Cuban Cigars: A Legend in the Industry

Cuban cigars are the forbidden fruit in the stogie market. Do you wish to smoke one? Many do, as it is regarded as the best stogie ever. Furthermore, Cuban stogies are a source of motivation for many cigar producers and their quality wishfully mimicked by numerous who wish to follow its steps. The Cuban cigar is also referred to as “El Habano”.

A cigar is a rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco leaves, made to be smoked. Cigars are produced in a variety of sizes and shapes. Today, almost all cigars are made of three distinct components: the filler, the binder leaf which holds the filler together, and a wrapper leaf, which is often the best leaf used. Moreover, Cuban cigars are rolled from domestic tobacco leaves. The filler, binder, and wrapper may come from different areas of the island, though much is produced in Pinar del Rio province, in the regions of Vuelta Abajo and Semi Vuelta, as well as in farms in the Viñales region

Cuban Stogies

The term, stogie, comes from the long, thin cigars smoked by drivers of Conestoga wagons in the 1700s and 1800s. Cuban stogies have a pungent taste and full-bodied. This quality and taste are attributed to the tobacco seeds that grew on Cuban soil. The soil there was extremely fertilized and the environment was best for growing quality tobacco, and even its water & air were thought to have added to the great tobacco is produced.

What might be considered as another crucial factor in the quality of Cuban cigars are its skilled workers in cigar production. Stogie workers went through an exhausting & strict apprenticeship process prior to becoming qualified to do real work in a factory. Proper cutting of the stems out of the tobacco leaves, an accurate partition of tobacco leaves by size, quality & colour, appropriate rolling of stogies and many more crucial processes in the production of Cuban cigars were thoroughly taught.

Brands

The Glory of Cuba – is one of the oldest brands dating back to the late 1800s. The brand is characterized by its long sizes and elegant presentation. All the cigars are made by hand. Another popular brand is Bolivar. To expand, Simon Bolivar was a powerful General of the 19th century who freed much of South America from Spanish rule. In 1901, seventy-one years after his death, the Rocha company in Havana began producing this brand. The brand is said to be strong and robust. However, Bolivar is not recommended for new cigar smokers.

For beginners, Fonseca is a better brand to try. It was created in the 1890s by Don Francisco. Caring about appearance and attention to detail, Francisco dressed all his cigars in delicate, silk tissue paper, a practice that continues to this day. The delicate wrapping also helps to maintain an optimal humidity level and serves as a protection against possible damage to the cigar.

Prohibited in the United States

Unfortunately, Cuban stogies are prohibited in the United States. Penalties and fines remain in order for those who breach the legislation covering Cuban stogies. Pre-embargo Cuban stogies are an exception however, they are extremely rare and cost a significant amount.

There are retailers, specifically on the Internet, who claim to sell original pre-embargo Cuban cigars. One ought to be extremely careful in these situations aside from the fact that these Cuban stogies are unlawful. Ask yourself when caught in such a dilemma, and are feeling the desire to buy one- “Would it be worth getting caught?”

The response to that is entirely up to you. You do not need to attempt one however, one can constantly take the others’ word for it– and think what others who have attempted Cuban cigars say– take it as it is, and lay it to rest. You may simply put yourself in difficulty that you would regret later on. However, if you are able to purchase one nowadays – the possibilities are, it is fake. Commercial sale and possession of Cuban cigars remain prohibited.

Currently, there are a lot of alternative quality cigars out there. They might not be the ever-desired Cuban cigars, but they might be just as great.

The Eclectic Connoisseur hopes this blog helps you on your way to purchasing your next cigar!

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Sincerely, Dallas Wigmore