Gauloises Filter Box made under control of Altadis Tobacco Company
Gauloises cigarette brand is of French origin and is produced by Imperial Tobacco. These cigarettes were previously made by Altadis; the company was acquired by Imperial Tobacco in 2008. These cigarettes are no longer made in France that is because the Imperial Tobacco Company moved its production from France to Spain mainly to reduce the production costs. Though the production moved to Spain, the quality of the product has remained the same; they are still cigarettes of fine make and are fully worth a try. Gauloises cigarettes are made into long, short, wide, unfiltered pieces. They were also made using dark tobaccos from Turkey and Syria, and they gave off a strong and unique smell. To suit changing times and preferences, the makers introduced Gauloises Blondes in 1884, these were made using white tobacco which are much lighter and is of mild and smooth taste. Gauloises cigarettes with lesser tar versions were also available, and they are sold in red and golden or white packets.
Smoking this brand was also considered as patriotic and was associated with deep rooted French values. Gauloises was also associated with Poilu, which is a slang word referring to infantry men in the trenches. The slogan used by this brand is, "Liberté toujours" meaning "Freedom forever." Gauloises smoking was also supported as a contribution to the national good. This is because a share of the profits from their sale was given to the Régie Française des Tabacs. This is a semi-governmental organization working to control the use of tobacco, especially by minors and teenagers, and sponsoring many social welfare schemes.
Gauloises cigarettes are also associated with status and inspiring people representing the field of art - Pablo Picasso, elite intellectuals - Albert Camus, Jean Baudrillard and Jean Paul Sartre, and in music - Jim Morrison. Apart from these fields and people, George Orwell mentions that he smokes the brand in Down and Out in Paris and London; Henri Charrière, French author and convict, repeatedly references the smoking of Gauloises in his autobiography Papillon. You would also come across this brand in the works of many writers and artists: in stories written by Julio Cortázar and mainly set in Paris; Ian Fleming's hero, James Bond, smoked Gauloises; in John le Carré's book Smiley's People and Roman Polanski film The Tenant; and also Fictional Detective Sergeant Mort Cooperman smokes Gauloises in several mystery novels by Richard "Kinky" Friedman.
Smoking causes heart diseases and lung cancer.
