They just tasted like sugar, cuz that's all they were basically- sugar sticks with one end dyed red to look like fire. As kids, we felt very cool with these, y'know walking around with our candy cigs, imitating grownups... as smoking was still considered "sophisticated" then. Looking back now of course, it is actually scary and cringeworthy to know that some businesses were looking to groom young kids towards smoking- even hoping to instil brand-loyalty! In the future, I predict culture will look back on this time of mask-nonsense with the same kind of cringe & disgust. 🙄
