Smoking

I tried my first cigarette when i was 13 - i stole a box of my aunt's imported Dunhills and puffed them all away in the toilet of my grandmother's home in the space of a single week. Felt really stupid afterwards, so i quit. Didn't see the big deal about smoking; friends at school were all the rage about it, but it just felt like inhaling BBQ smoke. Where was the fun in that?

Over the last few days (and partially inspired by this posting), I've been thinking about the difference between a cigar and a cigarette. Went to a cigar shop in KLCC the other day to ask about cigars - what made them so special? what is the difference between cigars and cigarettes? how were they made, where do they come from, why are they so expensive? The following are the answers i received (from a very kind, knowledgeable man who's been in the business for 20 years):

# Smoking a cigar is a luxury, a cultured lifestyle activity.
# You don't inhale - not unless you want to turn green
# There are two types: hand rolled cigars and machine rolled cigars
# The best cigars are from Cuba (tobacco is one of Cuba's main exports, apparently)
# There are many types of cigars - from the tiny ones, to the really thick ones (with names like "Robusto" and "Gigante"!). Different processes in making each type results in different tastes - some are "stronger" (pungent?) while some are "lighter" (even less "tasty" than average cigarettes)
# Cigars are expensive because they are expensive to produce (especially the handmade variety), and because some types of cigars can be quite rare (US$210 each for a Cuban Davidoff Don Perignon?? - gosh)

Read the following for the Anatomy of a Cigar. Go to the CigarNexus for an education on cigars.

I've never let a curious itch go unscratched, and i wasn't about to change that habit now. So i went ahead and bought a single Romeo y Julieta Vintage, took it home and puffed away. The results:

* The type i bought was very light - it had a very mild taste and felt quite comfortable in the mouth. I only smoked about 10% of the cigar - then i stubbed it out and placed in back in the cedar-lined aluminum casing that came with it.
* While in the mouth, cigar smoke is not unusual. The aftertaste, though, can be quite strong and provides a whole different experience. The taste of the cigar was still in my mouth when i woke up this morning, and mildly present even after brushing my teeth and having a cup of juice. Its not necessarily unpleasant, but more like a thoughtful reminder of what transpired last night. This is very different from cigarette smoke, when the taste of a single cigarette does not linger this long.
* I tried inhaling. That was a mistake.

My first cigar, RM30

Verdict: I imagine it can be a fun hobby to indulge in - considering the extremely wide array of cigar-types and the assorted accesories, it wouldn't be hard to begin a collection of such items. Unlike cigarettes, there are a lot of possibilities involved in cigars and i think this adds to the charm of the activity. A good hobby is one that allows for depth and width of exploration. Cigars certainly fit the bill.

UPDATE: A guide to the various types of Cuban cigars.