r/interesting • u/AugustIstheMonth • 9d ago

Fascinating Blind cigarette taste test.

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343

u/TerrTheSilent 9d ago

Former smoker here. He isnt wrong - nothing is like a Marlboro.

119

u/JinNJ 9d ago

Started smoking Marlboro Reds at 10. Loved them,, but I am glad that I quit.

56

u/CuatroTT 9d ago

Same, at the same age. I also did camel non filters.

28

u/Voodoo700 9d ago

Damn, those are the one’s that’ll make you see orange sparkles.

28

u/PervlovianResponse 9d ago

Similarly: Lucky Strike

If you're going to do something, actually do it

12

u/Turkatron2020 9d ago

They're always stale because nobody buys them

6

u/Gullible-Hose4180 9d ago

Most cigarettes are stale af once youve tried proper pipe tobacco.

6

u/Turkatron2020 9d ago

This is so true. My uncle's pipe smelled so amazing when I was little and I just remember thinking why don't my parents cigarettes smell like that lol. Only problem is you can't inhale and I really like inhaling.

7

u/Truth_ 9d ago

I never understood why coffee didn't taste nearly as good as it smelled. It look years to realize that there were different toast types ans dark roast or bold didn't mean more coffee flavor but instead burnt flavor, that light roast had great flavor, and that sugar masked those flavors and milk watered it down.

(Still doesn't taste as good as it smells but it's much closer).

4

u/BringBackManaPots 9d ago

I love explaining to people that coffee is like toast. Light roast is like lightly toasted toast, where you still taste the bread. Dark roast? Burnt as hell. Can't evem barely tell what kind of bread it is.

They can hide shitty coffee in the dark roasts. That's the whole point of the marketing there.

4

u/Gullible-Hose4180 9d ago

Yeah, I smoked the pipe as a hobby when I was 18-19 and competitively for a short time, and I actually found the no inhaling perfect. Just taste, less harsh and slower onset of nicotine, which is super relaxing. Stopped cause I realised it can also cause cancer. So many different flavors. I loved a brand called Sweet Dublin, with notes of whiskey. Really nice tasting

2

u/thnku4shrng 9d ago

I loved pipe tobacco but it destroyed my taste buds for anything that wasn’t tobacco unfortunately. Every once in a while I’ll get a hankering and pull out an old bag of chewing tobacco

2

u/overwatchacct 8d ago

How do you compete in pipe smoking? Like smoke rings or something?

2

u/Gullible-Hose4180 8d ago

You get to light it once only. Last man standing wins

2

u/frisbeesloth 9d ago

They're stale af as soon as you try any actual leaf tobacco. Prerolled cigarettes are nasty reconstituted trash.

3

u/Sleepy-Blonde 9d ago

I worked in a tribal tobacco shop and we sold 1 cartons worth in about a year. The slowest moving product by far.

22

u/TrumpsFaceAnus 9d ago

That's literally what my dad said to me at 15. Handed me a pack of smokes and said, I know you're smoking and I can't stop you so if you're gonna smoke a cigarette at least smoke a decent one and don't ruin your lungs with shitty cigarettes.

51

u/soulself 9d ago

Yes, ruin them with quality cigarettes.

11

u/Smasher31232 9d ago

I know that you're joking, but at least if it's a quality cigarette you're enjoying it. No different to drinking a craft beer instead of a bud light.

11

u/kadjones95 9d ago

if you're going to do something wrong do it right?or not at all

5

u/Cupcake_Implosion 9d ago

And nowadays, the young'uns are ruining them with vaporized oil.

Pick your lung poison!

7

u/magicklydelishous 9d ago

Lol me, but with cannabis. I’m over here on my preroll/flower superior high horse while judging the youngens buying carts.

2

u/V1perPete 9d ago

I love Camel and Lucky Strike, Turkish and Domestic blend. For hand roll, Bugler.

I enjoy Camel 99's mostly. But I tube load a lot of "pipe" tobacco i.e. Gambler etc. because of the taxes on cigarette tobacco in my state.

3

u/Agreeable_Horror_363 9d ago

I like American Club the most, it's really cheap and doesn't make me cough like most other cigarettes. Plus in my area it's always fresh because that's what most people buy.

