Are American Spirit cigarettes as safe as we think?

[Bidoche]

What's the name of that Dutch tobacco? I'm looking for alternatives. They're hard to find out here.

I'm a fan of Dutch tobacco although this year, prices in Switzerland for roll-up blends increased by 80%!
Favorite brands: SAMSON and DRUM

DRUM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_%28tobacco%29
SAMSON: http://eu.cigarettes-cigars.com/tobacco/Samson_Tobacco.html (good export prices)

 

[Gawan]

What's the name of that Dutch tobacco? I'm looking for alternatives. They're hard to find out here.

I'm a fan of Dutch tobacco although this year, prices in Switzerland for roll-up blends increased by 80%!
Favorite brands: SAMSON and DRUM

DRUM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_%28tobacco%29
SAMSON: http://eu.cigarettes-cigars.com/tobacco/Samson_Tobacco.html (good export prices)

Hello Bidoche,
so far I'm aware of are "Drum" and "Samson" with additives. :(

 

[Human]

I'm a fan of Dutch tobacco although this year, prices in Switzerland for roll-up blends increased by 80%!
Favorite brands: SAMSON and DRUM

DRUM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drum_%28tobacco%29
SAMSON: http://eu.cigarettes-cigars.com/tobacco/Samson_Tobacco.html (good export prices)

I use Samson since I switched from cigarettes a year ago. From link posted in this thread it can be seen that it contains a "fair" amount of additives:

_http://www.bat-ingredients.com/servlet/PageMerge?usealt=i_btn4%2Ci_show&mainurl=%2Fgroupms%2Fsites%2FBAT_6X3ENK.nsf%2FvwPagesWebLive%2FEEB7C53A3AC263148025728B005D9C0D%3Fopendocument&alturl=%2Fgroupms%2Fsites%2FBAT_6X3ENK.nsf%2FvwPagesWebLive%2FD23047A62F4081DB8025725E0067DFAF%3Fopendocument&i_CTRY=Netherlands%2BTravel&i_CLASS=RYO&i_BRAND=SAMSON&i_btn4=%3E%3E&i_INGURL=%2Fgroupms%2Fgbl_ing_v3.nsf%2FvwMarketDetailsProductsTrans%2FLIVERYONetherlands+Travel2009ENGLISH%2F%24file%2FBS4815.html%3Fopenelement

So it's better to find something else (for me also).

I haven't been able to find American Spirit in Croatia so far, but at least there are Smoking roll-your-own paper and filters. I haven't done any research on them either, but from few post on forum that I've read, I got the impression that all filters are "evil". Is that correct?

 

[Bidoche]

I use Samson since I switched from cigarettes a year ago. From link posted in this thread it can be seen that it contains a "fair" amount of additives:

-ingredients.com/servlet/PageMerge?usealt=i_btn4%2Ci_show&mainurl=%2Fgroupms%2Fsites%2FBAT_6X3ENK.nsf%2FvwPagesWebLive%2FEEB7C53A3AC263148025728B005D9C0D%3Fopendocument&alturl=%2Fgroupms%2Fsites%2FBAT_6X3ENK.nsf%2FvwPagesWebLive%2FD23047A62F4081DB8025725E0067DFAF%3Fopendocument&i_CTRY=Netherlands%2BTravel&i_CLASS=RYO&i_BRAND=SAMSON&i_btn4=%3E%3E&i_INGURL=%2Fgroupms%2Fgbl_ing_v3.nsf%2FvwMarketDetailsProductsTrans%2FLIVERYONetherlands+Travel2009ENGLISH%2F%24file%2FBS4815.html%3Fopenelement

So it's better to find something else (for me also).

I haven't been able to find American Spirit in Croatia so far, but at least there are Smoking roll-your-own paper and filters. I haven't done any research on them either, but from few post on forum that I've read, I got the impression that all filters are "evil". Is that correct?

Each time the Dutch tobacco companies try to generate more revenue, they come up with variations on their 'Original Blend'. These, like the Samson 'Bright' have flavorings (as shown in your link). If you stick with the dark blue pouches of Samson (and Drum), no additives are included. The red "Smoking" papers (made in Spain) are manufactured from rice and are quite thick compared to what I use, the French OCB premium (black packet) which are extra thin and made from flax. As for filters, I don't use them, but I can't see any danger associated with wanting a cooler smoke. I once tried American Spirit but found them a bit harsh on the throat. They are also the most expensive brand out there!

 

[jhonny]

Hi Tigersoap, I live also in Belgium (antwerp) but i can't find Freejack tobacco hier, I do not know if you can tell me if there is another good tobacco without additives here.
Thanks

 

[Tigersoap]

Hi Tigersoap, I live also in Belgium (antwerp) but i can't find Freejack tobacco hier, I do not know if you can tell me if there is another good tobacco without additives here.
Thanks

Hi Jhonny,
It seems brand new on the market and only sold in certain shops.
Maybe you can ask for it in a tobacco shop where they sell tobacco pipe and cigars ? That's the kind of shop where I found it, on a stroke of luck I must admit.

And there is the "Tabac de la semois" which is indeed without additives, you can print a PDF with your order and send it to them, I haven't done it yet myself but I think I'll try it out soon. (_http://tabacsemois.com/commande.html).
There must be a place in Antwerp where you might find it !!
Good luck !

 

[Thomas Alan]

Thanks All for the tips on other brands of non-additive tobaccos. So far I haven't been able to find any of them locally but AS. When I go to Europe in the fall I will try to visit a tobacco shop to see what I can find.

