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Zig-Zag (company)

 
Zig Zag (company)

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Zig-Zag (company)



 
 
Zig-Zag is a brand of rolling papers that originated in France. It is marketed in the USA by National Tobacco and in Europe by Republic Technologies. The Zig-Zag brand is used mostly on tobacco
Tobacco

Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines....
-related products such as cigarette
Cigarette

A cigarette is a product consumed through smoking and manufactured out of curing and finely cut tobacco leaves and reconstituted tobacco, often combined with other List of additives in cigarettes, then rolled or stuffed into a paper-wrapped cylinder ....
 rolling papers
Rolling papers

Rolling papers are small sheets, rolls, or leaves of paper which are sold for Roll-your-own one's own cigarettes either by hand or with a rolling machine....
, cigarette tubes and accessories, though it is also commonly (albeit illegally in most countries) used for marijuana
Cannabis (drug)

Cannabis, also known as Marijuana or marihuana, or ganja , is a psychoactive drug extracted from the plant Cannabis sativa, or more often, Cannabis sativa subsp....
 products, due to the slow burning rate of the white brand. The image on the logo is that of a Zouave
Zouave

Zouave was the title given to certain infantry regiments in the France army, normally serving in French North Africa between 1831 and 1962. The name was also adopted during the 19th century by units in other armies, especially volunteer regiments raised for service in the American Civil War....
.

In an advertising campaign in the 60s, the company published leaflets with the Zouave facing the viewer (much like Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam is a national personification of the United States , and sometimes more specifically of the American government, with the first usage of the term dating from the War of 1812 and the first illustration dating from 1852....
) and captioned, "Captain Zig-Zag wants YOU!"

Zig-Zag products
Cigarette papers: - Made from wood pulp
Wood pulp

Pulp is a dry fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating fibers from wood or fiber crops.Pulp can be either fluffy or formed into thick sheets....
 and flax
Flax

Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean region to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent....
, and uses natural gum Arabic
Gum arabic

Gum arabic, also known as gum acacia, chaar gund or char goond, is a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal....
, they come in five sizes.






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Encyclopedia


Zig-Zag is a brand of rolling papers that originated in France. It is marketed in the USA by National Tobacco and in Europe by Republic Technologies. The Zig-Zag brand is used mostly on tobacco
Tobacco

Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the fresh leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as an organic pesticide, and in the form of nicotine tartrate it is used in some medicines....
-related products such as cigarette
Cigarette

A cigarette is a product consumed through smoking and manufactured out of curing and finely cut tobacco leaves and reconstituted tobacco, often combined with other List of additives in cigarettes, then rolled or stuffed into a paper-wrapped cylinder ....
 rolling papers
Rolling papers

Rolling papers are small sheets, rolls, or leaves of paper which are sold for Roll-your-own one's own cigarettes either by hand or with a rolling machine....
, cigarette tubes and accessories, though it is also commonly (albeit illegally in most countries) used for marijuana
Cannabis (drug)

Cannabis, also known as Marijuana or marihuana, or ganja , is a psychoactive drug extracted from the plant Cannabis sativa, or more often, Cannabis sativa subsp....
 products, due to the slow burning rate of the white brand. The image on the logo is that of a Zouave
Zouave

Zouave was the title given to certain infantry regiments in the France army, normally serving in French North Africa between 1831 and 1962. The name was also adopted during the 19th century by units in other armies, especially volunteer regiments raised for service in the American Civil War....
.

In an advertising campaign in the 60s, the company published leaflets with the Zouave facing the viewer (much like Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam

Uncle Sam is a national personification of the United States , and sometimes more specifically of the American government, with the first usage of the term dating from the War of 1812 and the first illustration dating from 1852....
) and captioned, "Captain Zig-Zag wants YOU!"

Zig-Zag products


Cigarette papers: - Made from wood pulp
Wood pulp

Pulp is a dry fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating fibers from wood or fiber crops.Pulp can be either fluffy or formed into thick sheets....
 and flax
Flax

Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean region to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent....
, and uses natural gum Arabic
Gum arabic

Gum arabic, also known as gum acacia, chaar gund or char goond, is a natural gum made of hardened sap taken from two species of the acacia tree; Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal....
, they come in five sizes. One size is the size 1.0 (single wide). This size is often called "the white pack" because of its color. Another size is the size 1¼, (125, one and a quarter), often called "the orange pack" (or "orangies" in some areas) because of its color. The third size are the kings, or king size, also known for their orange or reddish hue, the fourth is 1 1/2 (one and a half) and the fifth is 2.0 (double wide). Usually the white pack and orange pack are sold together in many stores across the United States. In Canada, the most popular size is the single wide, but with "kut-corners". There are also varieties of these sizes including Liquorice, Water Resistant, Slow Burning and Free Burning.

