What Is a Cigarillo?
A cigarillo is a miniature cigar, designed as a more convenient alternative for cigar smokers without the time for a full-size cigar. Cigarillos are about the size of a cigarette but are smoked like a cigar and the smoke is not inhaled.
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Features
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Cigarillos are typically rolled with a tobacco leaf, not paper like cigarettes. While there are no strict rules for what defines a cigarillo, they usually contain around 3 to 4 grams of tobacco each and are around 3 inches long. Some are filtered.
Popularity
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Cigarillos are popular in Europe, where over 90 percent of them are sold, and not very popular in the United States despite the large tobacco market. They are popular with mostly upper class men over the age of 40. They are also popular with cigar smokers who want a cigar they can smoke in less than the hour or two required for a full-size cigar.
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History
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Cigarillos were first devised around the early 1900s by cigar companies looking to expand their markets with a smaller, more convenient product. They were initially difficult to produce due to the difficulty of rolling so many, but machine rollers in the 1950s allowed more expanded production. Production is still far slower than cigarette production.
Health Risks
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Cigarillos and cigars are not safer than cigarettes. Although you do not inhale the smoke, nicotine is addictive and the chemicals in tobacco can cause cancer, especially cancers of the throat, mouth and tongue.
Brands
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Popular brands in the United States include Swisher Sweets and Black and Mild. Popular brands in Europe include Hamlet and Cafe Creme.
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References
- Photo Credit Wikimedia Commons
