French orange papers: the story of the unique style and natural taste

Zig-Zag French Orange rolling papers are a smoking classic. These papers are a staple, used by smokers worldwide to create joints of varying sizes and shapes. They provide a high-quality blank canvas and an opportunity to co-create with an iconic brand.

How did the French Orange rolling papers come about? Why are they so popular? And who is that mysterious man on the cover of the booklet? Stay with us to find out about this iconic rolling paper and the story behind the icon.

Way, Way Back

Let's start with the mystery, man. During the Crimean war in 1855, a French Soldier (Le Zouave) took a break from his duties to indulge himself in smoking. But, as he raised his clay pipe to his lips, a stray bullet screamed toward him and shattered his precious pipe before he could enjoy his first smoke.

The Fateful Moment

The legend is that our Zouave was worried and would not let a raging war get in the way of his smoking session. So, on this fateful day, our innovative French Soldier would pull a strip of paper from his gunpowder pouch and fashion a cigarette on the battlefield.

The spirit of the innovative soldier has stuck with us, Zig-Zag. It has set a basis for the philosophy of innovation, which permeates the company's fabric. This is where the history of Zig Zag rolling papers began, and it would only be the beginning.

Innovation after innovation, Zig-Zag became an iconic brand within the smoking world. The impact of Zig-Zag on popular culture would soon start to show. Form featuring album artwork and posters to be referenced in songs. Let's look at the next chapter.

The Brothers Braunstein.

French brothers Maurice and Jacques Braunstein established a paper company in 1875 to meet the demand of smokers. They created spined rolling paper booklets, which would save smokers the hassle of cutting their own from large sheets. In addition, they adopted our French Soldier’s likeness as their logo and illuminated his face on the booklets they sold.

The Impactful Innovation

Several years later came their most famous invention. This invention may seem ordinary today as it has become an industry standard, but Brother Braunstein created this innovation.

They developed a way to make an auto-dispensing rolling paper booklet but interleaving papers. It won a gold medal at the Universal Exposition in Paris.

It’s in the Name

As a tip of their hats to the invention, they named their company Zig-Zag; the rest is history. Nowadays, you'll be hard-pressed to find rolling paper booklets that don't use the interleaving method.

After moving production to Thonon-Les-Bains, a town in eastern France, they ramped up production. They later became one of the largest manufacturers of rolling paper. Their access to the fresh mountain water of Lake Geneva helped them constantly create excellent quality rolling papers.

The French Orange Rolling Papers

During the decades of innovation, Zig-Zag was refining the cornerstone of its product line. Zig-Zag French Orange Rolling papers are now a staple and a favorite among smokers. This classic paper has come a long way from the legend of Le Zouave and the interleaving innovation.

Today these papers provide a smooth and slow-burning smoking experience. These papers are crafted from the finest natural flax and plant fiber blend and feature a 100% natural particular thin glue line for the premium seal. In addition, the gum comes from the African Acacia tree and doesn't affect the taste of your smoke in any way.

This is our most popular paper, and it's no surprise. It has been refined over the years and features our heritage branding. Our French Soldier, displayed in his golden glory nestled in an orange, smokes serenely as if to beckon you to join him.

French Orange Characteristics

The texture has been optimized to offer a superior grip for fingers to provide a tactile material to work with. In addition, this medium-weight paper is thin but not too thin and provides a high level of rollability.

The flavor profile is on the natural side of the spectrum. You get 32 papers per booklet containing no bleach or harmful chemicals. These papers are non-GMO and vegan-friendly. They bring you everything you need on a rolling paper.

It is created for a handmade roll but works just as well when coupled with a Zig-Zag rolling machine. These papers are excellent for both everyday rolls and occasional smoking sessions. These easy rolling papers are available in the classic and much loved 1 1/4" as well as King Size. From regular rolls to tapered joints and pinners, you'll only need one paper to roll them all.

Zig-Zag is an industry leader in slow-burning rolling paper papers and aims to bring you quality in every booklet. This premium rolling paper is ideal for the novice and the seasoned hand-rolling smoker.

Keep it Orange

If you love the French Orange rolling papers as much as we do, you'll be excited to know that we have a range of accessories inspired by this iconic rolling paper. From T-Shirts to hoodies, rolling trays, rolling machines, and much more. The French Orange story continues to influence the rest of our product line. So keep it orange with Zig-Zag!

