Tobacciana
Under Construction...
Gros Q Tobacco Packet
The Gros Q was the individual tobacco ration distributed to French troops. Simple in fabrication, it consisted of a brown or neutral colored wax paper wrapper, glued together into a small cube and covered with a ribbon label. It was produced in two sizes: 40 or 100 grams. The tobacco ration was officially called tobac de cantine ("mess hall tobacco") or simply Gros Q ("Big Q"). The soldiers deformed this term to Gros Cul ("Bottom Ass"), as 'Q' and 'Cul' are pronounced the same in French.
The 40 gm cubes were issued every other day while the the 100 gm cubes were to be distributed once every five. From the author's own research, it appears the specific type of tobacco used in the rations was Barley leaf (unblended and no spices added) with a rough ribbon cut. Soldiers' accounts refer to chunks of stem being present, which is not all to surprising for those familiar with the less refined nature of your average pipe tobacco.
Cigarettes were not issued; rolling papers were distributed with the tobacco ration. Cigarettes could however be bought at the military bazaars and co-ops or from civilian shops, as could high-end tobacco which was referred to as perlot ("refined") or fin ("fine"). Both pipes and cigarettes were popular, though the latter were more popular with the younger classes.
For instructions on how to make your own <>i>gros Q cube, see the Do It Yourself page.
Rolling Papers
Matchboxes
