Frequently Asked Questions about Clove Cigarettes
Questions and Answers about Clove Cigarettes
Q: What is a clove cigarette?
A: It is a tobacco cigarette containing pure natural cloves for an added taste sensation similar to menthol. Clove cigarettes are known in the United States as a special occasion cigarette, like a fine cigar or after dinner liqueur. Clove cigarettes are known for their rich, sweet aroma and flavorful taste.
Q: Is a kretek the same thing as a clove cigarette?
A: Yes. A “kretek” is how a clove cigarette is referred to in Indonesia, the country where clove cigarettes originated. It is generally believed that the word “kretek” derives from the crackling sound that clove cigarettes make when burned. Many United States consumers who appreciate the rich heritage of these products refer to them as kreteks. Clove cigarettes sold in the United States are generally manufactured in Indonesia.
Q: Is a “clove-flavored cigarette” different from a “clove cigarette”?
A: Yes, they are different. Clove cigarettes or kreteks actually contain natural cloves, meaning clove buds and not just “flavoring” derived from clove extract – much as menthol cigarettes are flavored using mint and peppermint extracts.
Q: Are clove cigarettes only sold in Indonesia and the United States?
A: No. Clove cigarettes are available in a number of countries, such as Canada, Brazil, Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Spain, South Africa, Turkey, Qatar, Bolivia and Peru.
Q: Are clove cigarettes a recent invention?
A: No. The history of clove cigarettes in Indonesia dates back to the 1880s and they have been manufactured almost as long as American cigarettes have. Clove cigarettes have been sold in the United States for over 30 years.
Q: Are clove cigarettes consumed in the United States the way ordinary (non-clove) cigarettes are consumed?
A: What research exists suggests that the typical clove cigarette smoker consumes only a very few cigarettes daily, usually five to seven. This compares to twenty to thirty cigarettes consumed each day by ordinary cigarette smokers.
Q: Are clove cigarettes machine or hand-rolled?
A: Traditionally clove cigarettes were hand-rolled. All clove cigarettes presently imported to the United States are machine made and are filter tipped. Clove cigarettes sold in the United States look very much like ordinary (non-clove) cigarettes, although they tend to be thinner and occaisionally use light brown or even black cigarette paper.
Q: What is the demographic of the typical clove consumer in the United States?
A: What research exists suggests that the typical clove cigarette consumer is a twenty-one to forty-five year old urban professional who is highly educated and a registered voter.
Q: How are clove cigarettes priced relative to non-clove cigarettes?
A: Clove cigarettes are typically priced at the high-end of the cigarette market. They are generally considered a luxury item and are normally priced fifty percent more or higher at retail than regular (non-clove) cigarettes.
Q: Through which retail outlets are clove cigarettes usually purchased?
A: Clove cigarettes are generally sold at retail through fine tobacconist shops and “cigarette only” retail stores. They are normally not found in high-volume, discount outlets where regular cigarettes are found because the product turnover for clove cigarettes is too low for most outlet and convenience store business models.
Q: Are clove cigarettes marketed to appeal to under-aged smokers?
A: Definitely not. Every state in the nation has laws that prohibit the sale of tobacco products to under-aged persons. Moreover, nearly all clove products contain the admonition “underage sale prohibited”. One manufacturer and its exclusive importer account for virtually all of the clove cigarettes sold in the United States. These two companies are signatories to the Master Settlement Agreement (which has very stringent restrictions and penalties relating to the marketing of tobacco product to under-age smokers). These companies comply with all of the rules and restrictions contained in the Master Settlement Agreement.