Traditionally, the best stogies have only been made in specific countries and regions, notably Cuba. However, there's no doubt cigars are now a truly global affair. Different countries and regions have forged stellar reputations for producing the high-quality tobacco needed for cigar wrappers, binders, and fillers.
Of course, just because a country has the optimum climate and soil for tobacco farmers doesn't guarantee a premium smoking experience. You still need the skills of the boncheros (bunchers) and torcedor (rollers) to bring the cigar to life.
The bunchers construct the cigar's bunch — the combination of binder and filler tobaccos, while the roller masterfully twists the tobacco leaves into the finished product.
Did you know this beloved pastime has been enjoyed since the early 10th century? We'll briefly dust over the history of cigars and explore the top cigar countries and their origins that make the cigar industry go round.
Where do cigars originate from?
Cigars are believed to have been invented by the ancient Mayans. The word cigar was born from the Mayan word “sikar, " meaning “to smoke rolled tobacco leaves.” The Mayans would smoke the tobacco wrapped in a palm or a plantain lead, with a 10th-century pot depicting a Mayan man puffing in this manner.
Europe was introduced to tobacco much later — 1492, to be precise. This was the year Christopher Columbus embarked on his first voyage to the Americas under the flag of Spain. When he landed in the Bahamas, he received a gift from the San Salvador natives. This included “certain dry leaves which gave off a distinct fragrance.” As the leaves were inedible, they were tossed overboard.
A month later, in Cuba, two of his crew noticed the dried leaves served a purpose. Columbus and his lieutenants quickly adopted the “smoking the leaves” habit and took the idea back home, where it became popular throughout the continent. According to the University of Minnesota Libraries, “by 1571, cigar smoking had spread to nearly all parts of Europe.”
Despite its European esteem, hand-rolled cigars are synonymous with Cuba. Its fertile land and warm climate are perfect for growing tobacco plants, with the country producing cigars since the reign of King Philip II of Spain.
Not long after Columbus and his men introduced Europe (and beyond) to tobacco, Cuba started producing cigars en masse. The Vuelta Arriba region in the far-east cultivates some of the world’s best tobacco, but how impactful is a tobacco-growing region on your smoking experience?
Are different tobacco growing regions important to your smoking experience?
Cuba isn’t the dominant force it once was, which is why many other tobacco-growing regions have come to the fore. Each region has its unique taste and character, which is determined by its topography. This will have a noticeable effect on the finished cigar.
From the Dominican Republic to Mexico and Nicaragua, cigars are made worldwide using different curing methods. A major factor in their differences is the soil conditions in which the tobacco is grown.
While the three major parts of your cigar can originate from different countries and regions, where the tobacco was grown heavily impacts your cigar’s character. While cigarmakers elect to mix different tobaccos from countries and regions around the world, they are far from interchangeable.
Let’s look at some of the top cigar-producing countries, their distinctive tobacco-growing characteristics, and how they contribute to your stogie's aromas and flavors.
The top cigar producing countries and tobacco growing regions
Cuba
No top cigar countries list is complete without the name Cuba. The motherland of cigar production has long been hailed for its outstanding tobacco.
Time-honored traditions exist that have been passed from generation to generation, with many of their growing and manufacturing techniques replicated by premium cigar manufacturers everywhere. Its average temperature climate of 73°F (23°C) and granular, loamy, and sandy soil are a dream for growing tobacco. Flavorwise, Cuban tobacco is generally full-bodied and robust, with healthy spicy and floral hits.
Dominican Republic
A beneficiary of the U.S. embargo against Cuba, many great Cuban tobacco specialists migrated to the Dominican for the survival of their craft and access to the U.S. market. It is now the world’s largest cigar producer and accounts for more than half of the cigars sold in the U.S.
Thanks to its tropical climate, similar soils, and growing conditions, the Dominican offers a close alternative to Cuban tobaccos. However, it yields a leaf less mellow than Cuban varieties, albeit much richer in flavor.
Nicaragua and Honduras
Honduras and Nicaragua are two separate countries but share a border. The strong and spicy tobacco grown in their respective regions is used in a variety of premium stogies. Estelí is the cigar capital of Nicaragua, whereas the famed Jamastran Valley fuels cigar production in Honduras.
Despite their proximity and similarities, some subtle differences exist between Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco. Most premium Honduras smokes use tobacco grown from Cuban seeds. Nicaragua’s dark, volcanic soil is rich in nutrients and gives its leaf a sweet, earthy character.
USA
Many believe the United States is solely a cigar importer, but the Connecticut River Valley is prized for its shade-grown wrappers. Connecticut Broadleaf (a sun-grown cigar tobacco) is also popular for dressing maduro cigars.
Florida was once a prominent producer of premium cigar tobacco in the U.S. Some tobacco is still grown here, such as Drew Estate’s 20 Acre Farm, which delivers a delectable, dark tobacco from the sunshine state.
Final thoughts
Many countries have become renowned for producing fine cigars (including some that didn’t make our list). Cigars are smoked worldwide, and you can discover many fantastic, handmade smokes from around the globe at cigars.com to further ignite your passion.