Abstract: A smoking material that comprises a dried preparation of Laurus nobilis or Nelumbo garetin or their combination, particularly including their leaves. This smoking material can be used alone or in combination with various herbal extracts, honey and can be combined into mixtures with smoking tobacco, if desired. It is made by a process in which plant parts, particularly the leaves, are roasted for at least about eight hours at a temperature of about 100.degree. C. to 120.degree. C. The smoking material, when smoked, is similar in taste to tobacco, but has extremely low concentrations of the harmful components present in tobacco and, in particular, is free of nicotine and its metabolites.