Christo Cigarillos

The cigars of the Christo brand are something very special in their own way and, as far as we know, at least in Germany, they are unique. All cigars and cigarillos of the brand are produced in Bad Lobenstein, a small town in the Thuringian Slate Mountains.

The small factory is a recognized workshop under the Disabled Persons Act. The operator of the cigar factory is the Diaconal Foundation of the Evangelical Church in Germany. Initially, we thought that the name was a "cheap" attempt to imitate the Cuban Montecristo. However, when we saw the sender of the package upon its arrival, the origin of the name Christo (Christ in Greek) became evident.

A total of four cigar rollers and some helpful volunteers produce the cigars. The Christo cigars can naturally be purchased in the workshop stores in Altengesees and Bad Lobenstein, as well as directly at the Tabacalera on-site. Since August 2015, we have also been carrying these products in our own shop.

In Bad Lobenstein, the long tradition of cigar manufacturing was revived by Norbert and Christoph Hetterle (father and son) on the premises of a former cigar factory from 1886. A vacation in the Canary Islands sparked their desire to integrate cigar manufacturing into the workshop that was then run by Norbert Hetterle. He used to be the managing director of the Diaconal Foundation. Together with his son, he visited a small cigar factory in close proximity. The visit to the factory, the impressions, the scent, and the demonstrated craftsmanship solidified their desire. Initially, external experts selflessly helped and shared their extensive knowledge. With this support, not only well-established tools were created, but also the blends were determined. Christo cigars have been enjoying popularity throughout Germany since 2005.