Chewing Tobacco History

Chewing tobacco is one of the oldest forms of tobacco usage in America. Native Americans began the method of taking tobacco leaves and either chewing them or holding it between the teeth and the cheek. While this is the most primitive way to use tobacco, when early colonists came to America, they quickly adopted the method and began to refine the manufacturing processes. The colonist also knew how valuable tobacco was and for a short time, was used as a currency in the colonies. The early Americans began to process the tobacco by drying it out in large drying barns and adding a smoky element by lighting smoldering fires made from Oak or Hickory for flavoring.

Once the tobacco leaves were properly dried and smoked, they added a bit of water and a sweetener to enhance the flavors then either left it whole or, cut the leaves into thin strips and chewed. This type of chewing tobacco is known as “Loose Leaf chew” or “Chaw” depending on where you are in the south. In the early 1800’s, local farmers would make chewing tobacco for their own use or, traded it to their neighbors. Towards the end of the 19th century, many of these small manufacturers grew into large companies like Helm and R.J. Reynolds which made the southern states a mecca for Chewing Tobacco. In fact, R.J. Reynolds, in the early 1900’s, had 84 different chewing tobacco brands in its portfolio. There is another type of chewing tobacco as well and that type is Plug tobacco.

Some of the brands that were started back then are still around today. These brands are Red Man, once made by the Pinkerton Tobacco Company and now made by Swedish Match, Beech Nut Tobacco, Levi Garrett made by Conwood Smokeless and Days-o-Work plug tobacco.

Chewing tobacco became so popular in the 1800’s and 1900’s that it was even more popular than cigars and smoking tobacco until the 1930’s. During that time, spittoons were as commonplace then as ashtrays are now! In fact, there were even spittoons in federal buildings including the floors of the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. There are still spittoons in the Senate although they are not used. As the popularity of smoking and cigarettes increased, the spittoon became an antique and a relic of the saloons of the Old West. Now, Chew users use an empty can or bottle.