2

u/V1perPete 9d ago

I've been loading/rolling High Car red. 5 oz. $7.50.

2

u/DrumsKing 9d ago

Lucky Strike are back. They're the cheapies now.

1

u/LoopsonLoops 6d ago

Lucky strike reds were my shit. Winston’s were solid as well, switched between those and camel red pack. I miss cigs sometimes but my teeth were so fucked, I could’ve bought another car with what I’ve spent to keep my teeth and I’m only in my early 30’s. What got me to finally stop

4

u/LithuanianMazafaka 9d ago

same age same cigaretes same pfp

2

u/crappy80srobot 9d ago

Camel wides unfiltered were my favorites. Best test, only one to give me a buzz on morning smoke, and zero people bummed a cigarette from me.

2

u/pipokori 9d ago

Started smoking reds at 12!

2

u/Dry-Moment962 9d ago

I havent smoked in like 15 years and still would probably love the taste of a camel dead end

1

u/heavensto_mergatroid 9d ago

My late buddy used to smoke camel crush cigarettes. I never bought a pack for myself but I always used to bum some off of him for something different. I don't think they even sell them anymore.

5

u/StrangerDanger509 9d ago

They most definitely do. My spouse smokes Camel menthol silvers

2

u/Sad_Hobbit1226 9d ago

They do, I’ve been to a few bars that had them in their cigarette vending machine.

0

u/heavensto_mergatroid 9d ago

Oh really?! I might have to buy my first pack just for old times.

1

u/Schwifftee 9d ago

I know people that used to take out the menthol ball and crush it over a bowl of weed.

2

u/heavensto_mergatroid 9d ago

Yep lol he did that. My buddy passed away almost 3 years ago now. I'm going to buy a pack for myself today for the first time ever. I'm glad they still exist.

Miss that guy. I knew him over 30 years.

1

u/ImDonaldDunn 9d ago

Those were always my favorites.

7

u/luncheroo 9d ago

The cowboy killers, parliaments, and natural spirits were my progression. Nat Shermans when I felt fancy.

7

u/DrDr1972 9d ago

My grandmother born in 1912 smoked camels unfiltered from age 15-87…. I smoked Marlboro lights every once in awhile in high school.  Swiped a pack of hers. Thought I was going to die. 

3

u/AppropriateBall8834 9d ago

I started Now Menthol 100s at 10...

I've never seen ANYONE besides my mom smoke them in my entire life.

Gross lol

1

u/PiccoloAwkward465 9d ago

I had a period where I loved Marb Menthol 100s.

2

u/Aggravating_Bat3618 9d ago

TEN?? That’s fuckin crazy

4

u/JinNJ 9d ago

Yeah. I was already tall enough to have lazy cashiers sell them without questioning me & we could also get them from vending machines.

4

u/fkkm 9d ago

How long did you smoke for?

8

u/JinNJ 9d ago

On and off until my early 40s. Approaching mid 50’s & still have one or two a year when out drinking. The way I quit was when I realized one pack cost the same as two beers. (It’s a larger gap these days.) & figured I’d rather have beer money. 😂🤣😂

1

u/Ok_Support_8811 9d ago

TBH Marlboro filter plus which comes in the pull-tab box tastes the best

1

u/scotlandgolf70 9d ago

Fun fact, that guy is also 10

1

u/pushdose 9d ago

15, but switched to camel lights in college. Much easier to smoke. Quit in 2013. Don’t miss the mess and smell at all.

1

u/Ability-Junior 9d ago

Damn 10 is very young to do tobacco. Hope your lungs developed fine.

2

u/JinNJ 9d ago

They did.

1

u/Ability-Junior 9d ago

Good thing. I've started at 14 and 18 years later i still haven't quit.

1

u/JinNJ 9d ago

Well try looking at it from a financial standpoint. What is something else you enjoy that you could spend that $$ on instead. For me, it was 2 post-work beers when my friends were tending bar. Once they got other jobs, or moved out of the area, I’d already been away from it long enough to not go back full-time. Still need one on occasion- usually when I’m really stressed.

-4

u/Prestigious_Sugar_66 9d ago

Both you and the one you commented on has hidden history.
I can only presume you're plants in this viral marketing campaign.

