History of Cigarette Kretek – Part I
No doubt, “Kretek” cigarette dominate the cigarette market in Indonesia at staggering 90% share. This kretek cigarette is a genuine Indonesian invention and Indonesian has been smoking it for more than 100 years. It will be interesting to know the history of this humble Kretek and its development trough out the year till become one of the Indonesia Icon.
Pre-Kretek History
It all started when in 1490’s Columbus discover America continent and reporting back to europe that the ingeniuos people are smoking “leave”. Cut the story short, the colonial (dutch) brought tobacco to Indonesia and plant it here, it strive and Indonesian start to smoke it too. At this time Cigarette is mostly handrolled, if there is no paper to roll the tobacco, Klobot (corn husk) will do.
The very well known legend related to cigarette is Roro Mendut , a very hot and sexy lady who live in the 17th century in Mataram Kingdom who refuse to married a very powerful man (Wiroguno), instead she chose the humble Pronocitro her sweet heart.
Wiroguno finally applied a very high tax to her (although she did not have any income) in hope that she can not pay the tax and marry him instead. Knowing that she is hot and beautiful, the defiant Roro mendut sell cigarette that been rolled and use her saliva as the glue to the highest bidder. Although she paid tax, she finally died together with her love life pronocitro just like Romeo and juliet. Read more…

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