How to Hand Roll Your Own Cigarettes

Rolling your own cigarettes is cheaper and more enjoyable than buying shop bought cigarettes. This is a fact. Rolling tobacco contains no additives or any nasty stuff which you would find in, say, a packet of shop bought pre-rolled straights, and it costs less too. But there's a catch - you actually have to roll them yourself!

There are many ways of doing this; you can buy an injector machine to inject tobacco into cigarette tubes and there's also rolling machines which cost much less, but are much more flimsy. An injector will set you back around £20 whereas a rolling machine costs less than £5. But for this how-to, we're going to use our hands.

1) Do you really need to smoke?

I'm sure you've heard it all before, but smoking can cause a lot of bad diseases, like cancer, emphysema and can complicate things like flu or bronchitis. Tobacco also costs the National Health Service thousands and millions of pounds per year - but fear not, smokers, as drunks and alcoholics cost the NHS ten times more.

2a) Decide what you want: tobaccos

There's hundreds of different types of tobaccos for sale in the UK and even more in Europe and the USA. Moist tobaccos are easier to roll, better to smoke and easier to finish, whereas dry tobaccos are difficult to roll and burn very hot, so you'd probably spit it out halfway because the tip is burning your lips off.

Most cornershops and petrol stations will carry Golden Virginia, Drum, Amber Leaf and Cutters Choice. They are all varying in amounts of tar and nicotine. Having tried three of them, I'll give you a brief rundown;

Golden Virginia (approx. £3.10 per 12.5g) is a mild tasting aromatic tobacco that goes down well, but does not provide as much nicotine as other brands as it is a Virginia tobacco. If you have the cash, then try it. It's generally the number one top rolling tobacco in the UK, but don't count on it. Sort of moist and relatively easy to roll.

Amber Leaf (approx. £2.50 per 12.5g including 50 rolling papers) is yet again a Virginia tobacco, but not as mild or fresh tasting as Golden Virginia. It comes in a small block rather than a pouch, so it doesn't stay fresh for long and thus is very dry by the time you use it. Decent amount of nicotine buzz, but burns very hot. Recommended for a budget smoker, but you probably won't enjoy it, and the free papers aren't very good either.

Cutters Choice (approx £2.55 per 12.5g) is a very smoky tobacco and is a mixture of golden and bronze tobaccos. It contains a lot more nicotine than any other rolling tobacco, and a lot more tar too. Very moist and finely cut, so this one is recommended for beginner rollers, however some may find it has too much nicotine and might not want to smoke it.

There are many different varieties available, but I've just chosen the ones most easily obtainable, so you'll have to try and see what you like.

2b) Decide what you want: papers and filters

Generally, the papers of choice are Rizla papers, which come in many different sizes and thicknesses. Thicker papers are easy to roll with, but thinner papers mean you are inhaling less paper smoke. For beginners, try getting 50 green Rizlas, which are very thin and have cut corners for easier rolling. I recommend buying Rizla papers over using the ones bundled with tobaccos as they are easier to roll with and produce nicer looking cigarettes.

I strongly recommend using a filter. For the sake of 50p, you can buy 102 slim filters that produce a much less harsh smoke and is considered to be better for you as far as smoking is concerned.

3) Get ready

Take out a filter, a paper and your tobacco. Select a small amount of tobacco - the amount used depends on personal preference, and is more easily determined with practice.

Lay your paper out flat, with the gummed side facing farthest away from you.

4) Let's roll

Put the filter in on the right side of the paper. Now, place the tobacco on the remaining space, and shape it so that it covers the crease in the paper. Make sure it looks and feels even, and don't squeeze it! Squeezing the tobacco will not make for a pleasant smoke.

Using your thumbs and index finger, pick up both sides of the paper. You should be holding it so that the cigarette is supported by your thumbs and index fingers only.

Now, begin to roll it. Don't press too hard, or you'll roll it too tight and it will be difficult to smoke. Just move your thumbs up and down, until the tobacco is even and cylindrical. Like I said, don't apply too much pressure!

Finishing the roll is difficult for beginners. Roll the cigarette so that a tiny bit of paper is JUST over the corner cut side of the paper. Now, using two fingers, grip the gummed part of the paper so that the other part begins to fold in. (By this, I don't mean pinching the paper, but sliding it between the space between your fingers) Now, complete the roll, so that it feels firm to the touch and doesn't look too loose.

Moisten the gummed strip and complete the roll.

5) Spark up

Take out a lighter, or a match or a toaster heating element, light the cigarette and enjoy the wonderful taste of not paying £6 every time you need cigarettes!

I hope this tutorial was of some help to you, and remember: great minds roll but fools never learn.