Fronto leaf is something that the world isn’t much aware of yet. So, let’s gather some information about the natural way of smoking!
Fronto Leaf is one heavenly wrap used for smoking. It is tree tobacco. It is one of the most popular tobacco products in Jamaica. Fronto Leaf is one of the commonly available smoking agents in Jamaica, but many people are still unaware of it. If you are a consumer of tobacco products, you could give this one a shot.
It has been present in Jamaica for decades. The confusing thing about Fronto Leaf is its multiple common names. There are over eight names by which fronto leaf is known.
Fronto leaves are easily available in the United States. You can also order fronto leaves from Amazon if you haven’t tried it yet!
So, let’s gather some valuable information about Fronto Leaf and explore a few things that every smoke head should know!
Fronto Leaf: 6 Amazing Things You Need to Know!
1. What is a Fronto Leaf?
It is said that when you are searching for some natural elements that can give you good smoke, you should head to Jamaica. Fronto leaf is a flavorful tobacco leaf, which takes the smoking experience to another level. It is just like other tobacco products, except it’s better!
Visiting Caribbean Islands can make you aware of this heavenly leaf. It is believed that when the Caribbean island natives moved to the mainland, they brought their traditional leaves along. The leaves are used for wrapping up herbs it in than smoking it like a cigar.
The fronto leaves are not only used for wrapping herbs, but they are also shredded into small pieces and smoked in other wraps as an herb. The thinner leaves are considered as the best wraps for smoking.
Fronto leaves, which are deep and darker in color, are preferred more, but they are generally thick. Finding a perfectly colored and thin leave is a task in itself.
The fronto leaves are found in abundance with the Caribbean island immigrants. And they are located in New York, Boston, and Los Angeles in high concentration.
The term ‘fronto’ comes from ‘Fanta’ which is the commonly used word and original name that comes from Jamaican culture. Grabba leaves, and fronto leaves are used simultaneously, which is also a Jamaican term.
People from around the world gets attracted to natural wrapping element for smoking. A lot of smokers are willing to go organic and natural, and fronto leaves are the best alternative for them.
2. What Makes it Special?
The facts prove that fronto leaves are special, and we will learn about that in this paragraph. Fronto leaf has the competitive advantage of being a natural substance, and natural elements have always attracted more consumers.
The health benefit of using fronto leaf for smoking herbs are more than the chemical-laden wraps. It is a naturally available wrap which is present in abundance, and that makes it affordable!
The composition of fronto leave has lesser psychoactive compounds that mean it won’t get you extremely high. But the nicotine content is quite high and can give a feeling of relaxation for some time. Those who have lower nicotine tolerance will feel high for a good time.
Another fact that makes it special is its lifespan. Although, the fronto leaf is a naturally obtained wrap, which makes it perishable. But if the leaves are kept in an air-tight packaging, it can stay in good condition for more than two years.
Fronto leaves can be used in more than one way. It can be used as a wrapping paper for keeping the herbs intact, and when it is shredded, it can be used as a herb.
One of the best features of fronto leaves is its flexibility that even if the leaves get damaged or breaks, it can still be used as a mixing ingredient, and nothing goes to waste.
3. How are Fronto Leaves Made?
We know that fronto leaves are grown in a tree, but that means you can pluck out one and start smoking it. Starting from the initial stage, the fronto leaves seeds are spread on the flat surface along with water.
The seeds of fronto plants need a good temperature and a lot of water for proper growth. When the seeds germinate into small plants, then these are planted in the fields. The harvest of the fronto leaf is taken place on an annual basis.
The tobacco farmers use two methods for the farming of these amazing tobacco leaves. One method is simple, as the leaves are hand-selected. They are cut from the ground with the help of a curved shape knife. It is one of the most popular locally grown tobacco products.
The second method involved plucking hand-selected leaves off ripe plants. And that means you need to keep an eye for the ripe leaves, and pulling needs to be done several times.
The method of pulling hand-selected tobacco leaves is called ‘priming’ or ‘cropping.’ The priming method was invented by farmers in the 19th century and has been in use since then.
Coming to the process of drying up the leaves, this is termed as ‘curing.’ There are three ways of curing fronto leaves, and these are:
1. Sun curing
As the name suggests, all you need to do with the harvested fronto leaves it to leave in the sun for drying naturally.
2. Air curing
Air curing is not as similar to sun curing. In air curing, the leaves are hanged in a barn, which is well ventilated. The leaves are left for around 4 to 6 weeks for drying naturally.
3. Flue curing
In this method, the leaves are attached with strings’ help and later hanged on the curing kilns, which are like furnaces.
The next step involves getting rid of the ammonia content of the leaves. For removing ammonia from the leaves, the fermentation process is applied. Sweating or fermenting of fronto leaves are done in two ways, and these are:
1. Stacking
the process of stacking may sound unusual, but it works just fine. In this method, the leaves are stacked in burlap and then left for sweating.
All you need to do is wait for the temperature to reach 140 degrees and everything starts working on its own—the temperature breaks down the ammonia and nicotine content from the leaves.