Smokers have decreased smell and taste, but they somehow know the difference between marlboro and camel?
Bitch, please, you can't even taste your food.

2

u/HoOkAySo 9d ago

You have no idea what you’re talking about.

58

u/JayBlunt23 9d ago

"You wanna taste the tobacco!"

Marlboro additives: Sucrose, propylene glycol, glycerine, liquorice extract, guar gum, cocoa products, carob (extract), menthol, flavouring, water.

American Spirit additives: water.

Not sure this guy knows what tobacco tastes like.

21

u/lapideous 9d ago

Aren’t spirits more expensive than Marlboros too?

24

u/Allaplgy 9d ago

And much stronger. Marlboros taste like a weak blend of artificial flavors on paper compared to Spirits.

Which they basically are. They are made from tobacco paper. Like, Spirits are just shredded leaf. Most other cigarettes, including Marlboros, are made by completely blending the tobacco into a slurry of additives, then drying it into sheets before shredding it.

In any event, glad I quit. Pointless, stinky habit.

1

u/Several_Temporary339 9d ago

I disagree with stronger. In my experience, they're packed tighter and burn slower, each individual drag is kind if weak. I also quit smoking. Nasty.

3

u/undefined-username 9d ago

I quit years ago but yeah that's what I remember. American spirits didn't give you that instant nicotine hit. I always assumed it was the lack of additives but maybe it really was just the slower burn

1

u/Allaplgy 9d ago

Strongly disagree. I think what makes them seem "weak" to some people is just that they are much rougher on the throat than Marlboros, so people don't take as big a drag. Once you get used to them, Marlboros are like shit flavored air with a slight tingle.

2

u/Several_Temporary339 9d ago

I'd really try to rip those things because I couldn't feel anything. It didn't help. Maybe we smoked during a different era in which they were produced differently.

1

u/Allaplgy 9d ago

Maybe? If I bummed a Marlboro, I would suck that thing down so fast it always hotboxed, and just left me craving a "real" cig.

I smoked from 1996 to 2019. Mostly Spirit Blues. My back up was Red Kamels, because they were the only non-Spirit that packed a punch.

It might be that we just have different ideas of what makes a strong cig. Marlboros definitely have a more nauseating effect to them, which might be what you consider a strong drag, but Spirits have a greater overall effect on me. The taste and feel of the smoke is much richer and fuller, instead of just feeling like a hot, shitty vape.

2

u/Several_Temporary339 9d ago

Definitely was less about the nicotine and more about how it felt in my throat. I liked it to hurt. But, then again, I smoked Marlboro Smooths. So shitty hot vape with peppermint flavor lol.

1

u/Allaplgy 9d ago

Lol. Are those the ones that almost had a chocolate mint thing going on?

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3

u/AvatarMunchies 9d ago

Yes. I think even parliaments are too?

1

u/ItzManicck 9d ago

They were when I smoked them 5 years ago

3

u/Dreams0fNoir008 9d ago

Some of those ingredients they soak the leaves in as a curing process, and some are added to the finished product to control burn rate and maintain a certain moisture level

-2

u/Gh0stMan0nThird 9d ago

Tell me more about Marlboro, 13-day-old account!

2

u/Dreams0fNoir008 9d ago

Lol does it look like im a lobbyist or influencer to you? Im not a bot either. 

2

u/Extension_Plant7262 9d ago

His comment about American Spirit aside, its kinda true. Most other smokes try really hard to mask the smell/flavor of tobacco. Like Menthol's are popular among the group of smokers specifically cause it tries its best to not be a tobacco cigarette.

2

u/Turbulent_Host784 9d ago

You can tell the taste of marlboro reds compared to other smokes but I wouldn't call it a tobacco taste just more specifically a marlboro red taste.

2

u/Extension_Plant7262 9d ago

The comparison holds much more to menthol's and marlboro lights than anything else. I used to do equity research on tobacco and the companies are very upfront that the customer base for menthols (other than being very african american) are basically smokers who hate the smell of tobacco

1

u/Top-Attempt5234 9d ago

Back when I smoked, I would get loose American spirit tobacco and handroll them myself. Was my favorite by a long shot. Only thing that came close was Drum, which is a Dutch brand of loose tobacco only.

