Smoking is not yet prohibited. You may have noticed that the number of people becoming addicted to smoking is increasing year after year. So, exactly what is a cigarette? A cigarette is a tobacco-based consumer product made from very fine paper. Tobacco is the only plant known to contain the drug “Nicotine.”
Nicotine is regarded as one of the most potent poisons, capable of killing a human in less than an hour if consumed or injected directly into the bloodstream. So, why do cigarette packs include a warning that “smoking is harmful to health”?
Tobacco smoke contains a small amount of nicotine that is not lethal, but tobacco also contains approximately 4000 other chemicals, some of which are harmful to the human body. These chemicals are said to combine to form a tar-like substance that contributes to the odour and colour of cigarette smoke. When we smoke, this sticky tar-like substance accumulates in our lungs.
- CO2 (Carbon Monoxide)
- Nitrites
- Hydrazine
- Vinyl Chloride and
- Ammonia is one of the many harmful chemicals found in tobacco.
Nicotine, like cocaine and heroin, is highly addictive. Here is how smoking cigarettes add nicotine to the user’s body; nicotine works by attacking the brain, which is why most smokers define smoking cigarettes as something that helps them relax, feel energetic, and alert. However, after a while, the brain becomes accustomed to this habit, resulting in addiction; if you try to quit smoking, the nicotine level in the brain drops, and they become ill.
When substances like nicotine and sticky-tar combine in our bodies, we become vulnerable to a variety of deadly diseases such as lung, mouth, and throat cancer. Many experts believe that the majority of heart disease and bronchitis cases are the result of heavy smoking.
I’ve been talking about the dangers of smoking to your health. However, smoking has an impact on more than just the host/health; user’s it also has an impact on those around you. If another person inhales the smoke from your cigarette (second-hand smoke), the effect is the same as if you were smoking a cigarette. According to estimates, hundreds of people die as a result of second-hand smoke inhalation.
According to recent studies, most of the top Indian brand cigarettes have higher nicotine levels in their products, which harms the user’s health and frequently results in lung and throat cancer. This is one of the primary reasons why cigarette companies spend so much money advertising their products. You should now understand why I went on and on about the dangers of smoking to one’s health. However, keep in mind that cigarette smoking, whether it is frequent or not, will eventually kill you. The nicotine and tar content of the top ten best-selling cigarette brands in India are listed below.
Wills Classic Mild
Classic mild is a trendy, easily accessible offering from ITC, the world’s leading brand in tobacco-related products. Classic Filter kings is the brand name for Classic Filter mild. Cigarette length was increased from 83 to 84mm, and diameter was increased from 24.5mm to 24.75mm.
Classic mild is made with imported cigarette paper, a better board, and the name is embossed on it. ‘Discover a passion,’ says the brand tagline. Classic and Wills were two distinct entities that were combined to form classic wills. It is made with blue leaf tobacco. Classic Mild alone accounts for 18.6 percent of total cigarette sales in India.
- 0.61 mg Nicotine
- 6.5mg Tar
Gold Flake Kings
Gold Flake is an Indian cigarette brand that was originally labelled as khandani and is the most widely sold brand in India, with variants for customers of various economic levels. ITC Ltd. also owns the brand. The name “gold flake ” is derived from the Golden tobacco. Bacons’ Gold Flake and Hignett’s Golden Flake Honey Dew are two other golden flakes.
Smoothness is the brand’s key term, and it can be seen in the form of silk scarves, feathers, paintbrushes, and so on. Gold Flakes King accounts for approximately 17.9 percent of all cigarettes sold in India.
- 1.4 mg Nicotine
- Tar (15mg)
Gold Flake Light
Gold Flake light is also part of the Gold Flake brand, which is owned by ITC, the cigarette-smoking behemoth. People use this cigarette to gradually wean themselves off of cigarette smoking. Gold Flake light, on the other hand, can be addictive in its own right. The nicotine content is thought to be reduced to 0.8 mg after the tobacco juices are distilled.
To some extent, the Gold Flake lights have a lower nicotine content, less tar, and the flavour is less pronounced. This does not imply that they are less carcinogenic. The urea content is nearly identical. The total amount of Gold flake light sold in the Indian cigarette market is 13.4%.
