Tobacco has a long history, but surprisingly enough, not many people know very many people know about it, or very much about tobacco in general. Traditionally smoked from tobacco pipes, tobacco is most widely sold in cigarette form. And given that they are the single-most traded item on the planet, this makes it one of the world’s largest industries. Yet we are still to learn about how this product came to be so popular and what makes it so interesting. We’ve got the list of things you never even knew about tobacco:

· The first drawings illustrating tobacco use dates back to 600 to 900 A.D., created by The Mayan Indians of Mexico. Tobacco was first grown by American Indians before Europeans adopted its daily use. Before this, Tobacco was used for religious or medical purposes.

· Tobacco was the first crop grown for money in North America. Virginia actually grew tobacco as their main source of income. In fact, it is said that tobacco helped finance the American Revolution and around this time, other crops grown began being grown for income including wheat, cotton, corn and sugar.

· As a means of being able to some tobacco without the use of a pipe and without the harsh smoke and particles that would otherwise be inhaled, cigarette filters were invented. The first mass produced were made out of cork around 1925. Hungarian inventor Boris Aivaz patented the process by practicing with crepe paper.

· During its competitive growth, tobacco producers started experimenting with flavour enhancers to create a more favourable flavour. These included liquorice and citric acid but the most popular was of course, sugar which is still widely used today. Sugar approximates to roughly 20% of a cigarette, which many diabetics are unaware of.

· Other than its flavoursome qualities, sugar is said to help maintain its quality. Did you know that Tobacco can last up to ten years as long as it’s preserved correctly in an airtight container?

· Tobacco smokers have been mastering the art of keeping tobacco moist in tins and pouches for years. A favourite method is to soak a slice of apple in rum overnight, then wrap it in foil before making tiny pin hole perforations and storing it in your tin alongside the tobacco. The moisture that will seep through the holes of foil will not only help keep your tobacco moist all week, but will add flavour to your tobacco when smoked.