GOLDEN VIRGINIA TOBACCO

Golden Virginia is a rolling tobacco manufactured in England by Imperial Tobacco and sold throughout Europe. It is sold in varieties of 12.5g, 14g, 25g, 40g, 50g and 75g pouches. The pouches contain a convenient zip lock seal to keep the tobacco fresh along with the sticky tab. The tobacco smells somewhat similar to chocolate and is more moist than other brands. 30g pouches are available in New Zealand. 5g pouches are also sold, but only in prisons. It is one of the most popular brands of hand rolling tobacco in the United Kingdom, where it has been made since 1877.

TOBACCO HISTORY: The tobacco plant is a member of the nightshade family of plants, that also includes the tomato and potato. The plant has a long history in the U.S., having been used by Native Americans before the first Europeans arrived. Tobacco leaves for smoking were taken back to Europe and the practice became common there, then traveled back "across the pond" as Americans were influenced by the "elite" in France and smoking cigarettes was considered "high fashion". Even in today's environment of health awareness, tobacco products are still sought after and used for a lot of the same reasons as our ancestors used them.

The United States, China, India and Brazil are the leading countries to grow tobacco even though is is widely accepted that tobacco probably originated in South America.

In the Greek, Italian and Portuguese markets, the variations "Golden Virginia Yellow" light blend and the aromatic "Golden Virginia Aroma" blend may be found.

Company History: Imperial Tobacco Group PLC is the United Kingdom's leading tobacco company, with extensive international operations: making and marketing cigarettes, cigars, pipes, roll-your-own and pipe tobacco, and cigarette papers in more than 110 markets worldwide. In the United Kingdom, it is the brand leader in cigarettes, cigarette papers, and roll-your-own and pipe tobacco; and the company is number two in cigars. Imperial is the world leader in the roll-your-own tobacco market with Drum, Van Nelle Tabak, and Golden Virginia; and in the cigarette papers market with Rizla. The company has 13 manufacturing sites around the world. Imperial's cigarette brands include Lambert & Butler, Regal, Embassy, John Player (Ireland's market leader), and Superkings; manufacturing takes place in the company's factory in Nottingham, England. Cigars are produced under the Castella, Classic, and Panama names at the company's factory in Bristol, England. In 2001, Imperial Tobacco begins to distribute and market Philip Morris International's Marlboro cigarettes in the United Kingdom.