The specific genesis of the rolled tobacco product enjoyed worldwide remains somewhat shrouded in historical ambiguity. Definitive pinpointing to a singular inventor or precise date is elusive, as its origins are interwoven with the traditions of indigenous populations across the Americas long before European contact.
Understanding the timeline requires considering evidence of early tobacco use among the Maya civilization, dating back as far as the 10th century. Depictions on pottery and in archaeological findings suggest ritualistic and potentially secular smoking practices using bundles of tobacco leaves. These practices predate what is now commonly understood as its modern form, but they represent a crucial precursor. The subsequent adoption and adaptation of these traditions by other native cultures throughout the Caribbean and Central and South America further complicates establishing an exact date of origin. European exploration and colonization in the 15th and 16th centuries resulted in the global spread of tobacco and its various forms, including those resembling present-day versions.
