Why Are Cuban Cigars So Good?

 
There are few commodities that have the same allure as Cuban cigars. During the last 50 years they have gone from indispensable accessories for the wealthy to the world’s ultimate forbidden fruit. Even though this infamy is worldwide, it was due to a strict embargo put on Cuba’s trade by America. Having a thriving cigar producing tradition & superb soil helped. But you can’t beat the mystique of something that’s illegal. However, now that the embargo has been lifted public opinion hasn’t changed. People around the world are still clamoring for the best Cuban cigars. This trend validates claims that Cuba actually produces superb cigars.

Cigar aficionados swear that nothing compares to the taste of Cuban tobacco. Many attribute this to Cuba’s top notch soil, micro-climates & national reverence for cigar production. Others claim that this is an artificial infamy that was created by the U.S. embargo. Either way one thing is clear, when it comes to cigars Cuba has stolen the show. In this article we will dive head first into Cuban cigars to see what makes them so special. Be prepared to be shocked by this brilliant tradition!

The Essence of the Best Cuban Cigars

In Cuba cigars are more than a hobby, they are a vital part of the culture. Long before the Spaniards conquered the islands, Taino Indians were smoking bundles of tobacco called “cohiba”.  When Columbus landed in Cuba in 1492, he was greeted by these mysterious natives who smoked cigars. He took this tradition back to Europe, where it caught on like wildfire. Soon every king & aristocrat were doing back flips to get their hands on these cigars.

Once Spain conquered Cuba, the race to produce cigars was on. King Phillip II pioneered the mass production of Cuban cigars from 1527 to 1598. These visionary steps allowed Cuba to dominate the cigar industry with their potent products. However, like every monopoly, eventually it came to an end. The “doomsday” for the Cuban cigar industry happened in 1960 when Fidel Castro’s soldiers raided the finest gems of Cuba’s cigar crown. Seeing that the communist revolution was going to be a disaster, many of Cuba’s expert growers fled the country. This gave birth to many competent cigar factories in Honduras, Nicaragua & the Dominican Republic.

By 1962, the relationship had already soured between the U.S. & Cuba. The American government placed a trade embargo on Cuba. This took away two thirds of their export business, but the cigar industry still survived. Allegedly the cigars were so delightful that JFK bought 1,200 H. Upmann Cuban cigars before he imposed the embargo. Even though the door was shut on Cuban cigars, they were far from forgotten.

Over the years, Soviet money helped sustain Cuba’s cigar industry. This cash flow paved the way for enhanced quality control, which preserved the legacy of Cuban cigars. The Western part of Cuba was home to many favorable micro climates for tobacco growing. Experts agree that their rich soil gives the cigars a unique flavor. These factors were compounded by the fact that the entire production process was revered by the Cuban people. A lot of love went into growing, curing & rolling this crop.

To this day Cuba’s cigar industry is under direct control of the government. They learned not to deviate from their winning combination of quality micro-climates, soil & tobacco strains. Even though Cuban cigars are a preference, their quality can’t be negated. You can’t beat a crop that’s grown in climates & soil that are completely unique. Throw in the fact they are nationally revered & you have an export that’s ready to take the world by storm.