Cigarette Rolling Papers Reviewed, Reviews, Rizla Cigarette Rolling Papers

Rizla has been making cigarette papers for a long time - a very long time - 400+ years. That's right. It was in the mid 1500's when a member of the LaCroix family made the first tobacco rolling papers. They weren't called Rizla then, not until they started using rice compounds for paper. (Riz - French for Rice and La - for LaCroix). They became popular in the US and Europe (they originated in France) by the mid 1800's. The company, now owned by Imperial Tobacco, is located in the UK where they are a household word. The 1960's saw a huge increase in their usage (for obvious reasons) and today 3 billion Rizla papers are sold annually. Enough said...so they know how to make great papers and they are serious about it.

Now, there are a lot of paper brands out there and many companies know how to make great papers although Rizla are especially noted for their very neutral taste (except for, of course, their licorice brand). Most of the world's cigarette paper marketing thrust nowadays is directed at young adults and involves cute artsy covers with bright electric colors. Most have the same options available such as cut corners, perforations, extra length, extra width, special fibers, flavors, etc., and most cost about the same. (Two to three time as much as filtered cigarette tubes, by the way.)

As far as papers to roll your tobacco in, Rizla's are every bit as good as any brand in the world and perhaps more consistent than most in gum quality (you lick - they stick). Rizla has, to date, avoided the ultra campy packaging (their website is really cool, though) and relies on reputation and quality for their market share. The Rizla website is a hoot. Visit it at www.rizla.com.

So if most papers are so similar, why would we bother to look at papers at all? Well, during the coming months we would like to show you the cool artwork and wild designs as well as some truly bizarre papers manufactured, in limited quantities, around the world. You will also see some real classics and collectibles that we have found. It really is fun stuff and some of the artwork is outstanding. It is important to note that many RYO smokers do find various papers, for a variety of reasons, to be their favorite. Join us next time for a tour de force of the wacky world of rolling papers.

EDITOR'S NOTE: These reviews are solely for the convenience of people of legal age who already smoke, are trying to cut down on smoking, wish to spend less money on their smoking, want to roll their own cigarettes from high quality tobacco, and, in general, wish to have a far more satisfying, and economical smoking experience when compared with smoking pre-manufactured cigarettes. We, in no way, encourage people to smoke. Further, we prescribe to a sane, more logical approach to smoking that involves common sense as to quantity coupled with a strong desire to manage the habit until it becomes an occasional, freely chosen, diversion, that can be fully enjoyed with minimal health risks. Finally, we strongly encourage those who do smoke to take it outdoors, or to appropriate environments where tobacco can be enjoyed away from those who do not smoke, most especially children. We do not sell tobacco or related products from this site; We distribute information about our perceptions of the quality of what is available and where it can be obtained. If you are under 18, it is illegal to buy tobacco and you should immediately exit this site. If you do not smoke, it would seem illogical to start.