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Kevin Godbee - May 2, 2011
- 1 min read
Last December, Arango Cigar Co. purchased the U.S. Denicotea distribution rights and inventory from XYZ Direct, Ltd., along with many pipe lines, pipe tobaccos and related accessories. Arango now has ample Denicotea products in stock, and is actively promoting the line throughout the United States.
Michael Gold, Arango’s president, states, "Denicotea filters fill a need with today’s smokers, because they are effective and economical. Their patented plastic see-through cartridge provides easy viewing of contaminant build-up in the filter, alerting the smoker when to change filters.
"Most pipe smokers in the U.S. do not use filters in their pipes, but, Denicotea sales have increased steadily. We credit this to a growing awareness by smokers that the products substantially reduce the negative effects of nicotine, tars and other impurities in the smoke stream … without adding their own flavor."
German manufacturer Denicotea GmbH pioneered the first effective smoking filters in 1932, using super-absorptive "exploded" silica gel crystals. Today, Denicotea maintains its market dominance with several lines of replaceable filters, filtered holders and pipes, in a wide choice of performance, style and price.
Denicotea caters to the pipe segment with a cleverly designed drop-in silica gel crystal pipe filter that fits into the bottom of most pipe bowls … its paper surface doesn’t catch fire. In addition to their silica gel crystal filters, the company manufactures Denicotea-branded activated-charcoal filters, as well as brand names Adsorba and Generic.
Adsorba filter pipes take a standard 9mm filter, and retail for $36 and $40 individually, selling in quantities of 12 pipes per unit. Their 9mm-diameter filters fit the shanks of most other filtered pipes. Blitz, a Swiss Denicotea division, manufactures a 9mm ceramic-capped, tubular activated-charcoal filter that fits most pipes and cigarette holders. Denicotea satisfies smokers’ pipe-care needs with Smokertools … pipe cleaning (sweetening) fluid, larger-bore pipe cleaners, and polishes for both bowls and bits. Gold adds, "Denicotea receives letters from customers who have been buying their filters for up to 50 years, so their customer loyalty speaks for itself. Denicotea is the right product at the right time … right now."
Photos courtesy of PipesAndCigars.com
Written by Kevin Godbee
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Well this is very good news on a couple of fronts. It has to be of some modest comfort to those who have committed to the Denicotea system(s) to learn that their favored products will still be around. Also, it shows the industry has some vitality because Arango not only saved the brand from the auction block, but appears to have committed to its future.
Who knows? Maybe filters will catch on in North American like they have in Europe. I see the filter as another option for potential pipe smokers who would like to discover wonders of pipe tobacco, but have issues with tars and nicotine.
Help! The store that I buy the small Di-nicotea filters have been out for about 3 weeks. They are having a hard time getting them. They place an order with their supplier but have never gotten them. The store name is Smokes, Etc., 3014 Alta Mere in Ft. Worth, Tx. Can you sell them to me directly? Please reply as I have been using these filters since 1994 and cannot find them anywhere in Ft. Worth.