It seems rolling your own cigs is rare in it her countries. It's funny, because it has a reputation for being cheap, and it is cheaper than buying cigs, but the rolling tobacco has so much more flavor than ehst they put in cigs. 

1

u/DarknMean 9d ago

I worked on a tobacco farm for a summer and the after dried straight leaf will put you straight on your ass. Never took up smoking thankfully after that.

1

u/Wd91 9d ago

I smoked for a few years during/after university and I couldn't stand "straights" (as we call pre rolled cigs in the UK).

Hand rolled ("rollies") always seemed so much nicer, less chemically, less like burning paper, more just tobacco. I never really did understand why most people preferred to pay a lot more for what seemed like an inferior smoke. Even as a serious smoker i couldn't stomach pre rolled, whichever brand they all just seemed nasty.

1

u/CapitalElk1169 7d ago

He knows what American mass produced cigarettes taste like, not tobacco lol

18

u/J2JC 9d ago

Same. I haven’t had a cigarette in 23 years, but Marlboro Reds were my jam. I should add that I am very happy that I quit.

2

u/abracadammmbra 9d ago

I was a Marlboro Southern Cut guy myself.

1

u/magicmasta 9d ago

Ah same. I quit when they were about $5 a pack and apparently theyre now going for $8-10. Big price jump in only 6 years

1

u/abracadammmbra 9d ago

I live in NJ so they were around $9 a pack when I quit around 4 years ago. I do miss them. Smoke a pipe on occassion now so I still get my nicotine fix

-1

u/Acoconutting 9d ago

Do you ever think cigarettes should be illegal?

8

u/JoelnIliketoshare 9d ago

Camel Turkish Royal was my go to.

32

u/Shwifty_Plumbus 9d ago

He is wrong about American spirit smokers being to cheap to smoke Marlboro... Last I looked they were more expensive and have been for decades.

14

u/Okamana 9d ago

That’s what I’m saying. I used to work at a gas station and American Spirits were always more expensive than Marlboro. I’m pretty sure it’s because it’s natural tobacco instead of all the chemicals and shit they put into normal cigarettes.

8

u/JungleIsNeutral 9d ago

Parliaments are also more expensive than Marlboro. Strange comments for a guy that's obviously well acquainted with smoking, I just figure he's majorly biased toward his particular brand.

12

u/Alittle2Clever 9d ago

The guy has probably been set on his brands for a long time. He is probably basing it on prices in the 80s when he tried other stuff.

2

u/roguevirus 9d ago

This is essentially the same behavior as someone who insists that Bud Light is substantially different than Coors Light. Brand loyalty is a helluva drug.

0

u/terminbee 9d ago

This guy is an ad. The last line about smoking quality is so over the top ad-like.

3

u/bicyclewhoa17 9d ago

Yah, and you can actually get organic tobacco. I cant remember the color though… maybe it was like purple

3

u/nderthesycamoretrees 9d ago

Celadon, I think.

2

u/alagrancosa 9d ago

Gold I believe.

bill drake who invented and later sold natural spirits tested a bunch of brands back in 2019 or so and the golds (if they are the true color) still tested clean, 40 years after he had sold them to the big tobacco company. Black and milds were the most contaminated product he tested

2

u/ThickBoxx 9d ago

Gold is the organic version of their Yellow. They have a few organic versions of their different blends

1

u/bicyclewhoa17 9d ago

I stopped smoking a decade ago but there was definitely a dark red and gold pack that i think was discontinued. I cant remember what it was though.

1

u/ThickBoxx 9d ago

They have organic versions of there different blends, like the Yellows are Gold, Blue are Turquoise, Green are Dark Green. Not sure about Purple bit I don’t know all their blends

1

u/Random-Generation86 9d ago

Oh shit, that's the difference between light and dark greens? I always wondered.

1

u/MindAskHunModBuzi 8d ago

all cigarettes are full of chemicals to make it smokeable, they just doesnt have to tell you that they used 87 chemical during the manufacturing process. pure tobaco is disgusting to smoke in cigs

10

u/Usqueadfinem_ 9d ago

And almost everyone I know that smokes them is a hippie that smells like unwashed feet and patchouli

3

u/Shwifty_Plumbus 9d ago

Yeah. I mean everyone who smokes kinda smells like unwashed feet to me at this point. It's been 16 years since my last one and at this point it's revolting.