Cigarette tobacco: Sold in four varieties. This tobacco is uncommon in some areas, but can usually be found at most tobacco shops.

Filtered cigarette tubes: These are filters for hand-rolled cigarettes. They help reduce the amount of tar that gets inhaled from the cigarette.

Filter cigarette making machine: This is a basic rolling machine, used to roll tobacco into cigarette papers; it provides an alternative to rolling cigarettes by hand.

Filtered cigarettes: Filtered cigarettes are available at most stores. Available in light and full flavor.

History of Zig-Zag

The company was founded in 1879 by Maurice and Jacques Braunstein. Based in Paris
Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
, in 1882 the company built the Papeterie de Gassicourt, a cigarette paper production plant near the town of Mantes-la-Jolie
Mantes-la-Jolie

latitude=48.9908333333 |elevation_m=34 |elevation_min_m=17 |elevation_max_m=41 | hectares=938 | area_km2=9.38 |population=42,40043,672|date-population=Jan....
. In 1894 they invented the process of "interleaving" rolling papers. They called their papers Zig-Zag, after the term used to describe the zigzag
Zigzag

A zigzag is a pattern made up of small corners at variable angles, though constant within the zigzag, tracing a path between two parallel lines; it can be described as both jagged and fairly regular....
 alternating packaging process. In 1900, Zig-Zag was awarded a gold
Gold

Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and atomic number 79. It is a highly sought-after precious metal, having been used as money, as a store of value, in jewelry, in sculpture, and for ornamentation since the beginning of recorded history....
 medal at the Universal Exposition
Exposition Universelle (1900)

The Exposition Universelle of 1900 was a world's fair held in Paris, France, to celebrate the achievements of the past century and to accelerate development into the next....
 in Paris
Paris

Paris is the Capital of France and the country's largest city. It is situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the ?le-de-France Regions of France ....
.

Success led to expansion in 1936 to a new mill in Thonon-les-Bains
Thonon-les-Bains

Thonon-les-Bains is a picturesque France spa town located on the south shore of Lake Geneva . Thonon is a communes of France and a Subprefectures in France of the Haute-Savoie departments of France....
. During World War II
World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers....
, the company's original facility in Mantes-la-Jolie was destroyed and at war's end, all production was shifted to the Thonon factory.

With the death of Jacques Braunstein, in the 1950s Zig-Zag was sold to a partnership of the Group Bolloré and competitor JOB
JOB (rolling papers)

JOB rolling papers are a popular brand of cigarette paper produced by Republic Tobacco in Perpignan, France.In 1838, a French craftsman named Jean Bardou came up with the idea for a booklet of rolling papers made of thin, pure rice paper....
. In 2000, Zig-Zag became part of Republic Technologies of which Group Bolloré owns 19 percent.

Zig-Zag products and Hip-hop culture

Zig-Zags are often mentioned in hip-hop culture, usually for their relationship to cannabis
Cannabis

Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa L., Cannabis indica Lam., and Cannabis ruderalis Janisch....
. Artists such as Twiztid
Twiztid

Twiztid is a hardcore hip hop/horrorcore hip hop music group from Eastpointe, Michigan, Michigan, formed in 1997. Since their 1998 debut, the group has become the second most popular group on the Psychopathic Records label , and has a loyal following of Juggalos of their own....
, Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg

Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg , is a Grammy Award-nominated American rapper, record producer, and actor....
, Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill

Cypress Hill is an American Hip hop music group from South Gate, California. Originally called DVX, the name was changed after Mellow Man Ace left in 1988....
, Eminem
Eminem

Marshall Bruce Mathers III , known by his primary stage name Eminem, or by his alter-ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer and actor....
 and Kottonmouth Kings
Kottonmouth Kings

Kottonmouth Kings is an American Hip hop music and rap rock group from Orange County, California, California. Kottonmouth Kings officially formed in 1994, and describe themselves as "Psychedelic rock Hip hop music punk rock"....
 have all used references to them in their songs. In addition many artists and musicians, such as Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre

Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, and actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records, also having produced albums for and overseeing the careers of many rappers signed to tho...
 and Afroman
Afroman

Joseph Edgar Foreman , cousins with George Foreman better known by his stage name Afroman, is a Grammy-nominated American rapper who came to prominence with the release of 2001's RIAA Gold-certified album "The Good Times"....
, have used Zig-Zag products in their album art to represent cannabis consumption.

External links