I got used to Charminar during my college days. As I grew up, I tried out the fancy and more expensive cigarettes. But there was something about the taste and the smell of Charminar that always called out to me. Before I talk about that, let’s get the basics correct:
It is a filter-less cigarette with roasted tobacco, comes in the characteristic yellow packaging, and is cheaper than almost every other brand. Please keep in mind that this review is NOT of the newer filtered variety being marketed by the company.
Roasted Tobacco:
This particular brand was extremely popular in Bengal during the Naxalite movement, and even now it retains that charm in many places in India. The educated crowd shuns this brand vociferously mostly due to the lack of a filter. Few know, however, that Charminar is the only brand in the Indian market that uses roasted tobacco. Roasting tobacco is the best way of getting rid of the tar and several other harmful chemicals. It even reduces the nicotine content. Most filtered cigarettes contain more tar than this humble paper-rolled brand.
Strength:
It is quite a strong cigarette. But others, like Charms, are even stronger. People who are used to Wills Navy Cut will find it easy to adapt to the strength of Charminar.
Popurality:
Charminar is quite well-known among several East European tourists. Most cigarettes marketed in countries like Romania use roasted tobacco . therefore, that region of the world obviously takes to Charminar when they visit India.
Availability:
Due to it’s cheap price and apparent lack of popularity, most educated junta shies away from trying this brand. It is available in very few places, and even in those shops the number of buyers are dwindling day by day.
This cigarette is the closest to a cuban cigar that you find in the regular Indian market. But it is, I should say, an acquired taste.