Smoking is not yet made illegal. You might have noticed that the number of people getting addicted to smoking habit is increasing each year. So what exactly is a cigarette? A cigarette is a consumer product made from tobacco and very fine paper. Tobacco is the only plant known to have a drug called “Nicotine”.
Nicotine is considered to be one of the strongest poisons that can kill a human being in less than an hour if consumed or injected directly into the bloodstream. So, why do cigarette packets come with a warning that says “smoking is injurious to health”? Smoke from tobacco contains a small quantity of nicotine that is not deadly, but, apart from nicotine tobacco contains approximately 4000 other chemicals, some of which are harmful to the human body. It is said that these chemicals mix to form a tar-like substance that plays an important role giving cigarette smoke an odor and color. This sticky tar-like substance gets accumulated in our lungs while smoking.
- Carbon Monoxide
- Nitrites
- Hydrazine
- Vinyl Chloride
- And Ammonia is few of the harmful chemicals present in tobacco.
Nicotine also has an addictive property like cocaine and heroin. Here is how smoking cigarette add nicotine to the user’s body, the nicotine works by attacking the brain, this is why most of the smoking addicts define smoking cigarette as something that helps them relax, feel energetic, and alert. However, after a while, the brain gets used to this habit and this result in addiction and if you try to quit smoking the nicotine level in brain falls, and they fall sick.
With the substances like nicotine and sticky-tar working together in our body, our body gets prone to many deadly diseases like lung, mouth, and throat cancer. Many experts have indicated that most of the heart diseases, bronchitis cases are a result of frequent smoking.
I have been mentioning the effects of smoking on your health. However, smoking is not something that affects only the host/users health; it also affects the people around you. If another person inhales the smoke from your cigarette (second-hand smoke), it has the same effect as you were smoking cigarette. Estimates indicate that hundreds of people die because they inhale second-hand smoke.
Recent studies indicate that most of the top Indian brand cigarettes have higher nicotine levels in their products and it affects the user’s health badly, often resulting in lung and throat cancer. This is one of the key reasons why cigarette brands spend a lot for advertising their products. Now you would have understood why I have mentioned all about the effects of smoking on health. However, always remember that cigarette smoking let it be frequent or not it will eventually kill you. Here are the top 10 best-selling cigarette brands in India with their nicotine and tar content.
List of Top Cigarette Brands In India
1. Wills classic mild
Classic mild is trendy, easily available offering of the ITC, topmost leading brand in field of tobacco related products. Classic mild is marketed under brand Classic Filter kings. The cigarette length was increased from 83 to 84mm and diameter from 24.5mm to 24.75%. Classic mild uses imported cigarette paper, better board and has the name embossed on it. The brand tag is ‘Discover a passion. ‘Classic and Wills were separate entities which were fused to give classic wills. Blue leaf tobacco is used in its making. 18.6 percentage of the total sale of cigarettes is by Classic Mild alone in India.
Nicotine – 0.61 mg
Tar – 6.5mg
2. Gold Flake Kings
Gold Flake is an Indian cigarette brand, which was initially labeled as khandani and is the largest sold brand in India with variants for the customers of various levels of economy. The brand is under ITC Ltd. as well. Gold flake name comes from the Golden tobacco. Some other golden flakes are Bacons’ Gold Flake, Hignett’s Golden Flaked Honey Dew. Smoothness is the key term of the brand and it is displayed in the form of silk scarves, feathers, paintbrush etc. Gold flakes king sells around 17.9% of the total sold cigarettes in India. Small gold flake is available at 10 rupees price in India.
Nicotine – 1.4 mg
Tar – 15mg
3. Gold Flake light
Gold Flake light also belongs to the Gold Flake brand under ITC, the cigarette-smoking giant. This cigarette is used by the people to slowly wean off from cigarette smoking altogether. However, Gold Flake light can be addictive in its own way. The nicotine content is believed to be reduced to 0.8 mg by distilling out the tobacco juices
To some extent, The Gold Flake lights have a lesser nicotine content and strain lesser tar and even the flavor is less pronounced. This does not mean that they are less cancer causing. The urea content is almost the same.13.4percentage is the total amount of Gold flake light sold in the Indian cigarette market.
Nicotine – 0.8 mg
Tar – 10mg
4. Marlboro
Marlboro is a best seller cigarette brand in the world. It is made by Philip Morris USA within the United States, and by Philip Morris International anywhere except the United States. Marlboro cigarettes are known for its ads featuring Marlboro man. Phillip Morris launched Marlboro cigarettes for women and later established itself as filtered cigarettes for both man and woman. Some varieties are: Marlboro Ice Blast and Marlboro Gold
Nicotine – 1.2 mg
Tar – 15mg
5. Four square
Godfrey Phillips India Ltd. is a company, which established itself in the domestic cigarette industry. Four Square cigarettes are produced under this brand. Four Square cigarettes are produced in India, Scotland, as either short 70 mm or king, 85 mm having either hard pack or wide flat hard box, 10 or 20 cigarettes in a pack. While Four Square, King and Four Square Special are smoked by the mature population, Gold is directed towards younger 25-35-year old. Godfrey Philips gets its tobacco imported. Hence, the quality differs from other brands. 1% of the Indian crowd prefers four squares.
