Key Takeaways
- Cigarette tar ratings range from 4 mg to 13 mg across products available from Bushroo, providing a standardised way to compare strength within brand ranges.
- Tar and nicotine figures come from ISO 4387 machine-testing protocols — not from real-world human smoking data. They are product specifications, not personal exposure predictions.
- Tar numbers are most useful when comparing products within the same format and brand. A 12 mg full-flavour cigarette contains roughly twice the particulate matter of a 6 mg option under identical test conditions.
- Every Bushroo product page lists tar and nicotine ratings in the Product Details section, alongside carton options, pricing, and availability.
What Is Cigarette Tar — and What Isn’t It?
Tar describes the particulate matter captured from cigarette smoke during laboratory testing — once you subtract nicotine and water. It’s measured in milligrams (mg) and represents the weight of solid particles collected under the ISO 4387 standard (ISO 4387:2019). The standard is maintained by ISO Technical Committee TC 126, with a new draft revision (ISO/DIS 4387:2025) currently in development.
Here’s what often gets misunderstood: the tar figure listed in product specifications doesn’t tell you what any individual inhales. Actual exposure depends on puff volume, how deeply someone draws, how often they puff, and whether they block filter vents with their fingers — none of which the testing machine replicates. The figure works best as a comparative reference point. A cigarette rated at 12 mg tar produces roughly twice the particulate matter of a 6 mg cigarette when both go through the same machine protocol. No more, no less.
The machine-testing framework traces back to Australia’s Trade Practices (Consumer Product Information Standards) (Tobacco) Regulations 1994, which established standardised yield testing requirements. A decade later, in 2005, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission secured agreement from tobacco companies to remove “light” and “mild” descriptors from packs because those terms misled consumers about relative safety (Tobacco in Australia, Cancer Council Victoria, 2024). The Tobacco Plain Packaging Act 2011 went further, prohibiting yield figures from appearing on packs entirely. The numbers referenced in product specifications today come from manufacturer data and ISO testing — not from pack labels.
What Does the Nicotine Number Actually Mean?
Nicotine occurs naturally in tobacco leaves. On cigarette labelling, the nicotine content is measured through the same ISO machine-testing process used for tar — expressed in milligrams (mg) and representing the amount present in smoke under standardised puffing conditions.
As with tar, treat the nicotine figure as a comparative indicator rather than an intake measurement. Adult customers in our experience use nicotine ratings alongside tar figures to understand where a specific product falls within a brand’s overall strength range. A product showing 1.1 mg nicotine sits at a different position in the spectrum than one showing 0.3 mg — but the number itself doesn’t predict how much nicotine any particular person absorbs.
How the Testing Actually Works: ISO 4387 Explained
Both tar and nicotine levels come from the ISO smoking machine protocol (ISO 4387:2019, with ISO/DIS 4387:2025 under development). Here’s how it works: a machine draws 35 millilitres of smoke over a two-second period, once per minute — parameters defined by the companion standard ISO 3308:2012. The collected smoke goes through laboratory analysis to quantify tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide content.
The standardised puffing pattern makes results consistent and comparable across every product tested — which is exactly the point. But standardisation has a flip side. Real smokers don’t puff like a machine. They vary draw strength, puff frequency, and depth. Ventilation holes on filters (present on most modern cigarettes) get partially or fully blocked by fingers during actual use, something the machine testing doesn’t account for.
This gap between machine numbers and real-world exposure is well documented in public health research. The U.S. National Cancer Institute’s Monograph 13 (2001) concluded that machine-measured tar and nicotine yields do not provide valid estimates of human exposure. Smokers who switch to lower-yield cigarettes compensate by blocking ventilation holes, inhaling more deeply, and taking larger or more frequent puffs — receiving similar amounts of tar and nicotine regardless of the machine-tested number. The WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation reached the same conclusion in 2008, recommending that machine-measured yield figures not be displayed on packs because they systematically underestimate actual exposure. The numbers remain useful as product specifications — just don’t mistake them for personal exposure predictions.
