A cigarette is a thin cylinder made out of:
- tobacco, selected according to specific blends and leaf grades to maintain the consistency and distinctive character of each brand
- ingredients, added to many of our brands to keep the tobacco moist, aid the manufacturing process, replenish natural sugars lost during leaf curing, and contribute to each brand’s unique taste
- nontobacco materials, such as cigarette paper and filters
When a smoker lights a cigarette, it starts a high-temperature reaction known as burning or combustion. Then the consumer draws air through the cigarette for a certain number of puffs, until the tobacco leaves and paper are completely burned to ash.
Find out about PMI's leading cigarette brands and how cigarettes are made.
It is well known that smoking cigarettes causes serious disease and is addictive. However, for those who want to continue to enjoy tobacco, alternatives to smoking exist – find out about our common-sense approach to public health and discover our portfolio of smoke-free products that are a better choice for smokers.
Learn more
The problem with burning tobacco
3 min readWhat makes burning tobacco so harmful and how can this harm be reduced with smoke-free alternatives.
The facts about nicotine
3 min readNicotine is addictive and not risk-free but is not the primary cause of smoking-related disease.
Making cigarettes
4 min readLearn about how we make cigarettes, from selecting the right blend of tobacco to final packaging.