Thanks to a brilliant article by Cigar Aficionado, One More for the Good Guys and Good Guys Cigars are covering each point of the ten things every cigar smoker should know on the podcast. This week's episode covers the first of ten topics, Cigars Are a Natural and Artisanal Product.
I grew up with a bad stigma on smoking. Three of four grandparents died of cancer, all contributed to cigarette smoking. So, when I first contemplated smoking cigars, I was hesitant. I researched everything I could find and quickly learned the big differences in smoking and all-natural products like Premium cigars versus smoking a pack of cigarettes from a convenient store.
Cigars are all natural, having no additives or preservatives, or even chemicals added, after the tobacco is harvested. I will give you to the end of this writing to produce another consumer product that can boast such a claim. There are some, but no industry keeps a standard practice to leave the harvested product in its original form quite like the cigar industry. You might be thinking the P word, pesticides, which are used. But after the tobacco is picked, nothing else other than water is added. No artificial flavors. Nada.
This fact alone separates cigars from cigarettes as far as the east is from the west. They have one similarity. You light them on fire and smoke them. Otherwise, completely different products.
Cigarettes are NOT natural
Cigarettes are treated with up to six hundred additives including ammonia, arsenic, acetone, and acetic acid. Add 594ish more and you have a product made to addict and kill its consumer. Pretty poor business plan if you ask me. Killing off your customers, but nonetheless the goal is to hook you and keep you buying. I have had days where I smoked up to five cigars, followed by several days without one. No withdrawal, ever. Can you say that with a Lucky Strike?
Cigar Making is an ART form
Aside from the purity of the cigar itself, the artisans required to take a tobacco plant and transform it into a rolled stogie in your humidor is nothing short of a miracle. It is estimated that three hundred sets of human hands touch each cigar from field to box before you cut and light and enjoy their work. Cigar smoking and making are artforms.
The rest of the story can be found on the podcast. Grab a smoke, a drink, and an hour of your time and give it a listen. PODCAST EPISODE
Happy Smoking.
Jamie
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