Cigars vs. Cigarettes (an observation of recent tobacco popularity)

There are signs everywhere that cigars are becoming popular again. For example,

you can't pass a magazine stand without seeing two or three new magazines glorifying the

subject, and restaurants all over the country are devoting entire nights to 'smoke dinners.'

So why is the cigarette still considered offensive and is generally scorned by all? This

seems strange since cigars and cigarettes have so many things in common: both are made

of tobacco, both are rolled into tube-like shapes, and both are smoked. However, it must

be the differences that make the cigar so much more popular. Cigars are made from better

quality tobaccos, cigars are hand rolled, and cigars have a more pleasing aroma.

Both cigars and cigarettes are constructed of tobacco, but the care used in raising

fine cigar tobacco is second to none. Only the finest leaves of the plant are selected. The

drying and fermenting process is long (nine months for filler leaves and up to two years for

wrapper leaves) and closely watched.

I took this photograph.

Cigar

Cigar Accessories - Cigar Cutter & Cigar Matches

Cigarette tobacco is grown for quantity; not

necessarily for quality. No regard is given to the aroma and smoke of the different types

of tobacco. The only type of tobacco grown is fast-maturing strains they can get to the

market quickly. Careful and attentive raising is non existent. The leaves are quickly dried

and thrown into boxes for shipment to the rolling factory.

Fine cigars are hand rolled, whereas all cigarettes are machine rolled. Including

the type and quality of the leaf, rolling is the ultimate judge of whether a cigar is good or

bad. Cigar companies go to great pains to be sure they hire only the best 'Torcedores'

(cigar rollers). If a cigar is underfilled it will burn hot and harsh; if it is overfilled it is

'Plugged' and will...