Hand-Rolling

Hand-Rolling is the flagship product of Greek tobacco company Karelia's rolling-tobacco line and is also widely distributed in our own market. Virginia forms its base; Burley is used as filler, with a small amount of dark fire-cured Burley used as seasoning. It sits close to the "American type" shag blends of Dutch tradition. The small 25-gram pack yields a very finely cut, medium-to-dark brown mass with reddish tones; because generous amounts of humectant are added to prevent quick drying, the tobacco stays wet by hand.

The casing is pronounced: on opening, a wine-like aroma with spice and red-fruit associations comes through, intense enough to sting the nose. When spread on paper and aired for about half an hour, notes of red fruit, sugar, spice, and cocoa blend together. The burn is light and steady, and burn regulators are balanced; by contrast, the smoke is dense and sharp. On the palate, Virginia's very light sugar and the casing's acidity are noticeable, and as the smoke progresses, an accumulating tar taste brings the product closer to an ordinary cigarette smoke. It's a rolling tobacco, not a pipe tobacco, and a product that stands out more for its aroma than for its tobacco taste.