What are the best countries to buy pipe tobacco?

[9mmpuffer]

From both an availability and cost perspective, what would be the best countries to buy quality pipe tobacco?

I gotta think USA is firmly #1 and probably Germany #2, after that, where would other countries rank?

I've seen a good offering in Switzerland. Italy seems to have a reasonable offering. Where else?

 

[AirOne]

No country will beat the US or/and Germany. You probably have 95% of the blends available in one or the other, and both sale online . Imho no point searching elsewhere, except if you are after a very particular blend (in this case I would consider UK).
Spain used to be pretty cheap in Europe, but the choice is far more limited in Germany.

 

[Sigmund]

Yes. US and Germany. Nowhere else will you find near as many choices and reasonable costs. Germany is higher becuase of taxes and the lack of bulk tobacco.

 

[sablebrush52]

US, then everyone else, for buying. Germany 2nd. France is supposed to have a very robust pipe tobacco market that nobody talks about.

 

[Sigmund]

French tobacco is very dependent on where you are. Mail order is not legal. If you are located somewhere more remote you depend on what the tobac decides to stock. Its also expensive due to high taxes. 15 years ago smokers were everywhere in France. Taxes were cranked up and not that many people smoke.

 

[AirOne]

French tobacco is very dependent on where you are. Mail order is not legal. If you are located somewhere more remote you depend on what the tobac decides to stock. Its also expensive due to high taxes. 15 years ago smokers were everywhere in France. Taxes were cranked up and not that many people smoke.

Even in Paris or in large cities you don’t have access to that many « quality » blends. According to Leonard W. France is a market as large as Germany, but I guess it is mostly because of the old generation smoking codger blends (made by Mac Bran/STG)

 

[Brad H]

There is a website (forget the name) that I buy castellos from in Italy. I pay WAY less than if I bought state side. That includes shipping and paying no tax since its Italy.

 

[9mmpuffer]

There is a website (forget the name) that I buy castellos from in Italy. I pay WAY less than if I bought state side. That includes shipping and paying no tax since its Italy.

Care to share the name?

 

[Brad H]

This is the only place I could find a Castello model 84?? cant remember the model now. When I bought it, it was like 275$ brand new and +24$?? shipping to the US.
Eh... I see now they don't sell pipe tobacco though. Sorry =[

 

[9mmpuffer]

This is the only place I could find a Castello model 84?? cant remember the model now. When I bought it, it was like 275$ brand new and +24$?? shipping to the US.
Eh... I see now they don't sell pipe tobacco though. Sorry =[
View attachment 371238

Thanks! I should be in Como soon so I'll visit them in person.

 

[Pipke]

Isn't China the #1 producer of tobacco in the world? What's pipe tobacco like over there?

 

[jpberg]

Isn't China the #1 producer of tobacco in the world? What's pipe tobacco like over there?

My favorite is Labor Camp #23, a heady mix of despair and acceptance, with a top note of iPhone aluminum.
Uyghur Collection Point is another fave, course and raw, but always burns to the bottom.

 

[dd57chevy]

I have no international buying experience , i just know there are many (hundreds ?) of blends available on the US market . Reasonable priced for the most part .

 

[Mike N]

Thanks! I should be in Como soon so I'll visit them in person.

My wife and I were in Como last summer. Make sure to see the lake town of Bellagio. Unreal.

Bring plenty of blends with you to smoke. In Italy, pipes galore, but no tobacco to pack them with. You have to go across the nearby border to Switzerland.

Corti in Lecco and Castello in Cantù are nearby. My favorite stop was Al Pascia in Milan. I posted about it here. The Savinelli store in Milan was underwhelming. Check out the Paronelli YouTube video that’s posted here.

Link, visit to Al Pascia in Milan

Al Pascia, Since 1906, Milan, Italy :: Pipe Tobacconists - B&M's and Internet Retailers

A great pipe shop in a 450 year old building, and in the same location for 118 years! What a selection; drawers full of pipes from Radice to Ser Jacopo. I had a great visit today with Leonardo and picked up a few artisan pipes, two with bamboo. They also have Brebbia plastic sleeves to try out...

pipesmagazine.com

visit to Savinelli shop in Milan

Savinelli Shop In Milan :: Pipe Tobacconists - B&M's and Internet Retailers

Frankly, the shop was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. There were some nice Savinelli lighters, and I picked up an old boy and a few of their new Pearl-stemmed pipes which were only 105 euros. The time here is 6 hours ahead of US ET. By the way, I’m glad I had my US bank covert some...

pipesmagazine.com

 

[9mmpuffer]

Wo

My wife and I were in Como last summer. Make sure to see the lake town of Bellagio. Unreal.

Bring plenty of blends with you to smoke. In Italy, pipes galore, but no tobacco to pack them with. You have to go across the nearby border to Switzerland.

