I am not here to promote or advocate nicotine products or describe the benefits of smoking but the sole purpose of writing this article is to make people aware about “Kretek” or clove cigarettes.

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“Kretek” cigarettes are made with the blend of cloves and tobacco and the term “Kretek” is used for these cigarettes due to the cracking sound made while smoking them.

Kretek cigarettes have their origins from Java back in 1880 when Haji Jamahri from Kava created the way to smoke cloves thus paving the way for Kretek cigarettes.

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Although clove is used as an ingredient in Kretek cigarettes, the presence of tobacco still makes it harmful for lungs. Whether you smoke clove based cigarettes or non-clove cigarettes most of the harmful effects are the same.

In Indonesia more than 85% of smokers use Kretek cigarettes and different brands and types of Kretek cigarettes are produced and available such as Gudang Garam, Djarum Black etc.