Cigarette paper

Cigarette paper:

The characteristics that cigarette paper must possess are very extensive. Specifically, this term refers to the small sheets of paper intended for making hand-rolled cigarettes. Among smokers, these cigarette papers are also known as ‘blättchen’, amongst other names. The abbreviation RYO is also occasionally used. This stands for ‘Roll Your Own’, which is exactly what it means. The standard width of cigarette papers ranges from 19 to 27 millimetres, depending ultimately on the exact diameter. When rolling your own, there is considerable flexibility when it comes to the dimensions. The standard size is 35 x 70 millimetres. These ‘blättchen’ are folded in the middle.

Varieties

In addition to the standard size, other sizes are also available. This makes it possible to roll your own long or thick cigarettes. The desired size does not affect the type of tobacco used. Cigarette papers are mainly made from cellulose and lime. The cellulose is mainly derived from hemp and flax. Rice and wood are also suitable sources of cellulose. One long edge is coated with gum. When moistened, this becomes sticky, enabling the cigarette to be sealed. Consequently, care must always be taken with this strip before rolling and filling the cigarette. A recent innovation in this area is transparent cigarette paper. This generally becomes sticky when moistened. Among other things, this paper is produced without the use of lime. Its potential uses extend far beyond simply rolling cigarettes.

Other varieties

Cigarette papers are available in many other varieties, though these have not necessarily gained widespread acceptance in Europe. These include, for example, papers infused with flavourings. However, as these tend to mask the taste of the tobacco, they are more commonly found in Asian countries. Uncoated papers should be avoided. They may contain undesirable substances and will fall apart if not drawn on regularly. These are glued together using gum arabic.