RAW Black Organic Hemp Papers Review

RAW Black papers are double-pressed to be the thinnest unbleached papers RAW have ever made. We're talking so thin you can see your herb through them — which means less paper smoke and more of what you actually want to taste. If you're a flavour chaser, these are endgame.

The Burn is Beautiful

RAW's patented Criss-Cross watermark means these things resist running like nothing else. Our burn tests showed an exceptionally slow, clean burn with minimal ash. The joint just... disappears. Even burn all the way down, no canoeing, no rushing. It's the kind of performance that makes you never want to go back to standard papers.

A Word for the Rollers

These are thin — like, really thin — so dry hands and a light touch on the gum strip are essential. Too much moisture and you'll struggle. But get it right, and the joint holds together perfectly, burning flawlessly all the way to the filter. £4.99 for a lifetime of better smoking? Bargain.

How I Roll Them Without Wrecking Them

Bone-dry hands, that's the whole game. I wash, dry thoroughly, and roll on a dry tray so damp doesn't transfer. Grind medium-fine and don't overfill — a lean fill tucks easier than a fat one on paper this thin. Tuck gently, lick the acacia gum with the lightest pass, and hold the seam five seconds. In humid weather I skip these entirely; the sheet goes limp fast. New to the motion? Our how to roll a joint guide covers the tuck step by step.

Double-Pressed Hemp vs Rice: Material Honesty

Double-pressing squeezes the hemp sheet thinner, so there's simply less paper to burn — that's why the flavour is so clean and the ash so minimal. Against rice papers like Elements King Size Slim, RAW Black burns a touch slower and handles a light breeze better, but rice still wins on absolute neutrality. Against the RAW Classic King Size, Black is thinner, slower-burning, and trickier to roll — Classic is the easy daily driver, Black is the connoisseur pick. Full comparison in our best rolling papers UK roundup.

Who Should Skip Them

Beginners, honestly — learn on Classics first or you'll waste papers and herb. Outdoor-only smokers in British damp will fight the thin sheet every time. And if you roll with wet hands or slobber the gum line, these punish you where a thicker paper forgives.

RAW Black Papers FAQ

Why do mine keep tearing?
Usually damp hands or overfilling. Dry your hands fully, use a moderate fill, and tuck with light pressure. Humid days make them far more fragile — switch to Classics when it's muggy.

Do they really burn slower than Classics?
Yes, noticeably in my side-by-sides. The thinner sheet plus the Criss-Cross watermark gives a slow, even ember with minimal running.

Are they worth £4.99 over standard papers?
If you chase flavour, absolutely. Less paper smoke means more herb taste, and the slow burn stretches a joint further. If you just want easy rolling, Classics give you most of the benefit with less faff.