Chewing tobacco

Chewing tobacco is a type of smokeless tobacco in which tobacco leaf is placed between the cheek and gum and chewed slightly. It differs from Dipping tobacco in that it is not finely ground.

Chewing tobacco is one of the oldest methods of tobacco consumption, dating back to Native Americans. Throughout early American history, the Southern United States produced large amounts of tobacco, and chewing tobacco became very popular, especially in the South. It enjoyed widespread popularity during the mid to late 1800s and into the early 1900s.

Over time, chewing tobacco became less convenient for the average tobacco consumer, especially with increased urbanization. Chewing tobacco has seen a slow decline since its peak; changing tastes called for cigarettes to gain popularity at first, until they also peaked and have since begun to decline.

Chewing tobacco comes in several distinct forms: Current manufacturers: Current brands:
 * Loose leaf - today, the most common form; tobacco leaf is cut or shredded into long strands, tyoically sweetened, and packaged in pouch-style bags
 * Plug - tobacco leaf that has been pressed into a rectangular or square shape resembling a brick. Due to the process, the leaf becomes more compacted and must be either bitten off the plug or cut with a knife. Plug is less common today, but enjoyed popularity historically.
 * Twist - tobacco that has been formed into a rope-like shape, "twisted" around itself. It is not widely available today outside of Tennessee, Kentucky, and other parts of Appalachia
 * "Scrap" - early forms of what amounts to today's loose leaf tobacco were called "scrap", due to them consisting of either scraps from the ends of cut plugs or from cigar clippings. The term is not used much in the industry today.
 * American Snuff Co.
 * Domestic Tobacco Co.
 * National Tobacco Co.
 * Pinkerton Tobacco Co.
 * R.C. Owen Tobacco Co.
 * Swisher International
 * U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Co.
 * Amish
 * Appalachia
 * Apple plug
 * Beech-nut
 * Big Duke
 * Big Mountain
 * Black Mountain
 * Bloodhound
 * Bowie
 * Brown's Mule
 * Bull of the Woods
 * Cannon Ball
 * Chattanooga
 * Cotton Boll
 * Cumberland
 * Durango
 * Good Bite
 * JC Scrap
 * Kentucky Classic
 * Havana Blossom
 * Lancaster
 * Levi Garrett
 * Mail Pouch
 * Mammoth Cave
 * Moore's Red Leaf
 * Morgan's
 * Peachey
 * Red Man
 * Rough Country
 * R.T. Junior
 * Snake River
 * Springfield Standard
 * Starr
 * Taylor's Pride
 * Tinsley plug
 * WB Cut
 * White Mule
 * Wild Duck