Bushroo Product Range: Tar and Nicotine at a Glance
The cigarette products available from Bushroo span from 4 mg to 13 mg tar, covering the full spectrum from light to full-flavour. Here’s how they compare, grouped by strength category:
| Product | Tar (mg) | Nicotine (mg) | Category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Happiness Soft 13mg | 13 | 1.1 | Full-flavour |
| Manchester Classic Red | 12 | 1.0 | Full-flavour |
| Marlboro Red | 10 | 0.8 | Full-flavour |
| Manchester Special Edition Blue | 8 | 0.7 | Medium |
| Manchester Reserve | 7 | 0.7 | Medium |
| Marlboro Gold Original | 6 | 0.5 | Smooth |
| Manchester Sapphire Blue | 5 | 0.5 | Light |
| Manchester Double Drive | 5 | 0.4 | Light (Dual Capsule) |
| ESSE Change | 4 | 0.3 | Light |
For a closer look at individual products, browse the Cigarettes Australia category page, or filter by brand through the Manchester and Marlboro collection pages. Each product page shows detailed specifications in the Product Details section.
How to Use Tar and Nicotine Numbers When Comparing Products
Tar and nicotine ratings work best when you’re comparing products within the same format — two full-flavour carton options, for example, or two light capsule varieties. They give you a reliable baseline for understanding whether a product sits at the lighter, medium, or full-bodied end of a brand’s range.
A few things to keep in mind when reading these numbers:
- Numbers aren’t universal across brands. Two cigarettes both labelled “full-flavour” can have different tar ratings — Marlboro Red clocks in at 10 mg while Manchester Classic Red sits at 12 mg. Always check the specific product, not just the descriptor.
- Lower tar generally means lighter. Within a single brand’s range, a 4 mg product is categorically lighter than a 12 mg one. But the overall experience also depends on tobacco blend, filter design, and whether a capsule is present.
- Combine ratings with other attributes. Alongside tar and nicotine, consider format (slim vs. standard), capsule options, and pack size. The numbers are one data point among several.
Where to Find Tar and Nicotine Information for Each Product
Every Bushroo product page lists tar and nicotine ratings directly in the Product Details section — no digging required. Here’s what you’ll find on each page:
- Tar and nicotine specifications (mg)
- Product type and brand
- Carton format and pack count
- Available bulk quantities (1, 3, 5, and 10 carton options)
- Current pricing and stock availability
All specifications are drawn from manufacturer data and reflect the same ISO 4387 testing standard covered earlier in this article.
Summary: What the Numbers Tell You
Tar and nicotine figures are standardised comparative specifications, not personal exposure measurements. ISO 4387 machine testing gives every product a consistent baseline — and that consistency is what makes the numbers useful when you’re comparing options.
Understanding where these numbers come from and what they do (and don’t) measure puts you in a better position to read product specifications with clear eyes. For current tar and nicotine ratings across the full product range, visit the individual Bushroo product pages — each one lists specifications in Product Details alongside carton options, pricing, and availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are tar and nicotine numbers the same across all brands?
No. Tar and nicotine levels vary between products and brands. Two cigarettes both called “full-flavour” can have meaningfully different ratings — Marlboro Red contains 10 mg tar while Manchester Classic Red measures 12 mg. The numbers provide a product-specific reference, so always check the individual specification rather than relying on the descriptor alone.
Does a lower tar number always mean a lighter cigarette?
Generally yes within a given brand’s range. A 4 mg tar cigarette is categorically lighter than a 10 mg or 12 mg option from the same manufacturer. But the complete smoking experience also depends on the tobacco blend, filter design, and whether a flavour capsule is present. Tar is one factor among several that shape the overall profile.
Do these numbers tell me how much tar I’ll actually inhale?
No, and this is an important distinction. ISO 4387 uses a machine that draws 35 ml of smoke over two seconds, once per minute — a fixed pattern that doesn’t match how real people smoke. Actual exposure varies widely depending on puff volume, depth, frequency, and whether filter ventilation holes are obstructed during use. The numbers are comparative product specifications, not personal intake estimates.
Where can I find the tar and nicotine information for Bushroo products?
Tar and nicotine ratings appear in the Product Details section on every Bushroo product page — alongside brand information, carton options, pricing, and stock availability. You can browse the full range through the Cigarettes Australia category page or filter by brand.
What standard does the testing follow?
All tar and nicotine figures referenced on Bushroo product pages are measured using ISO 4387 (current edition: 2019), the international standard for routine analytical cigarette-smoking machines. A new draft revision (ISO/DIS 4387:2025) is under development by ISO Technical Committee TC 126. The standard defines the puff volume (35 ml), duration (2 seconds), and frequency (once per minute) — parameters established by the companion standard ISO 3308:2012 — used to produce comparable results across all products tested.
Tar and nicotine specifications on this page reflect manufacturer data as of July 2026. For the most current product information, visit the individual product pages on Bushroo.
