From seed to pack

After collecting and curing, tobacco leaf is transported to manufacturing sites all over the globe. The tobacco is allowed to age for up to three years in controlled environments to enhance its flavor.See a tour of our production process, from tobacco seedling through to the finished pack.Then the tobacco is prepared for processing and production of cigarette. Transporting and humidifying the now delicate leaf has to be done with care, allowing for the superior art of blending taking place.The major element in each of our cigarettes is tobacco. A numeral of other ingredients may be added to the tobacco, including processing aids, humectants (which keep the tobacco moist and pliable), preservatives and brand-specific flavors. After the tobacco has been hack, it is stored in giant silos before entering the cigarette manufacturing procedure.Manufacturing cigarettes is a fast-paced, extremely automated process; machines produce between 8,000 and 14,000 cigarettes every minute. Spools of cigarette paper up to 6,000 meters long are rolled out and tobacco is placed on it. The paper is closed over the tobacco, making one long cigarette known as a "rod".Machines slice this super-sized "rod" into much shorter lengths, insert filters, and finally cut the shorter lengths into individual filter cigarettes. Every single cigarette is checked at three different stages for the quality of its construction.The cigarettes are then sorted into pack-sized groups, wrapped in foil to preserve their aroma, packed and put into shipping cases.Although the produce of cigarettes is a highly automated process, it will never lose its human part. Supervision of the production process is vital: inspection of the leaf, blending, and quality assurance of the final product can never be left solely to machines.