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With few exceptions, no tobacco is grown in Germany. Nevertheless, the country once had a rich cigar industry whose traces can still be discovered today. A piece of German cultural history has been preserved – and it is unexpectedly vibrant.
The Heart of German Cigars – East Westphalia
The center of German cigar history lies in the small town of Bünde. This quiet town in East Westphalia experienced a rapid rise from the mid-19th century onward; tobacco became as important to the town as cars are to Wolfsburg. The raw tobacco required for the production of shortfiller cigars came from overseas, initially shipped from Bremen up the Weser River, and later increasingly transported by rail from the Netherlands.
German Cigars in the Early Federal Republic
Even in the early post-war years, the brand Handelsgold symbolized the era of the German economic miracle. At that time, the chancellor with a cigar became an iconic image of continuous prosperity; smoking was an expression of growing affluence, and affordable cigars for just a few pfennigs shaped the cityscape. At the same time, names such as “Sumatra” or “Brasil” reflected the exotic longings of a hardworking everyday life.
The Traditional Companies from Bünde
Even today, the reliable Handelsgold enjoys a loyal following and ranks among the most popular machine-made cigars. Behind it stands the traditional company Arnold André, a name many younger aficionados have likely encountered – in the form of Independence. Often mocked as a “gas station cigar,” it is better than its reputation suggests. After all, many of us probably had our first cigar experience with an Independence – and acquired a taste for it.
Arnold André has long since become a global player. In the Dominican Republic, in Santiago de los Caballeros, the cigar capital of the world, the East Westphalian company operates its own tabacalera. Brands such as Buenavista, Montosa, and the exclusive Carlos André originate here.
It is one of three traditional companies in Bünde that still exist today. Another is the tobacco company founded in 1909 by August Schuster. Like Arnold André, Schuster is now an active tobacco importer, but also distributes its own cigars such as Partageno. And just a few kilometers away, in Rödinghausen between Bielefeld and Osnabrück, is the Haus Woermann. Its brands, including the popular Woermann Cigars Seefahrer, stand for mild and uncomplicated cigars.
Cigars of a German Emigrant
Not far away, in Lübbecke, is Dannemann. Most of us know Moods, the flavored cigarillos that have been an absolute longseller for decades. But cigars are also part of the company’s portfolio, founded in the 1870s by the Brazil emigrant Geraldo Dannemann.
German Cigars: Also from Hesse, Thuringia, and the Ländle
In addition, there are a number of younger German cigar manufacturers. For example Don Stefano from Wettenberg in Hesse, near Giessen; Candlelight from Dingelstädt in Thuringia; or Christo Cigars from a sheltered workshop in the Saale-Orla district. And we, too, are represented. As CIGARWORLD.de, we offer affordable cigars manufactured in the workshop of the family Kleinlagel in Baden-Württemberg.
Well-Known German Cigar Brands:
- Handelsgold (Tropenschatz, Zigarillos)
- Arnold André (Independence, Montosa, Carlos André)
- Dannemann (Moods, Speciale)
- Candlelight (Classic, Aromatic)
- Don Stefano (Zigarren)
German Cigars – More Diverse Than You Might Think
Of course, Germany is not a cigar nation. Not only is no tobacco grown here, but labor costs are also far too high for manual production. That is why most cigars arrive here ready-made. Still, it is worth taking a look at domestic tobacco producers, whether for nostalgic reasons or simple curiosity.
