Thread by @PulpLibrarian

Today in pulp I ask the burning question: which was better, Gauloises or Gitanes?

Hmm. Tricky...

Both brands were created in 1910 and between them they dominated the French market for decades.

I mean you could smoke Celtique, but why would you?

Gauloises was the soi disant cigarette de France. Its strong caporal tobacco from Syria gave it a unique taste. Its logo was the winged helmet of the Gauls.

Gitanes preferred the brun over the caporal. Slightly smoother but equally as rich, its logo was the Spanish gypsy lady.

For decades both brands fought each other for dominance in France. However they struggled in other markets where blonde tobacco was the norm. The French cigarette was a bit stinky in comparison.

However all that changed in the swinging '60s: existentialism, jazz, the nouvelle vague. France was a swinging scene and its cigarettes were a cheap passport to its pleasures. Michael Caine smoked both brands.

Not a lot of people know that.

Both brands engaged in some questionable marketing over the years...

...but today we must choose. Gauloises, or Gitanes? What say you Twitter?

Poll below 👇

Ooh la la, mon Dieu and pah bof! You expect me to choose? Very well! For the honour of Charles Aznavour and Châteauvallon I choose...