Born in Germany, Annette Meisl, also known as Ana Galana, discovered her artistic talents for writing and music at an early age. After spending time in France, her next destination was Madrid, Spain, where a planned five-day trip turned into three years of playing the violin on the streets, participating in films and musical groups, and eventually managing a small theater called Damajuana.
Read in the magazine (rotate your device for better reading experience):
During the 1980s, she became part of the post-Franco cultural movement known as La Movida, where she crossed paths with figures like Carlos Saura, Paco Rabal, and filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar. Later, as an artist manager, she met her partner, a Spanish singer and guitarist, with whom she returned to Germany and formed a successful tango duo.
Her journey eventually led her to the Cuban group Vieja Trova Santiaguera, whose members took her to the Caribbean island and introduced her to the world of tobacco –from the planting of the crop to the crafting of cigars. “The process of making cigars fascinated me… I started bringing musical groups to Europe and also organized cigar-rolling events with different torcedores.”
“I never imagined tobacco would have such a profound impact on me. I learned to roll cigars from a master torcedora named Silvia in Cuba, and later in various factories in Estelí, Nicaragua, and Danlí, Honduras,” she explains.
Five years later, Annette created her own cigar brand: La Galana. She then opened a cigar shop and lounge in Cologne, Germany, and after two decades, she published a historical novel on the subject: El Secreto de la Reina del Cigarro (The Secret of the Cigar Queen), under the pseudonym Ana Galana.
Femininity and Tobacco
Her first idea for the brand name was La Gala, inspired by Gala Dalí, whom she considers a role model for her role as muse and representative of the artistic genius Salvador Dalí. However, since the name was already trademarked, she opted for a second choice: La Galana.
“It was exciting to give such a feminine name to a product primarily consumed by men. Though I still hope to convince more women to embrace the art of smoking cigars, to take pride in their femininity, independence, and life wisdom.”
Regarding her novel, she says that one day, a great-aunt appeared in her life and gifted her a suitcase filled with documents and letters from her ancestors, which inspired the plot of El Secreto de la Reina del Cigarro. The protagonist of the story is Anna Mehringer, a young German woman from a family of cigar rollers, who runs away from home and, after many adventures, ends up in Cuba.
The plot unfolds during Cuba’s first war of independence (1868-1878) and touches on themes such as slavery, colonialism, and the importance of the tobacco industry in Germany during those years.
Annette says the book is dedicated to women who live their dreams, especially in the Cigar World, where there is a need to increase the number of female enthusiasts, brand owners, directors, and more. The culture surrounding cigars is so unique that it invites collaboration to create an ever-expanding community. “And I’m sure all the men will be very happy to welcome feminine power too!”
