Rizla
Encyclopedia
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
is rolled or stuffed to form handmade cigarette
Cigarette
A cigarette is a small roll of finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in a cylinder of thin paper for smoking. The cigarette is ignited at one end and allowed to smoulder; its smoke is inhaled from the other end, which is held in or to the mouth and in some cases a cigarette holder may be used as well...
s.
Rizla rolling papers and tubes are available in a range of thicknesses and sizes, indicated by the colour of the packaging. The varying thickness of Rizla's product range determine the rate at which the papers burn. The thicker the paper, the faster it will burn, with Red Rizla+ being the fastest and Silver Rizla+ being the slowest.
The myth of creation
As the legend goes, one rainy day in the French city of AngoulêmeAngoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
, Alexandro Rizlette de Cramptone Lacroix was inspired to begin the production of rolling papers when he traded a sheet of fine paper for a bottle of fine champagne and realized their potential market. However other myths say that the French brought the habit of cigarette smoking (in paper) back with them when French soldiers travelled back from Spain. Tobacco was first brought to Spain by Columbus.
The company breaks out
In 1660, the Lacroix family began serious production of rolling papers, having found them to be highly profitable. Despite the early success, it was not until nearly 76 years later in 1736 that the family acquired their own paper-mill, purchased by Francois Lacroix, who founded the Lacroix Rolling Paper company the same year.However, it was not until 1796 that the Lacroix brand got its first major production deal, during the Napoleonic wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
, when Napoleon himself granted the company a licence to produce fine rolling papers for his soldiers who until then had been forced to roll cigarettes using paper torn from the pages of various books.
In 1860, Pierre Lacroix perfected the formula for the Lacroix brand of rolling papers. In 1865, another change was made to the formula - the tissue previously used in the papers was replaced with paper made from rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
. It is this change to rice paper
Rice paper
Rice paper usually refers to paper made from parts of the rice plant, like rice straw or rice flour. The term is also used for paper made from or containing other plants, such as hemp, bamboo or mulberry...
that caused the name "RizLa+" to finally emerge: a combination of the French word Riz (meaning rice) with "La" and a cross, representing the Lacroix family name, which literally means "The Cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
". The Lacroix family changed the brand name in 1866.
The RizLa+ company was so successful, that by 1891 the Lacroix family had amassed enough wealth to construct a castle-like manor, which they dubbed Chateau Léonide Lacroix. The Lacroix family were selling their product throughout Europe and the United States by 1900.
The Rizla+ brand in the 20th century and beyond
RizLa produced some of the first flavoured papers in 1906, with the release of mentholMenthol
Menthol is an organic compound made synthetically or obtained from peppermint or other mint oils. It is a waxy, crystalline substance, clear or white in color, which is solid at room temperature and melts slightly above. The main form of menthol occurring in nature is -menthol, which is assigned...
and strawberry
Strawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
. The first Rizla Blue fine-weight rolling papers were produced in 1910, with thinner paper and a more pronounced tobacco flavour. RizLa also released one of the first rolling machine
Rolling machine
A rolling machine is a machine that is designed to roll either tobacco or cannabis into individual cigarettes or joints. To roll a cigarette with cannabis, one must break up the smoking material as well as remove any stems so they won't puncture the paper...
s. The basic design of their original rolling machine is still used to this day. Recently, however, Rizla changed the design of their machine.
In 1942, the RizLa brand revolutionized the world of rolling papers when the Lacroix brothers acquired a patent for applying gum to the edge of rolling papers. This new feature solidified Rizla's position as a leader in the rolling paper industry, placing them at the top of the market.
During 1944, RizLa changed its name yet again to the name "Rizla+", which is still in use today.
In 1948, Rizla+ acquired the General Paper and Box Manufacturing Company, located in South Wales, dramatically improving their production capabilities. The same year, Rizla released the Rizla+ Green cut-corners, medium-weight rolling paper.
Sometime in 1977, thirty-three years after the brand name change, Rizla+ released the first of their King Size rolling papers.
