Metro Cigar News Summer 1998: New from Friends of Tobacco

New from Friends of Tobacco
North Carolina cigar created.
FOT is test marketing a new cigar, made from North Carolina tobaccos with a Dominican binder and Indonesian Sumatra Wrapper. Chairman Dean Rouse said "this has been a 3 year project to get this cigar to this stage and everyone that tries the cigar really enjoys the mild taste and aroma. When we started this project, it was our objective to create another use for North Carolina's tobacco farmers. If the sales of this cigar continues we will start looking for a major company that can handle marketing & distribution. We are pleased with the results thus far."

The process of creating this cigar was very tedious. Tobacco from North Carolina is purchased through the auction system by a local tobacco processor. The tobacco is then put through a fermentation process and when it is complete, the tobacco is shipped to the Dominican Republic where the cigar master roller ferments the tobacco again before the next process begins. Following this, the fermented tobacco is rolled by hand into a cigar and carefully wrapped with a Dominican Binder and Indonesian Sumatra Wrapper. The cigars are then placed into a cigar mold for shaping and remains there for several days. After that, the cigars go under a quality control check by the master roller. Cigars not meeting the standards of the master roller are removed. All cigars are cured in a large in-house humidor using the old Cuban ways. From beginning to end the process takes about 1 year to complete. Once this is completed, numerous smoking tests have to be completed to meet today's discriminating taste by cigar aficionados.

The cigar features the Friends of Tobacco logo and is available in 5, 10 and 25 packs. Sizes are robusto, corona, lonsdale and double corona. Retail cost for the cigars are approximately $3 each. Businesses that would like to have the cigars double banded featuring their company logo have that option (25 minimum). Proceeds from the sale of the cigars benefits the Friends of Tobacco organization and may be purchased by calling 888-316-2667.

For more information, call 252-522-4769.

F.O.T. Fund-Raising Drive
FOT began their 1998 annual fund-raising & membership drive this June. We want to encourage everyone to support this annual event. Members that renew their membership will receive a gift box full of sample products & discount coupons donated by tobacconists.

La Tradicion Cubana Cigar Company will be the first of many putting membership forms in their cigar boxes. Let us know if you would like to help.

As part of the drive, companies throughout the US have donated a variety of products and discount services to FOT. All members signing up will receive a free box of "stuff." No two boxes will contain the same "stuff." (While supplies last.)