Camels

The Camel cigarette has been produced since 1913 by R.J. Reynolds Company. Today Camels are usually a blend of Turkish and Virginia tobacco. At the time of its invention, most smokers preferred to roll their own cigarettes, but Reynolds worked to create a more desirable product wrapped in Turkish paper, imitating an Egyptian cigarette. He blended milder tobacco in contrast to the harsher seeming rival brands of the time. He undercut other cigarette companies with the cost and within a single yer he had already sold 425 million packs.

Camels were promoted in advance, mimicking the Scottish folk song "The Campbells Are Coming" but the word "campbells" was replaced with "camels". The also had a circus camel "Old Joe" go through town distributing Camels. However, "Joe Camel" was only introduced in 1987 as the mascot of the brand. Just four years later, the American Medical Association published a study stating that American five and six year old's were more likely to recognize Joe Camel than Barbie, Fred Flintstone. Mickey Mouse, or Bugs Bunny. After a few years and lawsuits, the company switched to a more adult-themed advertising campaign with sexy women dressed in 30's style clothing.

Still Life with Woodpecker by Tom Robbins describes a pack of Camels as your best friend in prison. The cover art of the book is a likeness to a pack as it is said to be "a love story that happens inside a pack of cigarettes".


US varieties
Camel Unfiltered
Camel Filters
Camel Filters Wides
Camel Filters 99's
Camel Blue (Lights)
Camel Blue Wides (Lights)
Camel Blue 99's (Lights)
Camel Platinum (Silver) (Ultra Lights)
Camel Platinum (Silver) 99's (Ultra Lights)
Camel Menthol
Camel Menthol Wides
Camel Menthol Silver (Lights)
Camel Menthol Green Wides (Lights)
Camel Crush
Camel Crush Bold
Camel Turkish Royal (full flavor blend)
Camel Turkish Gold (lights blend)
Camel Turkish Silver (ultra lights blend)
Camel No. 9
Camel No. 9 100's
Camel No. 9 Menthe
Camel No. 9 Menthe 100's
Camel Special Blend Lights
Camel Special Blend Lights 100's
Kamel Red(varies)
Kamel Red Lights(varies)
Camel Signature Mellow(varies)
Camel Signature Robust(varies)
Kooky Sounding Discontinued US varieties
Camel Signature Infused
Camel Signature Frost
Camel Izmir Stinger
Camel Basma
Camel Dark Mint
Camel Mandarin Mint
Camel Samsun
Camel Cinnzabar
Camel Twist
Camel Rare
Camel Rare Menthol
Camel Mandalay Lime
Camel Aegean Spice
Camel Bayou Blast
Camel Beach Breezer
Camel Margarita Mixer
Camel Midnight Madness
Camel Back Alley Blend
Camel Kauai Kolada
Camel Crema
Camel Twista Lime
Camel Warm Winter Toffee
Camel Winter Mocha Mint Camel Turkish Jade

International varieties
Camel Black (South Africa)
Camel Full Flavour (South Africa) (Previously Camel Mild)
Camel Natural (South Africa)
Camel Nutty Menthol (Japan) Camel One (Ukraine)
Camel Orange (Medium) (Ukraine)
Camel Super Lights (South Africa)
Camel White (South Africa)



Menthol capsule varieties
(these have a small bead in the filter filled with a menthol liquid. When crushed, the liquid is released into the filter giving the smoker extra menthol)
Camel Crush - Camel Light becomes a Camel Menthol Light
Camel Crush Bold - Bold becomes menthol
Camel Menthol- Adds an additional amount of menthol flavoring to the cigarette.
Camel Menthol Silver (Light) - Adds an additional amount of menthol flavoring to the cigarette.
Snus
Camel Mellow
Camel Robust
Camel Frost
Camel Winterchill
Camel Original Portion (Sweden/Norway only)
Camel White Portion (Sweden/Norway only)



Dip
Camel Dark Milled (fine cut)
Camel Wintergreen Wide Cut (long cut)
Camel Wintergreen Pouches

Apparently people who want to be unique smoke Camels, and there are very few other sterotypes available on the internet.

Bonnie (of Bonnie and Clyde) smoked them relentlessly, as well as my mother before she had me.

An interesting additional resource on Camels is this.