Gitanes Cigarette Brand

Gitanes are called the “Spanish gypsy women” and it is a well-known brand of French cigarettes sold in many varieties of strengths and packages. It is currently owned by Altadis, having been owned by SEITA before that. Originally rolled with darker or brown tobacco, in contrast to 'blondes', In honor of the name, the wrap sports a silhouette of a Spanish gypsy woman playing the tambourine. The boxes have always featured the colours black, blue and white.

The "blonde" style of current Gitanes and the classic style of Gitanes Brunes, both of which are sold in Europe. The classic Gitanes Brunes tobacco achieved its characteristic and distinctive "bite" by using a fire-flued method of curing the tobacco, and a "rice" type of rolling paper which differs from most cigarettes. The result was a cigarette that was both strong in flavor and had a distinctive aroma. Gitanes Blondes are available, filtered, in Light and Regular. The Gitanes Brunes are available in 70mm versions, filtered and un-filtered.

Production in France recently halted, with one factory remaining operational in the Netherlands. This is mainly due to the rise on tobacco levies imposed by the French government in the wake of health advice, which has forced the price of French cigarettes up to the level of those from the USA, with the more aggressively promoted brands such as Marlboro now taking the majority market share.

Gitanes Maïs “corn” are made with yellow corn paper.

Gitanes cigarettes are very popular with those who like strong taste and distinct aroma. Though Gitanes are produced in the several countries, they are distinguished as true French cigarettes and this is actually the most popular French tobacco brand. Gitanes are exported to more than 30 countries of the world and though the sales on the national market decrease, Gitanes cigarettes are still the brand worth mentioning.

French factories have recently been closed, as Gitanes cigarettes can’t successfully compete the imported brands, after the French government has imposed laws which made Gitanes cost more than before. That is why brands like Marlboro and Winston that practice heavy marketing constantly win the bigger share of the local market.

This French cigarette brand that sells better than Gauloises in France. Gitanes also began in France and grew bigger and bigger, being especially popular in England and Russia. They have fallen on some hard times and now have only plant open in the Netherlands. The taste now is said to be milder, with less tar, than when it originally came out.

When Gitanes cigarettes where on top of their popularity wave, the brand actively marketed itself with the help of direct and indirect advertising methods. In 1976-1995 Gitanes was the title sponsor of one of the famous Formula 1 racing teams – Ligier.