In 1978 Fernand Painblanc took control of Rizla+, bringing the tradition of Lacroix family ownership to an end.
The licorice-flavoured paper was released in 1981. In 1986, Rizla began rapid growth and large-scale advertising. One successful advertising campaign in 1986 was a popular series of calendars and posters. A café franchise, which was featured at various concerts in the UK in 1996, was also extremely popular. In 1997 they produced a limited edition King Size Rizla+ Purple medium-weight, extra width, king size rolling paper, in celebration of the Phoenix music festival.These were the best kind for joint rolling.
In 1997 Rizla+ was sold to Imperial Tobacco
Imperial Tobacco
Imperial Tobacco is a global tobacco company headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom. It is the world’s fourth-largest cigarette company measured by market share , and the world's largest producer of cigars, fine-cut tobacco and tobacco papers...
.
In 1998 Rizla+ continued their string of expansion and large-scale advertising, going so far as to release their own line of clothing, sold at their cafés. In 2002 Rizla closed a deal with Suzuki and became one of their top motor-bike racing sponsors, forming the Rizla-Suzuki racing team. The Caterham
Caterham Cars
Caterham Cars is a manufacturer of specialist lightweight sports cars based in Caterham, Surrey, England and part of the British motor industry. Their only current model, the Caterham 7 , is a direct evolution of the Series 3 Lotus Seven designed by Colin Chapman and originally launched in 1968. A...
Superlight R500 sports is available with Rizla markings following its launch in collaboration with Rizla-Suzuki.
Rizla+ added a new paper to its line up in 2003, with the introduction of the Rizla+ Silver, Ultra-Thin, King Size rolling paper. In 2003 the UK Advertising Standards Agency
Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)
The Advertising Standards Authority is the self-regulatory organisation of the advertising industry in the United Kingdom. The ASA is a non-statutory organisation and so cannot interpret or enforce legislation. However, its code of advertising practice broadly reflects legislation in many instances...
upheld a complaint that Rizla+ had alluded to their products' association with cannabis in a print advertisement that bore the caption "twist and burn". The association being that 'twist' alludes to twisting the paper on the end of a joint to stop the tobacco and marijuana mix falling out, and 'burn' the process of lighting and smoking a joint.
In 2004, two more types of Rizla++ papers were released; one, the Rizla Red, Medium Weight, Slim paper is exclusive to the United Kingdom. The other variety released in 2004 was the Rizla+ Silver (regular size) Ultra-Thin rolling paper.
In 2002 Imperial Tobacco closed Rizla+'s historic factory at Mazères-sur-Salat
Mazères-sur-Salat
Mazères-sur-Salat is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.-Population:-References:*...
near Saint-Gaudens (south of France). In September 2005 Imperial Tobacco
Imperial Tobacco
Imperial Tobacco is a global tobacco company headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom. It is the world’s fourth-largest cigarette company measured by market share , and the world's largest producer of cigars, fine-cut tobacco and tobacco papers...
announced the closure of Rizla+'s Treforest factory at Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
near Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in South Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
with a loss of 134 jobs. After the closure of the factory, Rizla+ production is now concentrated at Wilrijk
Wilrijk
Wilrijk is a district of the municipality and city of Antwerp in the Flemish Region of Belgium. Wilrijk had been a separate municipality before January 1, 1983; the enlarged municipality of Antwerp was decentralized in 2000 and Wilrijk became one the city's nine districts.This suburb is also known...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
Since 2006, Rizla+ also sponsors the Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
MotoGP bike under Rizla Suzuki MotoGP team, currently ridden by Álvaro Bautista
Álvaro Bautista
Álvaro Bautista is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He currently competes in the MotoGP class of the Grand Prix Motorcycle World Championship...
.
