What are 'Gitanes' Cigarettes like?

[Taverner]

When I was a smoker, my first brand was Marlboro Red. I then switched to Camels, Camel Lights and Camel Wides. For a while I was into Camel Unfiltereds. In Thailand, it was Krung Tong and Krung Thips. Then, during my last bout with the coffin nails, it was American Spirit Blacks.

I never had Gitanes, but they are the legendary French cigarettes, favored by such chain smokers as Serge Gainsbourg and Toulouse Lautrec.

So how are they? Trust me, I ain't going back to smoking. The smell and taste of cigarettes makes me sick now.

[CJCRANE]

1. Like smoking shipping rope.

Don't know, never tried them, but I imagine they're pretty strong.

[Taverner]

2. Unlike our cigs they're rolled in corn husks instead of bible pages

[Throd]

3. Like smoking a steak

When I used to smoke, my brand of choice was "Ducados" from Spain. French and Spanish ciggies are much more robust.

[Taverner]

4. By robust do you mean "harsher" or tasting different?

[Throd]

5. Yes and yes

Akin to Imperial Russian Stout and Budweiser

[Taverner]

6. Ahhhh.

Someone told me Dunhills were that way, but I thought they were just as mild as Marlboros.

Do the corn rolling papers affect the flavor any?

[Throd]

7. Ducados had normal paper as far as I could tell.

But smoking one Ducado was like smoking five Marlboros

Dunhills are similar. "555" brand cigarettes are very French tasting. They were very popular with the Vietnamese immigrants when I lived in Garden Grove/Westminster.