Buying tobacco

Ask us anything. Cambodia Expats Online has a huge community of long-term expats that can answer any question you may have about life in Cambodia. Have some questions you want to ask before you move to Cambodia? Ask them here. Our community can also answer any questions you have about how to find a job or what kind of work is available for expats in Cambodia, whether you're looking for info about Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, or anywhere else in the Kingdom. You're also welcome to ask about visa and work permit questions as well, as the immigration rules change often, especially since COVID-19. Don't be shy, ask CEO's community anything!
bobsboots
Expatriate
Posts: 295
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2017 2:10 am
Reputation: 102
Great Britain

Buying tobacco

Post by bobsboots »

Hello everyone.

I have been in SE Asia for 25 years and I am moving to Cambodia in September. I have a simple question. I smoke tobacco so can I only get Western brands in the min-marts and if so how much? I have been smoking local Indonesian tobacco here, very, very cheap and decent quality, so can I get local tobacco in the markets in PP, and again for how much?
User avatar
General Mackevili
The General
Posts: 18400
Joined: Tue May 06, 2014 5:24 pm
Reputation: 3397
Location: The Kingdom
Contact:
United States of America

Re: Buying tobacco

Post by General Mackevili »


bobsboots wrote:Hello everyone.

I have been in SE Asia for 25 years and I am moving to Cambodia in September. I have a simple question. I smoke tobacco so can I only get Western brands in the min-marts and if so how much? I have been smoking local Indonesian tobacco here, very, very cheap and decent quality, so can I get local tobacco in the markets in PP, and again for how much?
You can get packs of local stuff for less than 50¢.

25 years?! Why you leaving Indonesia?
"Life is too important to take seriously."

"Life does not cease to be funny when people die any more than it ceases to be serious when people laugh."

Have a story or an anonymous news tip for CEO? Need advertising? CONTACT ME

Cambodia Expats Online is the most popular community in the country. JOIN TODAY

Follow CEO on social media:

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Google+
Instagram
taabarang
Expatriate
Posts: 3858
Joined: Mon May 19, 2014 7:49 am
Reputation: 978
Location: Outside of Kampong Cham city
United States of America

Re: Buying tobacco

Post by taabarang »

The brand I am smoking at this moment is called Cambo and costs .25¢US per pack.
Of course if you're looking for a higher quality lung disease you should buy the more expensive imports at around 4,000 Riel's ($1)
per pack.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
User avatar
Bitte_Kein_Lexus
Expatriate
Posts: 4421
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 7:32 pm
Reputation: 1325

Re: Buying tobacco

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

I don't think most of the more expensive brands are necessarily imports. There's a big British American Tobacco factory towards Takhmau and several tobacco plantations and processing factories in Kompong Cham where they both grow and make blends. Pretty sure Imperial Tobacco and Philip Morris are also present. I know some people ands like Camel are imported, but I think a lot of the other big name brands are likely locally produced and packaged. Not sure if the blends are the same or as with Coca-Cola, they change it a bit to suit local tastes.
Ex Bitteeinbit/LexusSchmexus
User avatar
cptrelentless
Expatriate
Posts: 3033
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2015 11:49 am
Reputation: 565
Location: Sihanoukville
Korea North

Re: Buying tobacco

Post by cptrelentless »

Judging by the packing quality and taste certainly the yellow Camels here are local. 50c a packet. Marlboro, despite being expensive, are made in PI. They all seem a lot lighter than the ones in Europe. Lower tar and nicotine levels
User avatar
Hotdigr
Expatriate
Posts: 1182
Joined: Tue May 13, 2014 12:22 pm
Reputation: 180

Re: Buying tobacco

Post by Hotdigr »

If you mean actual tobacco, as in roll your owns, Drum and Golden Virginia are readily available at around $4.50 for a 50g pack. Local tobacco is a bit rough, but you can get around 1/2 kg for 5000 riel (about $1.25) in the markets.
User avatar
Bitte_Kein_Lexus
Expatriate
Posts: 4421
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 7:32 pm
Reputation: 1325

Re: Buying tobacco

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

Interesting, as I remember a friend always trying to get Camels from Europe at the airport or something. I guess they do sell imports which tastes better to him but also made locally. I don't smoke so I'm no expert on what's available, haha.
Ex Bitteeinbit/LexusSchmexus
Anchor Moy
Expatriate
Posts: 13458
Joined: Wed May 28, 2014 11:37 pm
Reputation: 3974
Tokelau

Re: Buying tobacco

Post by Anchor Moy »

cptrelentless wrote: Mon Jun 19, 2017 1:15 pm Judging by the packing quality and taste certainly the yellow Camels here are local. 50c a packet. Marlboro, despite being expensive, are made in PI. They all seem a lot lighter than the ones in Europe. Lower tar and nicotine levels
Malboro come from all over. My latest are from Indonesia, but quite often from Malaysia, and also Switzerland.When you buy them in SR, they are duty-frees from the airport.
A few years ago I bought a carton of "fake" Malboro at the market in PP, and they were unsmokeable - so I guess local - it was like smoking air.
User avatar
cptrelentless
Expatriate
Posts: 3033
Joined: Wed Jul 01, 2015 11:49 am
Reputation: 565
Location: Sihanoukville
Korea North

Re: Buying tobacco

Post by cptrelentless »

Anchor Moy wrote: Mon Jun 19, 2017 3:01 pm
cptrelentless wrote: Mon Jun 19, 2017 1:15 pm Judging by the packing quality and taste certainly the yellow Camels here are local. 50c a packet. Marlboro, despite being expensive, are made in PI. They all seem a lot lighter than the ones in Europe. Lower tar and nicotine levels
Malboro come from all over. My latest are from Indonesia, but quite often from Malaysia, and also Switzerland.When you buy them in SR, they are duty-frees from the airport.
A few years ago I bought a carton of "fake" Malboro at the market in PP, and they were unsmokeable - so I guess local - it was like smoking air.
The guy next door to me sells the Swiss Marlboros, lights no less, damn near took my head off after ages of smoking these Winstons. Not even vaguely comparable to the ones you buy in the street.
bobsboots
Expatriate
Posts: 295
Joined: Fri Jun 09, 2017 2:10 am
Reputation: 102
Great Britain

Re: Buying tobacco

Post by bobsboots »

Thanks for your replies and yes,I did mean rolling tobacco. And to General Mackevili , after 20 years in Jakarta, I need to move to a slightly less hectic place. Immigration here are really cracking down making in very hard to get work permits and the general atmosphere in Jakarta is a little darker. So PP it is...............
Post Reply Previous topicNext topic
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: AdsBot [Google], Doc67, ExPenhMan, Newinkow, Phazor11387, steevee, truffledog, yongchi, Zyzz and 332 guests