a little pipeweed right now!

"Nature's bounty is my only treasure" -Radagast the Dank

I love what you say about readers taking what is it meaningful to them out of the story, as opposed to a pedantic allegory. You've brought something meaningful to something as seemingly inconsequential as pipeweed, which, as you point out, is actually very important. Thank you, as always, for your insightful and brilliant analysis!

Tolkien loved tobacco and so gave it a more spiritual use by the hobbits. It's not that it gets them high but it's like how lembas invigorates and refreshes you, pipeweed brought them joy and and filled them with a sense of home and wellbeing.

Old Toby never let me down 😂

shoulda waited 5 days to upload this one honestly, 4/20 would prolly done well for a topic like this.