Hello my dear friends,

As someone who had smoked since age 13 (yes yes you can go ahead and criticize me), I have grown to appreciate quality tobacco. When I stumbled across American Spirits "yellow" (the lights) about 7 years ago, my world turned upside down... or should I say, right side up :-) I switched, and smoked them for a while, but eventually found that they are a bit too harsh on my system.

Then I had discovered the AS organics, the orange pack. I would mail order them from Virgnina -- not really to avoid paying NYC prices (~$7/pack), but to have the normal paper, not the new self-extinguishing horror which is now required for all NY State cigarette sales (www.hsph.harvard.edu/press/rel...ttes.pdf). Still, after a while of smoking them, I had found that they taste kind of weird and make me want to puke (I think someone in this tribe made that comment about AS organics...)

About 2 years ago, a good friend gave me a package of some tobacco, a roller, papers, and some filters. He also taught me how to operate all of that equipment to make cigarettes myself, and where to buy this tobacco: a store in Manhattan, called De La Concha (www.delaconcha.com). The store specializes in cigars, and as a side business sells cut loose leaf cigarette tobacco. I have tried buying American Spirit tobacco, but it's always been dry. De La Concha's tobacco is always fresh, moist, and wholesome. 8 ounces go for $25, and lasts me a good month. From what I understand, the tobacco is grown in USA, then shipped to Denmark for processing, and then shipped back and sold here.

I confess, I've deeply fallen in love with this tobacco. When going to work, I would pre-roll 7 cigarettes for the day, and store them in a special container to help preserve freshness. I've made it a point to offer my self-made stogies to everyone I cared about. When I went to Burning Man last year, I brought my tobacco with me, and rolled a cigarette for everyone who cared to ask for one. My theme camp is arThou phine TOBACCO: tribes.tribe.net/tobacco2112

I don't know if De La Concha's tobacco is organic, though I am quite convinced it is natural. It dries very quickly if left open, and so I believe the preservatives are minimal or absent. A rolled cigarette should be used within 30 minutes, or else the taste changes and becomes more bitter. The taste of this tobacco is amazing, and it does not remind me of perfume like many commercial smokes do.

... But I believe there is still more out there to discover. I am looking for a fully organic, as-close-to-nature-as-possible tobacco to enjoy and share with my friends. Now that I have stumbled across your wonderful tribe, I feel I am in good hands. I've checked out the site www.sotoyatobacco.com/ and definitely plan to make some purchases shortly.

SUN: THANK YOU FOR CARRYING FORTH THE TRADITIONS OF YOUR FOREFATHERS! YOU ARE SO NEEDED IN THIS CRAZY WORLD!

Love,

-onTonca