Rolling Tray

Prevent a mess with a Zig-Zag rolling tray. You can also organize your rolling accessories, keeping them all in one place. On top of that, a rolling tray also provides a portable workstation for taking your rolling session to the streets or into the wild.

The French Orange rolling papers inspire the Small Zig-Zag Rolling Tray. It features the very same artwork that you'll find in the booklet. It is made from lightweight metal and is durable. This premium rolling tray will stand up to the rigors of use, and years from now, it will still feature the classic orange artwork that Zig-Zag is famous for.

Orange Rolling Machine

Did you know a rolling machine can make rolling a joint much easier? For example, once you get rolling with Zig-Zag's 78mm machine, you'll churn joints out in seconds.

This roller features the same artwork featured on our Zig-Zag French Orange pack. This simple gadget is the ultimate in joint rolling convenience. Get the job done with little effort and allow this little device to do all the tricky work.

The Orange Deck

We have created a skateboard deck featuring the famous orange artwork for the skaters who love French Orange rolling papers. This epic conversation piece takes the heritage artwork to the skate park or the streets. It is made from 7 ply American Maple. Although it is intended for skaters, it can quickly become wall art for true Zig-Zag fans.

The Orange T-Shirt

Sport the iconic French Orange rolling papers artwork on a T-shirt. This bold heritage T-shirt brings a distressed print to a durable poly cotton blended fashion statement. Deeply inspired by our iconic best seller, this vintage-look T-shirt is for the true fan, the collector, and the fashion-conscious.

Step Out

Yet another piece of apparel based on our famous French orange rolling papers. Step out in style with these bold orange socks featuring Le Zouave in all his smoking glory. These socks are bold, breathable, and durable but pay homage to our best seller.

Headwear

To top it off, we have brought artwork of the French orange rolling papers to headwear. Keep warm with our Neon orange beanie. Or keep the sun off while adventuring with our 100% breathable cotton orange baseball cap.

Zig-Zag Rolling Paper Options

The famous Zig-Zag orange booklet is a great place to start, but Zig-Zag has a lot more to offer. So let's take a few of the other options.

Zig-Zag Organic Hemp

Zig-Zag Organic Hemp papers offer everything you love about our best seller. These papers are easy rolling and slow-burning, just as you'd expect from Zig-Zag. These papers are great for making regular rolls and specialty joints. They are available in 1 1/4" and king slim and feature the same natural gum Arabic that you find on our Zig-Zag French orange rolling papers.

Ultra-Thin Rolling Paper

If you're looking for an ultra-refined naked smoking experience, Zig-Zag Ultra-thin Rolling papers. They are great for savoring the purity of your herb as they impart minimal flavor to your smoke. The translucent nature of the paper adds a visual aesthetic that is rare in rolling paper. They are available in 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 sizes and offer a premium slow-burning experience.

While these papers are quite different from the classic Zig-Zag French Orange, they still offer the slow burn and a smooth draw that Zig-Zag Papers are known for.

Pre-Rolled Cones

If convenience is your main concern, Zig-Zag Pre-rolled cones are the best option. These papers are very easy to use. Create the perfect joint in a matter of seconds. All you need to do is grind your herb and fill the shell, pack, and light up. The main benefits are convenience and time reduction.

These papers are available in unbleached and ultra-thin variants and offer the same premium quality that Zig zag rolling papers are known for. They come in a crush-proof box, which keeps them safe while in transit, making them great for travel.

When it comes to choosing a rolling paper, there are no rules. Try all Zig-Zag rolling papers to see which one suits your style and taste. There is a wide variety to choose from. A great place to start is with our best-seller, the French Orange. But feel free to branch out and try our full range. Zig-Zag has something for every occasion.

The process of rolling is unique to you and your style. So pair the variety of Zig-Zag products with your rolling skills and create a joint like no other. With Zig-Zag Rolling papers, creativity is at your fingertips.

Conclusion

Zig-Zag French Orange rolling papers have been around for decades. They have become a staple for hundreds of smokers around the world. These classic papers are our best-selling rolling papers. The reason for this is the high-quality, slow-burning, smooth smoking material. They are made from natural flax plant fibers and feature a natural gum Arabic fine thin glue line, which creates a perfect seal every time. These premium rolling papers are in a category of their own. Zig-Zag French Orange rolling papers are ideal for beginners and veteran smokers. A premium paper with a rich weaving history. You can't go wrong with Zig-Zag French Orange rolling papers!