Corti in Lecco and Castello in Cantù are nearby. My favorite stop was Al Pascia in Milan. I posted about it here. The Savinelli store in Milan was underwhelming. Check out the Paronelli YouTube video that’s posted here.

Link, visit to Al Pascia in Milan

Al Pascia, Since 1906, Milan, Italy :: Pipe Tobacconists - B&M's and Internet Retailers

A great pipe shop in a 450 year old building, and in the same location for 118 years! What a selection; drawers full of pipes from Radice to Ser Jacopo. I had a great visit today with Leonardo and picked up a few artisan pipes, two with bamboo. They also have Brebbia plastic sleeves to try out...

pipesmagazine.com

visit to Savinelli shop in Milan

Savinelli Shop In Milan :: Pipe Tobacconists - B&M's and Internet Retailers

Frankly, the shop was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. There were some nice Savinelli lighters, and I picked up an old boy and a few of their new Pearl-stemmed pipes which were only 105 euros. The time here is 6 hours ahead of US ET. By the way, I’m glad I had my US bank covert some...

pipesmagazine.com

My wife and I were in Como last summer. Make sure to see the lake town of Bellagio. Unreal.

Bring plenty of blends with you to smoke. In Italy, pipes galore, but no tobacco to pack them with. You have to go across the nearby border to Switzerland.

Corti in Lecco and Castello in Cantù are nearby. My favorite stop was Al Pascia in Milan. I posted about it here. The Savinelli store in Milan was underwhelming. Check out the Paronelli YouTube video that’s posted here.

Link, visit to Al Pascia in Milan

Al Pascia, Since 1906, Milan, Italy :: Pipe Tobacconists - B&M's and Internet Retailers

A great pipe shop in a 450 year old building, and in the same location for 118 years! What a selection; drawers full of pipes from Radice to Ser Jacopo. I had a great visit today with Leonardo and picked up a few artisan pipes, two with bamboo. They also have Brebbia plastic sleeves to try out...

pipesmagazine.com

visit to Savinelli shop in Milan

Savinelli Shop In Milan :: Pipe Tobacconists - B&M's and Internet Retailers

Frankly, the shop was a lot smaller than I thought it would be. There were some nice Savinelli lighters, and I picked up an old boy and a few of their new Pearl-stemmed pipes which were only 105 euros. The time here is 6 hours ahead of US ET. By the way, I’m glad I had my US bank covert some...

pipesmagazine.com

Wonderful posts and photos!

I spent a week in Bellagio a few years ago and it's lovely. My lake of choice is Garda and I'm usually there every year.

I don't go to Milano often, it's just not my favorite place in Italy but next time I'm there I will visit Al Pascia. I prefer 9mm filter pipes and unfortunately not much selection in Italy so when I visit (usually once or twice a year), I don't go pipe shopping. I may need to try out a few 6mm Savinelli pipes. It's a shame those pipe shops can't sell tobacco. Italy is a great country with a lot of stupid bureaucratic laws.

 

[Zamora]

US, then everyone else, for buying. Germany 2nd. France is supposed to have a very robust pipe tobacco market that nobody talks about.

The only French brand I've heard of Scaferlati, and I believe production moved to Denmark years ago as one does. Of course that doesn't mean people don't buy foreign brands. Tons of French pipe brands but many do have a confusing dual French / English identity.

Yes. US and Germany. Nowhere else will you find near as many choices and reasonable costs. Germany is higher becuase of taxes and the lack of bulk tobacco.

I'm very surprised Germany doesn't have bulk options, especially with Denmark right next door

 

[Ahi Ka]

OZ. It’ll cost you a kidney to buy a tin, but that just makes it so much more valuable.

 

[Briar Lee]

Isn't China the #1 producer of tobacco in the world? What's pipe tobacco like over there?

As much as Americans whine, moan, groan, piss, shit, bellyache and complain and cuss the dad blasted gubbermint and the evil monopolistic huge tobacco companies and the save the children do gooders, we are living in pipe tobacco heaven and Missouri is the pipe tobacco Garden of Eden, with the lowest tobacco taxes and least regulation of all sinning of anyplace in the free world .

Germany is likely next, because old Adolf invented the anti smoking movement and they ain’t forgot yet.

The Red Chinese and Putin’s Russians still smoke a lot. But basically all the Chinese smoke is Virginia and all the Russians smoke is Orientals.

In America (especially Missouri) if you don’t like North Carolina Buoy Gold at $12 a pound then you can buy imported Capstan for $12 an ounce and all in between.

Tis a privilege to live in the Ozarks.

 

[First Sealord]

Isn't China the #1 producer of tobacco in the world? What's pipe tobacco like over there?

It's mostly cigarette tobacco.

 

[First Sealord]

The only French brand I've heard of Scaferlati, and I believe production moved to Denmark years ago as one does. Of course that doesn't mean people don't buy foreign brands.

There is 1637, grown in southern France.