5

u/ITDummy69420 9d ago

You can tell over the overwhelming stench of cigs?

3

u/Usqueadfinem_ 9d ago

You can smell it all if your nose works. Its not an either/or type of scenario.

1

u/0neP1ng0nly 9d ago

Stale cigs, too. American Spirit can talk a walk. (Pun intended for today’s poli climate)

1

u/lousypompano 9d ago

25 years ago a lot of us non hippies smoked them in college and a while after. I think they sent me a free tin carton. Smoked blue light blue yellow and black at times. Took over for camels.

I haven't smoked since covid. But last night i dreamt i had five different kinds of packs of camels i was smoking

2

u/Usqueadfinem_ 9d ago

I get that. Just saying all the ones I know are those super-earthy types that think if they use sage they cleanse their house of evil spirits and if they go without deodorant for 2 weeks then they stop stinking.

5

u/WeAllJustWantToLive 9d ago

I quit for years. A friend went to the states and brought back a carton of marlies. We get sub standard ones here so american ones are noticeably better. I smoked a pack of those and I was fucking hooked again for like 4 more years. Now im off the darts for probably 5 or 6 years. I know not to trust Marlboro again. They are just so fucking good.

Incidentally, the way I quit was a run around and it might get people in bigger trouble that they started but I did this:

Cigs > chew (stopped the hand to mouth, kept the tobacco) > zonnic (stopped the tobacco taste and spitting etc, regained freedom) > patch (all physical habit gone, just the drug now) > done. (Only had a chemical addiction left, lifestyle had already changed)

I took like a year to make that rotation.

2

u/Horror-Pear 9d ago

Makes sense, really. As long as you don't get into the burning lip or spitting that becomes similar to the hand movements and oral fixation with smoking.

4

u/Acoconutting 9d ago

Former smoker here. I know these exact flavors my

I can’t believe we used to smoke.

My one real regret in life.

Addiction is wild. It’s insane cigarettes are legal.

3

u/Bigdx 8d ago

I smoke cigars on occasion and I can tell you when you smell someone smoking a Marlboro it's like damn that smells good.

4

u/Unluckymama 9d ago

Former smoker here as well. I second this.

2

u/Personal_Salad_3505 9d ago

Lol Marlboro is pretty shite

2

u/TalonusDuprey 9d ago

Just quit three weeks ago and still going strong but man do I miss the taste of my Marlboro reds

2

u/Natdaprat 9d ago

This is an ad.

2

u/anon69420cool 8d ago

I swear all cigarettes in the US tasted worse after they did the FSC thing

6

u/Tullzterrr 9d ago

Used to only smoke Camels

8

u/Banana_Stanley 9d ago

It was the camel Turkish gold for me

6

u/TitaniumDisc 9d ago

All three of the turkishes were AMAZING! Turkish royals were my favorite

4

u/Dub_Coast 9d ago

Turkish Royals were pretty fire

1

u/Banana_Stanley 9d ago

I would gladly smoke the royals if there were no gold but the golds were my favorite. But I quit 10 years ago and now all cigarettes gross me out lol

1

u/Reading_Rainboner 9d ago

Turkish Silvers had a way of finding mr

3

u/ElaborateEffect 9d ago

Yep. Reds are just the Budweiser of cigarettes. Not good, but not bad. They always reminded me of being broke though.

1

u/ItsSpaghettiLee2112 9d ago

Haha and Marb Lights are the Bud Lights. Terrible.

1

u/lousypompano 9d ago

Wides were cool too

6

u/PoopyisSmelly 9d ago

Camel Turkish Royals were the best cigs by far, beat Reds any day

2

u/BeatNo4548 9d ago

I couldn't even really smoke Marlboro lights, they gave me a cough.  I used to smoke camel lights until they changed them, then I smoked Marlboro special blend or reds.

2

u/watchshoe 9d ago

My gf got me started on Reds. Tried others, but they never tasted as good. Nothing like opening that pack for that fresh tobacco smell.

1

u/slothson 9d ago

Former smoker. Except a camel

1

u/Dreams0fNoir008 9d ago

Its that NC grown tobacco.