Rizla types
Rizla+ rolling papers come in a variety of sizes, colours and types. Inside the last rolling paper of each packet is green cardboard, the size of the Rizla in the pack, and about 1mm thick. This card is placed there to stop the papers from curling due to the gum.Green Smooth Rizla+
A Medium weight paper with cut corners which has over 2000 holes in the paper to aerate smoke. This gives the stream a lowered temperature and density, making inhalation less irritating.Rizla+ Liquorice
Heavy Liquorice flavoured papers, with uncut corners. Some people confuse them with the Dutch Orange papers which both are orange-ish in colorKing Size papers
Rizla King Size papers are 10 cm in length and significantly wider than the regular size. King Size papers come in two varieties, King Size and King Size Slim, which are not as wide as the normal King Size papers, but are slightly longer than the standard King Size papers. King Size papers are often used for the smoking of cannabisCannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
, due to the larger size being more suited to the sharing of a joint
Joint (cannabis)
Joint is a slang term for a cigarette rolled using cannabis. Rolling papers are the most common rolling medium among industrialized countries, however brown paper, cigarettes with the tobacco removed, and newspaper are commonly used in developing countries. Modern papers are now made from a wide...
.
King Size Original Orange Slim Rizla+
King Size Original Orange Slim are the most rare to find but are by far the least thick ones, with a water mark down the length of the paper and the words Original Rizla water marked on it as well.King Size Silver Slim Rizla+
Silver Slim Rizla are the thinnest papers available in the kingsize Rizla range.Aimed at creating a 'purer taste', they measure at just 20 microns 'thick'.
By comparison, a human hair is 50-100 microns thick.
King Size Light Blue Slim Rizla+
Rizla King Size Light Blue Slim rolling papers are 10 cm in length, the same length as a normal blue king size paper, but notably narrower.King Size Dark Blue Rizla+
King Size Regular Papers of the same thickness as King Size Blue Slims except that they don't have any glue.Other Rizla+ Rolling Related Products
Rizla also provides filter tubes in a variety of sizes, rolling machines (called a Rizla+ 'concept') and rolling boxes.Cultural References
-
- English folk singerFolk musicFolk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
Nick DrakeNick DrakeNicholas Rodney "Nick" Drake was an English singer-songwriter and musician. Though he is best known for his sombre guitar based songs, Drake was also proficient at piano, clarinet and saxophone...
's first album, Five Leaves LeftFive Leaves LeftFive Leaves Left, recorded in 1969, was the first of three albums by British folk musician Nick Drake. Like Bryter Layter but unlike Pink Moon, this album contains no completely solo songs...
, took its title from a warning which was included in packs of Rizla papers in the 1960s indicating that only five papers remained. More recently, this warning has been replaced by a ten-paper warning.
- English folk singer
- Reggae artist Pablo Gad's song, Hard Times, mentions Rizla papers in its hook. The lyric, which has become recognizable in its own right, goes, "Say when I was a yout [sic] I used to burn collie weed in a Rizla--used to burn it in a Rizla." This line has since been sampled by electronic artists such as The ProdigyThe ProdigyThe Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
, Ed Solo & Skool of Thought, Krafty KutsKrafty KutsKrafty Kuts is an English electronic music, dance music and breakbeat producer and DJ.His Debut album - Freakshow was released in 2006 on his Against The Grain label and contains guest artists Tim Deluxe and Ashley Slater from the UK band Freak Power...
, and MattaMattaMatta may refer to:*Mata, a moshav in Israel also spelt Matta*Matta - a Union Council of Kasur District, Pakistan.*Matta, a city in Swat, NWFP Pakistan, the main centre of TNSM*Matta, a chief of Siwistan in the 7th century A.D....
.
- 1985 album Whatever Happened to Jugula?Whatever Happened to Jugula?Whatever Happened to Jugula? is the thirteenth studio album by English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist Roy Harper. It was first released in 1985...
by Roy HarperRoy HarperRoy Harper is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s...
and Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
features an unravelled orange Rizla pack as cover artCover artCover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
.
- The StevenageStevenageStevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
, UK based ReggaeReggaeReggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band King Rizla took their name after the eponymous papers.
External links
- http://www.rizla.co.uk/
- http://www.rizla.com/
- http://www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk/
- http://www.rollingpapers.net/RizlaBlue/Rizblue.htm Collector's site for Rizla Rolling papers