Nicotine – Unknown
Tar – Unknown
Customer reviews indicated the nicotine and tar content is comparatively higher than other brands
6. Benson and Hedges
Also known simply as B&H is a British brand of cigarettes owned by British American Tobacco, Philip Morris International, or Japan Tobacco in different parts of the world. These Cigarettes are made from Virginia tobacco. Founded in London in 1873 by Richard Benson and William Hedges and known as Benson and Hedges Ltd. One can get Band H cigarettes in Gold /Silver forms, and as Red, Green, Blue, White and Black in several other countries. Japan Tobacco also manufactures Hamlet cigars.
Nicotine – 1.1mg
Tar – 12mg
7. Navy cut
Wills Navy Cut (or simply Wills) was one of the first filtered Indian cigarettes to be launched. Its manufacturing, marketing and distribution are looked over by the ITC Limited. Navy Cut was launched as Wills Filter and it was India’s answer to filtered cigarettes. Wills Navy Cut be originally manufactured by W.D. & H.O. Wills in the United Kingdom. The length of the Navy cut cigarette is 84 mm, which includes the filter length. Cigarettes come in pack of 10s and 20 s. But Navy cut has a nasty rumor about causing Cancer, although no substantial proof is there.
Nicotine – Unknown
Tar – Unknown
8. Pall Mall
Pall Mall cigarettes are sold by R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. One of the first in the segment of premium cigarettes, These cigarettes are specific in their tobacco packing and charcoal is placed inside the roll. A number of varieties like Red, Blue, Orange, Green, Black and White that denotes different strengths of the tobacco and menthol content of the cigarettes, are available. Pall Mall launched 100mm long cigarettes, which however did not last long in the market due to competition.
Nicotine – 0.9 mg
Tar – 10mg
9. Parliament
Parliament is cigarette brand, Charlie Sheen had been featured in their ads in the 1990 s. Filtered cigarettes are relatively new market trend. Under the company Philip Morris, these were the first cigarettes to have paper filters that allow only the nicotine to reach the smokers mouth. They come in flavors including menthol flavored, and have different sizes – White Pack (Menthol Lights) Kings, Green Pack (Menthol Flavor), and Silver Pack (Menthol Ultra Lights) Kings.
Nicotine – 0.7 mg
Tar – 9mg
10. Gudang Garam
Gudang Garam International is a native Indonesian clove cigarette brand, launched on November 3, 1979 in Kediri, East Java. These types of cigarettes are made from the leaves of tobacco and cloves. This brand cigarette has the highest Nicotine and tar content.
Nicotine – 2.3 mg
Tar – 49 mg
You would have noticed the nicotine and tar content in each brand, these levels are not accurate but, approximately equal to the original value. In India, today there is no perfect system that measures and controls nicotine and tar content in cigarettes. Therefore most of the Indian brands have high nicotine and tar content. Studies indicate that these levels are much larger than standard value allowed by other countries. So, why do they add so much? Higher the nicotine content, more addictive the product, more addictive the product more sales are the result.
We hope this article was helpful and informative. We listed top 10 India’s best cigarette brands. Finding the perfect cigarette is a trial and error, we can find the flavor and strength best suited to us by only trying different brands.
Cigarette FAQs
Q: What are the main components of a cigarette?
A: The main components of a cigarette include tobacco, paper, a filter, and additives. Tobacco is the primary ingredient and is responsible for the nicotine and flavor. The paper encases the tobacco, and the filter is usually made of cellulose or activated charcoal to reduce certain chemicals in the smoke.
Q: Why do people smoke cigarettes?
A: People smoke cigarettes for various reasons, including nicotine addiction, stress relief, socializing, peer influence, or simply out of habit. However, it’s important to note that smoking cigarettes is highly addictive and poses significant health risks.
Q: What are the health risks associated with smoking cigarettes?
A: Smoking cigarettes is known to be a major cause of numerous health problems. It increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, and various other cancers. Secondhand smoke can also harm those around the smoker.
Q: Is smoking cigarettes addictive?
A: Yes, smoking cigarettes is highly addictive due to the presence of nicotine, a highly addictive substance found in tobacco. Nicotine addiction can lead to cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and difficulty quitting smoking.
Q: Are there different types of cigarettes?
A: Yes, there are different types of cigarettes available, including regular cigarettes, menthol cigarettes, light cigarettes, and flavored cigarettes. However, it’s important to note that all types of cigarettes carry health risks, despite any perceived differences.
Q: Can smoking cigarettes lead to other substance abuse?
A: There is evidence to suggest that smoking cigarettes may increase the likelihood of other substance abuse, including alcohol and illicit drugs. Nicotine addiction can impact the brain’s reward system, potentially making individuals more vulnerable to other addictive substances.
Q: Can smoking cigarettes affect fertility and pregnancy?
A: Yes, smoking cigarettes can have adverse effects on fertility in both men and women. In women, it can lead to reduced fertility, complications during pregnancy, premature birth, low birth weight, and developmental issues in the baby. In men, smoking can impact sperm quality and fertility.
Q: Is it possible to quit smoking cigarettes?
A: Yes, it is possible to quit smoking cigarettes. However, quitting can be challenging due to the addictive nature of nicotine. Various methods and resources are available to help individuals quit smoking, including medications, counseling, support groups, and behavioral therapies.
Q: Are there alternatives to smoking cigarettes?
A: Yes, there are alternatives to smoking cigarettes. Some popular alternatives include electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vaping), nicotine replacement therapy (such as patches or gum), and various smoking cessation programs.
Santosh Kumar is a Professional SEO and Blogger, With the help of this blog he is trying to share top 10 lists, facts, entertainment news from India and all around the world.