- 0.8 mg Nicotine
- Tar (10mg)
Marlboro
Marlboro is the world’s best-selling cigarette brand. Philip Morris USA manufactures it within the United States, and Philip Morris International manufactures it everywhere else. Marlboro cigarettes are well-known for their advertisements featuring the Marlboro man.
Phillip Morris introduced Marlboro cigarettes for women and later expanded to include filtered cigarettes for both men and women. Marlboro Ice Blast and Marlboro Gold are two examples.
- 1.2 mg Nicotine
- Tar (15mg)
Four Squares
Godfrey Phillips India Ltd. is a company that has made a name for itself in the Indian cigarette industry. This brand manufactures Four Square cigarettes. Four Square cigarettes are manufactured in India and Scotland in either short 70 mm or king, 85 mm sizes, with either a hard pack or a wide flat hard box, and 10 or 20 cigarettes per pack.
While Four Square, King, and Four Square Special are popular among the mature population, Gold is marketed to 25-35-year-olds. Tobacco is imported by Godfrey Phillips. As a result, the quality differs from that of other brands. Four squares are preferred by 1% of the Indian population.
- Nicotine – unidentified
- Tar – unidentified
According to customer feedback, the nicotine and tar content is significantly higher than that of other brands.
Benson and Hedges
B&H is a British cigarette brand that is owned by British American Tobacco, Philip Morris International, or Japan Tobacco in various parts of the world. Virginia tobacco is used to make these cigarettes. Benson and Hedges Ltd. was founded in London in 1873 by Richard Benson and William Hedges.
B And H cigarettes are available in Gold/Silver, as well as Red, Green, Blue, White, and Black in a number of other countries. Hamlet cigars are also produced by Japan Tobacco.
- 1.1mg Nicotine
- tar (12mg)
Navy Cut
Wills Navy Cut (or simply Wills) was one of the first filtered Indian cigarettes. ITC Limited oversees its manufacturing, marketing, and distribution. Navy Cut was introduced as Wills Filter, India’s answer to filtered cigarettes. Wills Navy Cut was created by W.D. & H.O.
Wills in the United Kingdom. The length of the Navy cut cigarette, including the filter, is 84 mm. Cigarettes are sold in packs of ten and twenty. However, there is a nasty rumour that Navy cut cause cancer, despite the fact that there is no substantial proof.
- Nicotine – unidentified
- Tar – unidentified
Pall Mall
J. Reynolds Tobacco Company sells Pall Mall cigarettes. One of the first in the premium cigarette segment, these cigarettes are distinguished by their tobacco packaging and the inclusion of charcoal within the roll.
There are several varieties available, including Red, Blue, Orange, Green, Black, and White, which denote the different strengths of the tobacco and menthol content of the cigarettes. Pall Mall introduced 100mm long cigarettes, which did not fare well in the market due to competition.
- 0.9 mg Nicotine
- Tar (10mg)
Parliament
Parliament is a cigarette brand, and Charlie Sheen appeared in their commercials in the 1990s. Filtered cigarettes are a newer market trend. These were the first cigarettes to use paper filters, allowing only nicotine to reach the smoker’s mouth.
They were manufactured by Philip Morris. They are available in a variety of flavours, including menthol, and in three sizes: White Pack (Menthol Lights) Kings, Green Pack (Menthol Flavor), and Silver Pack (Menthol Ultra Lights) Kings.
- 0.7 mg Nicotine
- Tar (nine milligrammes)
Gudang Garam
Gudang Garam International is an Indonesian clove cigarette brand that was founded on November 3, 1979, in Kediri, East Java. Tobacco leaves and cloves are used to make these cigarettes. This brand of cigarette contains the most nicotine and tar.
- 2.3 mg Nicotine
- 49 mg tar
You may have noticed the nicotine and tar content in each brand; these levels are not exact but are close to the original value. There is currently no perfect system in India for measuring and controlling the nicotine and tar content of cigarettes. As a result, the majority of Indian brands contain a high level of nicotine and tar.
According to studies, these levels are significantly higher than the standard value permitted by other countries. So, why do they put in so much effort? The higher the nicotine content, the more addictive the product, and the more addictive the product, the more sales.
We hope you found this article useful and informative. We have compiled a list of the top ten best cigarette brands in India. Finding the perfect cigarette is a process of trial and error; we can find the flavour and strength that are best suited to us by experimenting with different brands.