# Camel smokers: Do they taste different to you? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813 "2018-03-19T05:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brujaja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@brujaja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brujaja)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/1 "2018-03-19T05:14:09Z")
I’m talking about the new red packs of Camel Filters. (and now red Camel wides too.) As near as I can tell, these are the new “regular” Camels. Not only are they so harsh that I have trouble even inhaling them; but that distinctive flavor, the reason I have only ever smoked Camels for lo, these many years – that flavor is gone. I am so bummed out. I keep lighting them, taking two or three drags, then putting them out because they are nasty. Guess I’m gonna finally have to quit now. But seriously, why mess up something that was working so well? ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/2 "2018-03-19T13:07:25Z")
Not just Camel, there is something going on with several brands. The taste and smell are both affected. I have noticed a lingering smell that does not resemble cigarette smoke. Several others I know have complained of the same thing. I suspect it is the glue on the paper they use. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/3 "2018-03-19T13:11:33Z")
It’s possible they’re using some Alpaca or Llama as a cheap filler. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/4 "2018-03-19T14:14:09Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It’s possible they’re using some Alpaca or Llama as a cheap filler. Smoked llama is delicious … guanaco is to die for … ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/5 "2018-03-19T14:17:52Z")
Tex Murphy lives. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/6 "2018-03-19T14:23:07Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Smoked llama is delicious … guanaco is to die for … Directed By 40 SPECIALLY TRAINED ECUADORIAN MOUNTAIN LLAMAS 6 VENEZUELAN RED LLAMAS 142 MEXICAN WHOOPING LLAMAS 14 NORTH CHILEAN GUANACOS (CLOSELY RELATED TO THE LLAMA) REG LLAMA OF BRIXTON 76000 BATTERY LLAMAS FROM “LLAMA-FRESH” FARMS LTD. NEAR PARAGUAY and TERRY GILLIAM & TERRY JONES Sooner or later someone was going to post it. Back 40some years when I did smoke cigarettes Camel straights were my favorite. If they still made those the way they did I could just be tempted to fall back into the habit. It was a terrific flavor. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/7 "2018-03-19T15:24:51Z")
I smoked Camel regulars, the short, nonfiltered ones, for many years; got started by snatching one now and then from my grandmother’s pack when I was a kid. Eventually I switched to filters and smoked many different brands, settling on Marlboro lights for a long time … but those short little Camels remained the only thing that really tasted like a good cigarette. I could even see them from across the room; the smoke was much more blue than other brands. Eight years on ecigs now and I don’t miss cigarettes a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/8 "2018-03-19T17:28:56Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > It’s possible they’re using some Alpaca or Llama as a cheap filler. Alpaca my own smokes, thankyewverymuch. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/9 "2018-03-19T19:48:06Z")
Could it be you are just thinking they taste different because of different packaging. I worked at a liquor store a few years ago, the same time they changed the Busch cans. People were up in arms because they were convinced the beer had a flavor change. It didn’t. I am not a beer drinker.YMMV, I am convinced it was just a mental thing. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/10 "2018-03-19T20:05:16Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Could it be you are just thinking they taste different because of different packaging. > I worked at a liquor store a few years ago, the same time they changed the Busch cans. People were up in arms because they were convinced the beer had a flavor change. It didn’t. I am not a beer drinker.YMMV, I am convinced it was just a mental thing. There is a distinct odor that permeates everything the smoker is near and it doesn’t resemble the smell of tobacco. Maybe it is the filters. The best way I can describe the smell is how one might smell after standing in front of a barbecue with smoke blowing all him. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2018, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/11 "2018-03-19T21:12:32Z")
Never tasted a camel smoker, and don’t ever intend to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/12 "2018-03-20T01:20:59Z")
I once walked a camel for a mile. Mad Magazine, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/13 "2018-03-20T03:05:27Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > There is a distinct odor that permeates everything the smoker is near and it doesn’t resemble the smell of tobacco. Maybe it is the filters. The best way I can describe the smell is how one might smell after standing in front of a barbecue with smoke blowing all him. Are you saying camel cig smoke smells different than other cig smoke? If it smells like charcoal then it must be the filter. I would like to smell that for myself. I will investigate this. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2018, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/camel-smokers-do-they-taste-different-to-you/810813/14 "2018-03-20T05:49:13Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Are you saying camel cig smoke smells different than other cig smoke? If it smells like charcoal then it must be the filter. I would like to smell that for myself. I will investigate this. I smoke Marlboro but have been hearing the same complaint I have from people who smoke an assortment of brands not just camel. You would know it if you were having the issue, very musty unpleasant odor. It doesn’t smell like charcoal, it has the smell of beef fat smoke that you might get cooking burgers on a barbecue.