What is Fronto or Grabba sheet?
Discover the history of the fronto leaf and grabba leaf, popularized by weed and tobacco smokers in the Caribbean – and learn how to roll them.
The Fronto Leaf is an air-dried natural tobacco tree leaf native to the Caribbean. Today, smokers in the United States use fronto to wrap and smoke cannabis-filled cigars, also known as blunts. Others break the fronto leaf into strips (known as grabba) and mix them with weed in papers.
Fronto leaves and grabba leaves have become a popular alternative to processed tobacco products thanks to their natural look, feel and taste. Some cannabis smokers prefer to mix Fronto or Grabba with their buds to create a spliff, while others opt for Fronto to wrap a whole blunt cigar in hopes of avoiding harmful chemicals and additives found in other products that traditionally marketed to blunt smokers.
Read on to learn more about the fronto hand, including its history, its pros and cons, and how to roll a proper fronto blunt and grabba spliff.
What is a fronto sheet?
Fronto leaf is a tobacco leaf that is air dried to develop a rich flavor and aroma. The fronto leaf is known to be darker than other cigar and blunt leaves due to the curing process and lack of further artificial processing. The extra large leaf looks like it was cut from a plant, folded and placed straight into its packaging, but basic processing is required.
If your fronto comes out of the box too dry, dry leaves can be treated with water. On the other hand, extremely wet leaves must be air or heat dried before smoking.
Where does the fronto sheet come from?
The exact country of origin is not known, as various Caribbean islands produce the thick natural leaves and use them to roll tobacco and cannabis cigars. Jamaica, Cuba and the Dominican Republic are islands where the fronto sheet is popular with locals and exporters. Many American companies are now making their own Fronto and Grabba products to meet increasing demand. The term “fronto” comes from “fanta”, a popular word in Jamaican culture.
Is a Fronto Leaf Healthier Than Processed Tobacco Products?
There is limited research on the safety of many methods of cannabis consumption, including the fronto leaf. Still, many blunt smokers have switched from traditional blunt reeds to the fronto reed because they feel it contains fewer chemicals.
Because Fronto Leaf products are processed without any additives or preservatives, many users swear that they are a healthier and more natural alternative to blunt wraps and other flavored cigar leaves. They also allow for more customization as users can cut individual sheets from the entire grabba sheet based on the size of blunt they wish to roll.
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Where can I buy Fronto Leaf Tobacco?
Some smoking shops carry fronto sheets, but you should call and ask ahead of time to save time. If you can’t find a local tobacconist that carries Fronto, look for a Jamaican or Caribbean grocery store, or search online for sellers who ship them. They’re harder to find than blunt wraps at the gas station or smokers’ store, but a full fronto sheet produces twice as many blunts as a five-pack of backwoods for a similar price.
Notable fronto and grabba leaf brands include: Grabba Leaf, Original Grabba, Dragon Fronto, and Negril Hills. Some tobacconists carry fronto-leaf in unmarked generic bags that are not affiliated with any company or brand. Preemo Leaf features pre-shredded grabba and a crush tube to support spliff rollers. A full fronto hand should cost between $5 and $12 and can yield between 15 and 30 blunts depending on the size of your roll.
How to roll a blunt with fronto sheet
Step 1:
Unravel the fronto sheet. Look for a dark leaf that is moist and tightly closed. If the leaf is too damp to handle, limit exposure to air (leave leaf out of wrapper for a few minutes) or heat (use lighter to dry slightly).
Step 2:
Cut or tear the fronto sheet you will be using along the vein. Using the leaf’s natural veins as a guide, tear and open the leaf.
Step 3:
Roll the desired amount of flower into the leaf, just like you would with any blunt or joint, and seal with saliva or a glue. You may need to hold unsealed edges with your finger as you smoke if the entire leaf is not sealed with moisture.
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What is the difference between Fronto and Grabba sheet?
The term grabba blade is often used interchangeably with fronto blade, but there is a slight difference. Grabba refers to the shredded fronto leaf strips that smokers roll into spliffs.
Grabba is made from fronto sheet. According to legend, the term “grabba” comes from the Jamaican dialect, where locals often tell other smokers to “grab” a leaf. Grabba is popular with smokers who enjoy a hit of tobacco with their cannabis, but not a full blunt. The Grabba brand is a popular cigar packaging brand for blunt and spliff smokers nationwide. The Preemo Leaf company offers a grabba crushing tube that quickly and evenly breaks a fronto leaf into grabba (see below).
How to roll a spliff with grabba leaves
Step 1:
Take a strip of pre-cut Grabba or tear/cut your own strip from a Fronto sheet. The piece usually makes up 25-50% of the total amount of stuffing in the spit.
Step 2:
Lay the Grabba leaf strip flat on the leaf. Some people crumble or break the grabba and mix it with the flower, but others leave the whole strip intact and roll their flower around it.
Step 3:
Roll the ground flower onto the strip. Seal and light the spliff and enjoy a strong tobacco note with your cannabis.
Related
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Mikhail Harrison
Trinidadian-born, New Jersey-raised content producer Mikhail Harrison has been a cannabis advocate and influencer for over a decade, working both on camera and behind the scenes to normalize the plant for everyone.
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