Kent is a popular cigarette brand introduced in 1952 by P. Lorillad – quite a small tobacco company that made their first cigarette filters with a form of asbestos - crocidolite. This substance was used for 4 years until it was reported to cause cancer – soon after that the company introduced new cigarettes that were asbestos-free. Kent cigarettes were therefore the first ones to introduce filters that significantly reduced tar and nicotine. The new slogan the company came up with was bound to attract even more smokers – it went “Kent takes out more nicotine and tars than any other leading cigarette - the difference in protection is priceless”. The brand is named after Herbert Kent who was an executive of the company that originally produced the cigarettes. Kent is currently owned by the British American Tobacco. It’s an interesting fact that in Romania at the time when communists were in power Kent cigarettes were used as currency. All goods and serviced could be paid for with cartons of these cigarettes. Unlike certain other brands that aim at upper-class or other types of customers Kent cigarettes are intended for an average smoker who appreciates rich taste and strong flavor.