I've been smoking the AS tobacco in a pipe. It's not as messy as rolling and I can just have a little bit if I like. It's easy to blend a pipe load of the different varieties of AS, organic, original, or perique. Sometimes mix a little Turkish or Danish Export for variety.

Happy puffing!

Mac

 

[truth seeker]

Hi Tigersoap, I live also in Belgium (antwerp) but i can't find Freejack tobacco hier, I do not know if you can tell me if there is another good tobacco without additives here.
Thanks

Hey jhonny,

I just came from central station in Antwerp and purchased Pueblo brand tobacco. The store also carried Free Jack cigarettes. As far as the clerck was concerned, those were the only two brands. If you go across the street and up a bit to a large smoke shop with the name Marlboro (brand) on the outside (on the left side), you will find them there. :) If you need more details with the location, let me know.

I find it a little dry (I now understand what everyone is talking about as I never experienced this dryness before), but after the first one, it's okay.

 

[shadowsaround]

Since I've switched to NAS tobacco I've noticed a huge improvement in the quality and taste. I smoke the organic blend http://www.rollyourown.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=90_70&products_id=272 and the original blend http://www.rollyourown.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=90_70&products_id=153 and I love the taste. One day I did get curious and I bought a pack of NAS cigarettes which ended up being FSC. Talk about disgusting. When I talked with the lady at my local smoker friendly store she told me that the FSC was only in the paper of the "packaged" cigarettes but the roll your own tubes did not have the Fire Safe Chemicals in them. I use the SF light tubes with the organic/original blend and I noticed I don't hack up large quantities of brown stuff in the morning. I have noticed that i rarely hack anything up unless I smoke a FSC cigarette.


Edit=Links

 

[ScottD]

It's interesting that I live in the epicenter of RJ Reynolds and I had no idea they owned American Spirits. RJR is going downhill though as they're closing the major plant within Winston-Salem and scaling back to another facility just outside of town. The recent smoking ban in NC Bars/Restaurants is the nail in the coffin I think.

Regardless, I have noticed that my smokes now completely dry up my lips and it dries my throat. I guess I need to learn to roll my own and go that route instead. It's a shame that I live in tobacco country and can't even get decent tobacco without it being perverted in some fashion.

 

[SolarMother]

Since I've switched to NAS tobacco I've noticed a huge improvement in the quality and taste. I smoke the organic blend http://www.rollyourown.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=90_70&products_id=272 and the original blend http://www.rollyourown.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=90_70&products_id=153 and I love the taste. One day I did get curious and I bought a pack of NAS cigarettes which ended up being FSC. Talk about disgusting. When I talked with the lady at my local smoker friendly store she told me that the FSC was only in the paper of the "packaged" cigarettes but the roll your own tubes did not have the Fire Safe Chemicals in them. I use the SF light tubes with the organic/original blend and I noticed I don't hack up large quantities of brown stuff in the morning. I have noticed that i rarely hack anything up unless I smoke a FSC cigarette.


Edit=Links

thank you shadowsaround, for that organic blend pouch info. I am going to ask my local tobacco store to order some, and then I am going to ask a local lady, who has the touch, to teach me how to roll good ciggies, for I am so not good at it, and I can't see myself smoking a pipe.

 

[shadowsaround]

thank you shadowsaround, for that organic blend pouch info. I am going to ask my local tobacco store to order some, and then I am going to ask a local lady, who has the touch, to teach me how to roll good ciggies, for I am so not good at it, and I can't see myself smoking a pipe.

I am far from an expert in rolling your own but I've tried a couple of hand rollers and the one I've had the best luck with is the new top roller "hand injector". It's fairly simple and i can usually make them pretty decently. http://www.ryotobacco.com/page/ryot/PROD/hinject/prequick Here's a link for something similar that I use.


Edit=Quotes

 

[dant]

I can't see myself smoking a pipe

Why not?

One of the things that was indelibly written in my mind was a black and white
photo of a very old lady from the appalachian mountain ridge, face weatherworn,
sitting on her porch in front of her somewhat diapliated house, smoking a corncob
pipe. I thought her so distinguished, warm, and truly down to earth. Perhaps it is a
matter of perception and impressions?

 

[SolarMother]

I can't see myself smoking a pipe

Why not?

One of the things that was indelibly written in my mind was a black and white
photo of a very old lady from the appalachian mountain ridge, face weatherworn,
sitting on her porch in front of her somewhat diapliated house, smoking a corncob
pipe. I thought her so distinguished, warm, and truly down to earth. Perhaps it is a
matter of perception and impressions?

Hmmmmm....
Well, I like how it feels to hold a ciggie. We'll see. Pipes have to be loaded a lot don't they?
But thank you for that imagery of the down to earth old lady. I liked that and could "see" that.

 

[SolarMother]

thank you shadowsaround, for that organic blend pouch info. I am going to ask my local tobacco store to order some, and then I am going to ask a local lady, who has the touch, to teach me how to roll good ciggies, for I am so not good at it, and I can't see myself smoking a pipe.

I am far from an expert in rolling your own but I've tried a couple of hand rollers and the one I've had the best luck with is the new top roller "hand injector". It's fairly simple and i can usually make them pretty decently. http://www.ryotobacco.com/page/ryot/PROD/hinject/prequick Here's a link for something similar that I use.


Edit=Quotes

That's very helpful...thank you.
I realize I could have put both quotes on one page of a reply...sorry moderators!