2. Kiln Fermenting
The next step of fermenting the leaves is quite easy. The stacked leaves are required to be hanged above a kiln, a small furnace that releases heat that breaks down the leaves’ harmful content.
4. Are There Any Variance Available in Fronto Leaves?
Fronto leaves are present in different shades and curing processes, which creates confusion. The first-timers may feel confused about buying the leaves when they have no idea which variance is good. So, let’s read about the fronto leaf and its variances:
1. Broadleaf fronto
As the name suggests, the most premium quality and size of fronto leaves are highly in demand. The broadleaf, which has no holes, are sold at a higher rate than the others.
The color is pleasingly dark and has an impressive dimension of 28 inches of length and 12 inches of breadth on average.
2. Red rose
Another name by which fronto leaf is known is red rose or red leaf. It is mentioned as a red rose because of its slightly light brown color and strong tobacco flavor.
The size of these types varies from medium to small. The red rose is easily rolled and burned when compared with other variances of the fronto leaves.
3. Bay Fronto
the milder variance of fronto leaf is the Bay Fronto. The flavor is not really strong, but it is the best option for beginners or mild smokers.
The textures of the leaves are thinner, and the shade is usually much lighter than the others.
4. Black fronto
This variant of Fronto leaf is quite big in size, as, on average, it has 36 inches of length and 16 inches wide.
The fronto leaves are smoked and have a strongly cured tobacco flavor. This variant is the best grade leaf for wrapping the herbs.
5. How to Roll and Use Fronto leaf?
Fronto leaf has a raw texture and appearance, but despite that, it is one of the most affordable options for regular smokers.
Fronto leaves aren’t similar to the paper rolls available in the market, so let’s see how it can be rolled.
You will get a big leaf in the packet, so for easing things out, you should cut the leaf in the shape of a rectangle, or just the way the rolling papers are available in the market. Try to cut the veins of the leaf because that space is where the herbs can be kept.
Fold the rectangular cut leaves into half and fill the tobacco or weed mixture in it. Keep the end of the leaf moist and attached by licking the sides.
Roll the fronto leaf in a similar way you roll any normal joint. Roll the joint paper and make it tight and try to avoid any gap in the middle. The steps are similar to the normal joint rolling process, so you know the drill.
6. 10 Facts About Fronto Leaf!
1. The fronto leaf has several variants; the thinner leaves are used for wrapping the herbs. The thicker and darker leaves of Fronto are used for crushing and mixing in the ingredients. No form of the fronto leaf gets wasted.
2. The fronto leaves when crushed or shredded because of its thickness, it is known as grabba leaf. It is used as an ingredient for rolling the blunt.
3. Although the leaves are said to be cultivated naturally, a good amount of pesticides and insecticides are done during the harvest of the fronto leaves.
Even after the use of chemical fertilizers, the amount of chemicals is lower when compared with the rolling papers available in the market.
4. Some fronto leaves are cured to develop a rich chocolate aroma and flavor. The different variance of leaves has different flavors and aroma, which is developed from the curing process.
5. Many people believe that mixing grabba and rolling it into the fronto leave would be enough to get them high, but unfortunately, that won’t be possible. It would be best if you mixed other tobacco agents with the mixture to experience the buzz.
6. There are some side effects of excessive smoking as well. And that depends on your nicotine tolerance level.
You can experience lightheadedness, nausea, anxiety, and many other minor symptoms in your health because of the excessive use of fronto leaves or marijuana.
7. The cost of one leaf pack of fronto is around $3 to $5, whereas buying it in dozen packs will cost you over $20 per packet. The rates may vary based on the color, size, and curing process of the leaves.
8. The fronto leaves can be bought in pounds, and depending on the size of the leaf, the number of leaves can be bought. If you order bigger sized leaves, then hardly twenty leaves will be sent, and in the case of smaller leaves, over 100 leaves can be bought.
9. There is always a small confusion between tobacco leaf and fronto leaf. So, the fronto leaves are darker in color and well-priced compared to regular tobacco leaves.
10. There is a variant of fronto leaf known as Connecticut front, which is known for being one of the favorite cigar wrappers of smokers.
These were a few amazing things every pothead should be aware of. Fronto leaf is one of the most loved items in the Jamaican and Caribbean culture.
The leaves’ bold and potent smoke makes it one of the favorite items for smokers.
The affordability of the fronto leaves has kept the industry alive and growing. The other alternative, such as backwoods, which are cigar wrappers and other high-quality items, are few dollars expensive than the fronto leaves.
The fronto leaves are unique, natural, and healthy elements suitable for smoking. They are, so to speak, hand-selected for your pleasure. Its features are the reason why the fronto leaves are legal and easily available in the United States of America.
The chemical content of the fronto leaves is much less, and the buzz is quite tolerable. The best quality of fronto leaf is its slow-burning rate. It doesn’t burn within a few minutes and lets you slowly enjoy your smoke.
Also read: Dos and Donts in Cuba
Last Updated on by Sathi