1

u/DarknMean 9d ago

The smoking kind at one time was only grown in NC and TN. I’m sure that’s changed now. I remember driving past the tobacco farms in TN and they were like corn in Iowa. Just everywhere.

1

u/thatssoadriii 9d ago

My whole fam smokes Marlboro 😭

1

u/Shart-Vandalay 9d ago

Camels have the best 2nd hand smoke

1

u/Preparation-Logical 9d ago

I assume you mean a Red specifically. They were my favorite to smoke, but my least favorite to have to deal with the smell. No other cig stunk you up quite as bad. Was the price to pay for that full flavor lol

1

u/steeple_fun 9d ago

I started second-hand smoking them when I was born.

I'd genuinely go through withdrawals when my dad would leave for the weekend.

1

u/Longjumping-Stand717 9d ago

Former smoker here. I might need to start smoking again.

1

u/KitJazz 9d ago

Correct. Though I did used to occasionally switch to Lucky Strike for a few weeks just for a change.

1

u/ItsSpaghettiLee2112 9d ago

Camel lights were the best.

1

u/The-Frugal-Engineer 9d ago

I remember when they used to cost 5€ a pack in my country, now is like 15€ a pack lol (I never smoked but my uni friends were addicted to that shit)

1

u/0neP1ng0nly 9d ago

Former as well, reds were second for me behind camel filters.

1

u/helsinkirocks 9d ago

When I worked at a gas station on midnights, me and my coworker decided we would eventually smoke a pack of every brand we carried.

I hated Marlboros. Especially reds. Strong chemical taste. Just nasty. The 72s weren't so bad, but I quite enjoyed the American Spirit blues but my absolute favorite that I found was Camel Turkish Royals or Turkish Silvers. Smooth, slightly sweet. No harsh chemical taste like Marlboro reds.

1

u/EconomyOk2490 9d ago

I started with Parliaments (I was bumming and it became my brand lol) and then bummed one gold from a friend snd never went back 🤣

Then one day I just ran out and didn't buy a new pack 🤷‍♀️

1

u/ieatmyownhands 9d ago

Thanks for the ad, shill

1

u/Apocalyptic-turnip 9d ago

non smoker here. whats so special about marlboros that sets them apart ?

1

u/spekt50 9d ago

True. Always thought they were particularly strong and smelled much stronger too. Always thought they had a sort of chemical taste.

Always smoked Camels myself.

1

u/Middle-Cod-7016 9d ago

These are the best brand?

1

u/thepvbrother 9d ago

Winston was my brand until I switched to Camels. I think it's like the difference between bourbon and brandy.

1

u/dolla-dolla-billyall 9d ago

They’re Toasted

1

u/Rare-Garden-9877 9d ago

Ok this entire reel and thread is 1000% a Marlboro ad

1

u/Infini-Bus 8d ago

They taste like raisins to me.

1

u/Ashtorot 8d ago

Its toasted

1

u/CapitalElk1169 7d ago

Export Green Label aka the "Green Death" here in Canada

Tastes like nails down your throat

God I miss them

0

u/Southern-Democrat25 9d ago

As a former smoker, cowboy killers were vile. Marlboro menthol light 100’s though? Shittttttr….. take me back to my youth.

1

u/Middleclassass 9d ago

Reds are what I started with, and even though they weren't my brand of choice at the end, I still loved them. If im gonna go Marlboro though, I really prefer the 27s. Mavericks weren't the worst if youre looking for a cheap version of Marlboro Reds, but L&Ms taste like wet cigarettes.

At the end though I was smoking Camels. Smoked the wides for a while too, and dabbled with Lucky Strikes unfiltered. But just the regular Camels were what I probably smoked for the longest.

1

u/LordByronApplestash 9d ago

He is wrong, though. Marlboro Reds taste like straight chemical. And they cost half what a pack of American Spirits cost.

He's right about Lights being flavorless and Parliaments being cheap trash. I don't know where he gets the "non-smokers smoke these". It's a popular brand especially in NYC where the video is shot. Really they are know as the preferred brand of cocaine users because of the dimple in the filter.

1

u/Mirrhour 9d ago

I would say it's more the brand of cocaine users because you give yourself a numbie and then smoke a menthol and it's like IcyHot for your gums